thoughts please fresh and crisp?

[Deebee]

I wonder if any one light give me some feedback on this please. The idea is
for something fresh and crisp , hoppy but not overpowering.


19 L brew length

3480g Pale
250g Crystal
80g chocolate

20 g northdown for 60 mins
15 challenger for 15
20 crystal for 5

1045 og
33 IBU

how does this sound, can someone please tweak it for me.

i like challenger and Northdown and find they make a nice combo. crystal just to freshn it a little.

looking to brew in a couple of weeks when stuff arrives:)

thanks

[MightyMouth]

I can't see anything wrong with it but you wont know for sure until you brew it. I say give it a go and let us know how it turns out.

[Deebee]

I understand that it is hard for people to make comment on this based just on the recipe.

From beersmith i used this as a form of " pale ale" and the IBU and OG are inside of the scaIe that is set for the style. The grains are pretty standard although i might add around 80 grams or so of oatmeal in there too in the absence of wheat in order to aid head retention. My biggest concern is that of the hopping for the beers.

In the past i have used Northdown and first gold together and the result was very nice, I also understand that Challenger and northdowns go well together. From what i have read ( and from what paul at bb has said) these three go well together, and although the prrof of the pudding is in the tasting its a lot of time and work if its going to taste crap.

Has anyone had esxperience of these three hops together?

I am hoping to make this a light alternative to the usual Christmas brews here, something that is fresh tasting rather than heavy and standard norwegian p*** water that tastes of nowt.

I was thinking of using Wyeast 1068 ( esb) as i have it at home, but also have standard safeale 4 as well.

I would liike to plan this one, half term is in 10 days!!!

thanks in advance.,




Can anyone shed some light on my hop choices?

[flything]

Don't know about crystal, but Northdown and Challenger as supposed to be very similar, I've used Challenger loads but I've got some Northdown from BB and am going to try a brew with those soon to see how it compares.

As for your recipe, looks fine, not entirely convinced about the addition of chocolate, however the proportions look fine, the hops look fine, and even if it doesn't quite turn out how you expected I'm sure it won't be a waste of time.

if you're open to suggestions I'd look at Styrian Stunner or Timothy Taylor Landlord recipies in the recipe section, I've made both several times and they are really nice, hoppy, refreshing brews, plus many others on this forum have made those and can provide comment and help along the way.

[pantsmachine]

I went to a brewery a few months back with my Dad, we had the usual small sample of the ales before choosing our pints. The one constant through their beer range was the use of Crystal hops. I wasn't mad on them. good enough beer but a recurring theme small aftertaste that i put down to the hops.

Crisp and sharp says Styrian/Bobek to me but then again i've not played with many American hops so maybe someone will be along soon with more ideas.

P.S I love Northdown, a cracker of a hop!

[Deebee]

I have never used crystal but they tell me its a nice tangerine type flavour.