Recipe Formulation

[crookedeyeboy]

Being lazy here as Im sure theres a thread about somewhere for this...

Wheres the best place to start with making up your own recipe? I was thinking maybe BeerAlchemy or one of the other software based formulators..

Suggestions?

Thanks

[trucker5774]

I just "make it up" I decide on dark or light and choose the grains to suit. Of all the grains out there we only use a small variety on a regular basis. I then decide on the strength and adjust the grain bill accordingly, usually more of less pale malt. Then the hops to match....bitter, smooth floral etc

You could use a recipe, but that would be no fun and LAZY

[quiff]

Have you tried Grahams beer engine?

It's really easy to use. My one tip would be to check the AA values on your hops and alter the values that are pre designated to them in the software. It makes quite a difference.

http://www.practicalbrewing.co.uk/calcu ... eerengine/

[trucker5774]

OK..........you got me. I use beer engine too (but you still need to put the ingredients in)

[crookedeyeboy]

Yeah Ive got Beer Engine, like it. Very simple and easy to use.

I did wonder about just 'using up' stuff ive got, but it feels a little blind to me when Im trying to work out colour etc...

Think i will just have a fiddle with Beer Engine and see what comes out...

[WishboneBrewery]

I'm doing a user-upper viewtopic.php?f=5&t=28002 and I use BeerEngine to put my recipes together.
You get to juggle the EBU & EBC Just mix and match
My user-upper is just all the odd bags of stuff I've got in the cellar... Most of the grains are pale so the colour is light and the Bitterness is from the Herkules hops with flavour/ aroma from the Bramling Cross and Saaz Hops which the latter two are just whats left in the bags.

It does feel a little scary 'just going for it' but I think its very hard to make un-drinkable beer, so I'd guess that this will be a good one, Interesting malt flavours with a Blackcurrant flavour and lager-style woody aroma

My 'Yorkshire Trappist Red' was a monster, though signs are its going to be 'Drinkable Beer'

[crookedeyeboy]

Thanks pdntc, I think ive read post your posts about both beers. Sod it ill have a go with Beer Engine!
Im just stuck for choice really as to what to brew!!

[WishboneBrewery]

I'm just stuck for choice really as to what to brew!!

I get that, too much choice and too many ideas, best to just say Stuff it and get stuck in

[crookedeyeboy]

Thanks Chris, funnily enough that is exactly what I was thinking of doing.
Was looking at the LP recipe last night but I wanted to experiment with it.
Like pdntc said 'I dont think you can make an undrinkable beer'!! I agree!! They have all tasted great so far.

Ive got some Saaz hops I bought cheap, what are these like from peoples experience?

[trucker5774]

I did a brew yesterday with saaz. It is a lager, which is where you tend to see saaz used a lot. Think lager flavour and aroma and that should guide you as to the nature of saaz. Don't be scared to try things. As I mention earlier we tend to only used a few grains from the choice out there. Chris put it a little better saying about compare the recipes and see just how suble the differences are.

Yesterday I also did my Christmas Cake brew.............they only thing that really stops it being an actual cake, is the lack of eggs

Get in there, good luck

[quiff]

I think Fullers Discovery uses Saaz with Liberty.
Useless statement No:176

[mysterio]

Keep it simple and brew single hop beers. About 90% of the beers I brew are single hop. You'll quickly learn what kind of hopping schedule suits your tastes.

Start off brewing blonde ales (with your single hop) and a neutral ale yeast like Nottingham. Modify one thing at a time, add 5% wheat next time, 5% caramalt the next time, gradually build it up so you get a taste for the different ingredients.

As Chris points out you'll notice patterns in recipes. 5% is a common figure for crystal malts, up to about 10%. Stout/porter recipes frequently have around 10% total roasted malts. Apart from those guidelines, you can mess about with other speciality malts (munich, wheat, biscuit etc) until your heart is content. You'll develop a feel for it. Most of my recipes are designed on the morning I brew.

[crookedeyeboy]

I think Fullers Discovery uses Saaz with Liberty.
Useless statement No:176

Hahah not a useless statement at all!!

Here I come 'world o ye experimentation!'....fingers crossed!!

[crookedeyeboy]

Keep it simple and brew single hop beers.

Does this mean using the same hop for bitterness AND aroma(ness!) ??

[quiff]

yes, Pendle witches brew is single hopped with fuggles.
Bung a load in at the begining of the boil, bung a load in at the end of it.
I did have the good intentions of doing just what Mysterio advises as I wanted to develop a taste for what each hop variety brings to a beer.
Sadly the lure of tw@tting around in this hobby is far too strong