Hole Hearted - light ale recipe

[norstar]

Hi chaps.

With a new temperature controlled fermenting cupboard I'm raring to try another batch where I can at least rule out temperature fluctuation as a reason for my awful brews...

I've formulated a recipe to use up some hops and malt I have knocking about already opened - the intention is to have an easy drinking lightish ale for the latter part of the summer.

Anything wrong with this?:

14 litre batch collecting 20 litres in the boiler (don't trust myself to do a full length brew yet):

Maris otter 2.5kg 90.5%
Caramalt 170g 6%
Amber 70g 2.5%
Wheat 28g 1%

Hops:
Challenger 6.5% AA 17g 90 mins
EK Goldings 7.4% AA 10g 40 mins
Aurora 7.8% AA 6g 10 mins

Nottingham yeast I should think, tho am tempted to chuck some Kolsch yeast in...

My beer engine reckons OG 1.045 and 4.4% ABV with colour of 12 EBC and bitterness of 30 EBU.

Bit new to recipe formulating but I'm trying for a lighter ale with a bit of spice on the nose and subtle biscuit flavours.

Anything obviously wrong? Will the hops work?

[norstar]

anyone?

[DaveyT]

Hello
I'm an extract brewer, so I'm not sure about your grains, but the hops look really good. I really like Aurora in late; can't go wrong there. Any reason why the EKG are in for 40 min? Have you tried it before? I'd love to know if it worked. I've always thought the oils get burnt off and the bitterness doesn't have time to come through.
I do like a bit of Nottingham, too. Sounds good.
Can I ask about the temperature controlled cupboard; I live in the Canaries and summer's just around the corner when I have to fight to keep my brews below 30 degrees. Did you build it our buy it? Sounds ideal.

Cheers
David

[norstar]

Hi David,

Everything you need to know about the fermenting cupboard is here: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=30074&p=444872&hili ... er#p444872

Actually really simple. Our work fridge packed up because of the thermostat so simply bypassed that, and bought a £15 controller from Hong Kong on ebay and some parts inc a tube heater.

The full build cost about £55 I think.

You may be right about the Goldings but I'm relying on their AA's to bring in enought bitterness and using the Aurora for aroma, but I think I'll lose the aroma from the EKGs because of the length.

[norstar]

Ah well, disappointing response to the initial post, but I moved the Goldings to 20 mins if anyone's interested, to get more of the flavour from it and some aroma too. It's also easier as that coincides with my Protofloc tablet addition.

Mash Ph was about 5.2 as I added a bit too much CRS I think. Sulphates to chloride just under 2:1.

Initial runnings were as golden as the precious stuff itself, and clear as a bell, so that's promising. OG also bang on at 1.044. Couldn't have gone better.

My yeast starter took longer than expected to start working which was odd after two days to develop in a 1L bottle. Only one pathetic bubble in the airlock this morning which was 11 hours after pitching at 25 degrees.

Shall keep this at 20degrees and see how we go. Am cautiously optimistic that I've cracked it - turns out that the additions recommended by my local homebrew shop took the Suplhates to approx 500, so not surprising there was always a bitter aftertaste to it!

[coatesg]

Mash pH of 5.2 is perfect! Recipe looks fine to me - I would have more bitterness myself, but that's down to personal taste I guess. Might have gone for more wheat (assume it's there for head retention - even 200g isn't too much here.

[phatboytall]

You trying to replicate Oakleaf Hole Hearted?

Thats a cracking beer if so, made with 100% cascade hops.

[norstar]

Not specifically no, just thought the name was relevant as our little lad has been diagnosed with a hole in his heart, so in keeping with other beers, we've made the name relevant!

Took a long long time to get going the fermentation - even with the starter, but came back from Hols yeasterday and initial taste was lovely. Good attenuation so abv is spot on, and now crash chilling to clear. Here's hoping!

[phatboytall]

Sorry to hear that news, best wishes to him, you and your family. My cousin had to undergo a full heart and lung transplant operation, with several rejections, but was able to go on to live a long and happy life.

Hope the ale turns out good. If in doubt stick some Cascade in it i say, Hole Hearted was the beer that made me realise every beer i liked had Cascade in it.

ed

[norstar]

Thanks for the wishes.

Well, I've sampled some and it's bloody lovely! First real ale since I cracked the water treatment business and it's so smooth and nice. Slight hint of biscuit on the nose, good level of bitterness from the challenger, smooth full body for a golden ale, and the colour is beautiful.

I'm going to repeat the brew with a full length brew- this is one I'm going to keep stocking!