Recipe Help?

[Uncle Joshua]

I have a recipe I have brewed a few times that I think needs a little improving..



The honey goes in after fermenting has settled down. I prime with a teaspoon of honey that has sat in boiling water. Anyone know what tweaks would help?

[bazza]

I would ask what it is that you don't like about it. Flavour? Hoppiness? Something else? It looks like a nice beer actually. US-05 is a rather bland yeast. Maybe one thing I'd try is a yeast with more character. Maybe a liquid yeast from White Labs or Wyeast? I'm a big fan of Wyeast 1469 West Yorkshire Ale.

[Uncle Joshua]

I would ask what it is that you don't like about it. Flavour? Hoppiness? Something else? It looks like a nice beer actually. US-05 is a rather bland yeast. Maybe one thing I'd try is a yeast with more character. Maybe a liquid yeast from White Labs or Wyeast? I'm a big fan of Wyeast 1469 West Yorkshire Ale.

It isn't that I dislike it, I just think it could be better/more.

[BitterTed]

I would ask what it is that you don't like about it. Flavour? Hoppiness? Something else? It looks like a nice beer actually. US-05 is a rather bland yeast. Maybe one thing I'd try is a yeast with more character. Maybe a liquid yeast from White Labs or Wyeast? I'm a big fan of Wyeast 1469 West Yorkshire Ale.

I second switching yeast to WY 1469. While US-05 is a good yeast, it is rather bland and another yeast will add a bit more complexity to the brew.

[Barley Water]

I would have to agree with the previous poster, change the yeast to something that will add complexity. The Chico strain is great stuff for hoppy beers because it doesn't get in the way of the hop flavor and bitterness plus it attenuates. The problem with it is that it is pretty clean so if you are looking for complexity it's great virtue is a curse. The other thing you can do is play with character malts, I personally like a bit of amber, bisquet, victory etc.

[jimp2003]

I would ask what it is that you don't like about it. Flavour? Hoppiness? Something else? It looks like a nice beer actually. US-05 is a rather bland yeast. Maybe one thing I'd try is a yeast with more character. Maybe a liquid yeast from White Labs or Wyeast? I'm a big fan of Wyeast 1469 West Yorkshire Ale.

It isn't that I dislike it, I just think it could be better/more.

It is a bit difficult to help you improve it without some specifics. Better/more in what areas? Hop Flavour? Hop Aroma? Malt Flavour? Yeast character? Mouthfeel? etc etc...

[ArmChair]

When are you thinking of brewing? I may have some of the Ringwood Yeast ready for you to make a starter?

[bazza]

One other thing you could try is changing up the hop you are using at the end of the boil. You could try something like a Styrian Goldings to give a little more pop.

One thing I'd caution you on is to make incremental changes so you can see what you like. Keep the recipe as is and try a new yeast. Then on the next brew maybe add some character malts. Once you get that sorted, then change the hops. If you start changing multiple variables at once, it will be difficult to see what effects each change brings.

[Barley Water]

I am drinking a bitter I made using the Ringwood strain and I really like the way it came out. That stuff can give you trouble though, treat it well. One other thing you can try is to oak the beer a bit. It's just another way to add some complexity to the beer and it's easy, just steam the chips and toss them into the secondary for a couple of weeks. The effect you are trying for is to simulate a Burton Union fermentation.

[Uncle Joshua]

When are you thinking of brewing? I may have some of the Ringwood Yeast ready for you to make a starter?

I don't have a date to brew it yet, I just wanted some advice. SHMBO has ordered me to use up the hops I have before I buy anymore so it will be on hold for a while.