Challenger Smash

[calumrobertson]

Hi,
Keen to do a single no nonense british single malt single hop beer this weekend.
Ive chosen Challenger hops as think that should turn out pretty nice.
Come up with a very simple recipe, i want to end up with something that is interesting, well balance but on the hoppy side (good bitterness but also lots of aroma and flavour). Ive come up with the following recipe and would appreciate peoples comments - am i overdoing it on the late hops do you think? I'm using US-05 yeast. Thanks, Calum

Challenger SMASH
Date:
Gyle Number:
Fermentable Colour lb: oz Grams Ratio
Pale Malt 5 EBC 11 lbs. 0.4 oz 5000 grams 100%


Hop Variety Type Alpha Time lb: oz grams Ratio
Challenger Whole 7.6 % 60 mins 0 lbs. 0.7 oz 20 grams 20%
Challenger Whole 7.6 % 20 mins 0 lbs. 0.7 oz 20 grams 20%
Challenger Whole 7.6 % 10 mins 0 lbs. 0.7 oz 20 grams 20%
Challenger Whole 7.6 % 5 mins 0 lbs. 0.7 oz 20 grams 20%
Challenger Whole 7.6 % 0 mins 0 lbs. 0.7 oz 20 grams 20%


Final Volume: 23 Litres
Original Gravity: 1.046
Final Gravity: 1.011
Alcohol Content: 4.5% ABV
Total Liquor: 34.3 Litres
Mash Liquor: 12.5 Litres
Mash Efficiency: 70 %
Bitterness: 34.3952668197618 EBU
Colour: 8 EBC

[Twistedfinger]

It looks ok to me, I might think about moving the 20min down to 15 and doing the 0 min as a dry hop or at least wait until the wort is below 80c.

Good base for experimenting though. Go for it what can go wrong !

TF

[calumrobertson]

I'd read about American guys slating Challenger as a late hop but also read its great as a late hop! In light of thought i thought i'd go down the middle and not put the majority of it in too late in the boil...not sure how much actual difference 20 mins to 15 mins would make though?
Yup when i have 0C min additions i generally put them in at 80C.
Think it will be interesting to try out this one anyway...as you said, what could go wrong!
C

[Twistedfinger]

Who listens to a septic tank anyway !!!

I've always thought Challanger was a good all rounder. I do love SMaSH beers, never done one with challanger yet, one for this year..

[gnutz2]

I have done an all challenger beer but it had crystal so wasnt a true smash. Its a very good british hop and maks a good british bitter.
I dont think the aroma will be massive with that recipe, maybe dry hop it, something ive never done with challenger.
But personally I dont think smash beers are a good idea at low og's, they benefit from some crystal malts, higher og's with some residual sugars are better.

[Dr. Dextrin]

My preference in an all-Challenger brew is to put the late hops in late. Anything more than 10 mins from the end and you lose the fresh green taste that, for me, is the whole point of flavouring with Challenger.

[calumrobertson]

Yup, had started thinking the same so just getting my bitterness from 60 minute addition then everything else is going to be under 5.

[seymour]

Great idea. I tasted a SMASH last Sunday night made from Scottish Optic malt and English Bullion hops. Very informative to the palate, and yours will be too.

[DeGarre]

Challenger is almost as good a choice as Northdown.

[seymour]

I ordered some Challenger for my Brew Day tomorrow, using them for the first time.

[calumrobertson]

Nice one! Im looking forward to this one!
Had to get some more yeast as i'd planned on cropping it from my current black IPA but had never done it before and now have two jars of very brown, very trubby slurry!!! :-/

[seymour]

...now have two jars of very brown, very trubby slurry!!! :-/

...and the problem is...? Sounds right to me.

[calumrobertson]

Well i dont really wanna put brown / black yeasty stuff into a 100% pale malt wort! not sure i collected enough actual yeast too..mostly trub!

[seymour]

Yeah, makes sense. Definitely save it for your next brown batch, though. You can be sure there are live cells in there, but when in doubt you can combine it with some unfermented wort in a gallon jug as a yeast starter ahead of time.

[calumrobertson]

Will do.. fed up of paying so much for new years...and its an interesting advancement in my brewing skillset too