Summer Apocalypse

[Spud395]

Going try for a Cascadian ale, yet again brewing a style I never tasted before.
Wanting something light, hoppy, drinkable and black as hell, not to bitter and a big frothy head
Thinking of doing a cold infusion with the carafa 3 to avoid roastiness, wheat for the head, sugar for the lightness of body and dryness

Here's my proposed recipe, thoughts appricated

Summer apocalypse


Pale Malt 5 EBC 4000 grams 80.8%
Crystal Malt 130 EBC 100 grams 2%
Wheat Malt 3.5 EBC 200 grams 4%
carafa special 3 1200 EBC 250 grams 5.1%
Sugar, Household White 0 EBC 300 grams 6.1%


Magnum Whole 12.6 % 60 mins 20 grams 16.7%
Amarillo Whole 9.1 % 15 mins 20 grams 16.7%
Cascade Whole 5.7 % 15 mins 20 grams 16.7%
Amarillo Whole 9.1 % 80C steep 30 grams 25%
Cascade Whole 5.7 % 80C steep 30 grams 25%

Final Volume: 23 Litres
Original Gravity: 1.050
Final Gravity: 1.011
Alcohol Content: 5.1% ABV
Total Liquor: 33 Litres
Mash Liquor: 11.6 Litres
Mash Efficiency: 75 %
Bitterness: 40.EBU
Colour: 119 EBC

[Naich]

Hi Spud. I'm not sure that Cascade is the right hop to use in a dark beer. Or Amarillo, although I've never used it myself. I thought conventional wisdom had it that dark beers were better with spicy hops and lighter beers were better for fruity ones, like Cascade.

[jimp2003]

That is the point of this style - breaking those boundaries.

I tried something along those lines and it turned out very tasty although if I brew it again I might also include some sugar to lighten it a little.

It certainly can be an acquired taste and I have named mine JP's Marmite Cascadian as it is very black and those that have tried it either love it or hate it.

[alfie09]

i like cascade in dark beer its lovely and northdown are to!

[Barley Water]

If I were making that beer, I think I would bump up both the O.G. (to around 1.060 or so) as well as the IBU's to match (go to say 50 or 60). Cascadian ale is supposed to be basicly a black west coast IPA and those guys like their beers a bit bigger and of course hoppier. Also, I don't see any reason why the hops selected will not work. What you want is the big grapefruit, pine tree effect and Cascade and Amarillo will do the job credibly. I would also consider dry hopping with either or both, but that is just me. By the way, I think Magnum is a great choice for a bittering hop, I just used it in an Alt and it worked out pretty well. The beer is pretty bitter but not harsh, if you know what I mean. Also, I don't think you really need the wheat (although I know you guys just love to add the stuff) my experience with highly hopped beers is that head retention is excellent. Is there some rule out there that says certain kinds of hops go with dark beer as versus light beer? To tell you the truth, I have never heard that one but then I ain't the sharpest stick in the shed.

[Spud395]

Thanks for the feed back guys.
Glad to hear that about the Magnum, I've not used it before, would you sneak in a little as a late hop as well maybe?
My thinking on the wheat is purely for astetics, I would like a black pint with a big white head, just for the visual effect!
I did intend to say I was dry hopping as well.
Higher ABV and bitterness may be more to style and while I enjoy hoppy beers I dont like to much bitterness as a rule (I prefer SN pale ale over Torpedo) I also like beers around 5% so I can have a few and not end up on my ear
I've a few big one's to be drinking, so will prolly keep this one around that

[yogester]

If you want mainly just the colour from the Carafa III only put it in with the sparge. You will still get enough darkness but won't get any roasty character.

[coatesg]

Cascade (and centennial) work very well in a dark beer - I have a keg of Tasty McDole's "Janet's Brown Ale" going at the moment. N Brewer bittering, Cascade late and centennial dry hopping - it balances the roast from the chocolate malt beautifully.

[MAF]

Planning somethng similar meself! Have Carafa II and am thinkin I'll use up some hops from the freezer drawer that are gettin oldish... have some Saaz, Liberty, Cascade, Centennial, Challenger, though not sure what combination I'll use. Will be Magnum for bittering though