Recipe Advice Thread

[denimglen]

Thought it might be handy to have a thread for some of the more advanced brewers to give some advice on recipes.

Let's see how it goes eh...

[jt]

Anyway - I didn't have enough caramalt to do 12%, nearly went with my standard of dark crystal but in a compromise to 'really pale' went with Pale Crystal

 

Smelling good with the 10 minute addition just in

[MrC]

Good on ya jt!  Sounds like another itch is in the process of being scratched.  

 

I have 100g of Super Alpha in my freezer that is waiting patiently for me to get some Super Alpha inspiration.  I'll be interested to know what you think of this beer.

[jt]

There's a fait bit of itching to go yet Mr Cherry, it's not even in the fermenter yet.

 

I'll let you know progress so you can whop into that wee bag of goodness yourself !

[jt]

Popped the lid for a whiff Mr Cherry.

It's sitting at an uncomfortable 23C and the closest description I have is chewing gum, Juicy Fruit or Arrowmint maybe

 

tasting hydro sample due on Saturday

 

cheers, jt

[jt]

Mr Cherry !

 

It's been a bit harsh in the kettle and fermenter, a wee bit numbing.

But I kegged and gassed it the other night & it's had 24 hours - not great conditioning I know - and had a slightly warm flatish pint tonight.

 

It's a lot smoother, but very resiny. No great amount of aroma for the 25gm at the end, nor a great amount of distinguisable flavour either.

 

I can see it working well in the brown ...

 

I'll see how it conditions eh

[Reviled]

"Ralph at Toru Boys was predicting Super Alpha to be the next big thing"

 

Yuck, never been a fan and wont jump on the bandwagon myself - I find the bitterness too metallic from Super Alpha personally, like a metallic bitterness that coats your mouth, i've even tasted it in commercial examples that use Super Alpha for bittering such as James Squire..

 

Allthough to be fair, never tried it as a late hop, or flavour, so no doubt your experiment will be interesting JT!

[Mark]

I used a load of it once as a late hop. It didn't impart much aroma but did leave a subtle apricot flavour.

[jt]

Now that's different - I remember pine & lemon.

 

last mention I remember of apricot was in the 1056 vs 1272 vs '05 Dry discussion

 

 

 

 

[MrC]

Alpha-Sharp?  Come on jt you know you want to, and don't try to tell me you haven't already thought about it! 

 

Your favourite 1.040'ish Pale Ale malt bill with Super Alpha for bittering and then 50:50 Styrian & Super Alpha @ 15, 5, 0 & Dry.  20-25 IBU? Sounds Awesome!

 

[jt]

I reckon it's going to be pretty sharp alright Mr C, but I had some reservations.

 

After putting 1 & 1 together and getting three ... reading Rev's post I find the bitterness too metallic from Super Alpha  I was wondering if some naughty hop pixie had been lacing your recent batches due to that "I've been noticing a metallic / blood, taste in the aftertaste of a couple of my beers lately" thread of yours, I'm thinking of canning the whole brew completely

 

Do you reckon some Styrians would rescue the situation ???

[MrC]

I haven't noticed the metallic taste in my lighter coloured, hoppier beers.  Only in the darker beers with minimal post-60min hop additions (Dubbels, Stouts & Porters).

 

You've used Super Alpha for bittering before so I'd say go with what you already know.  Did you find it metallic?

 

Have you considered taking four favourite hop combo and swapping in SA as a feature hop?  

Super Alpha, Motueka & Cascade

or Hallertau, Super Alpha & Cascade

or Hallertau, Motueka & Super Alpha

[jt]

I've cetainly considered using it in the darker beers where the post 60 additions aren't too important - I struggle to identify some of the later hops in darker beers so thought this might be worth a try

 

Metallic ? No I remember pine & lemon

 

 

Seems odd not brewing on a Sunday - though I did sneak in another ginger beer yesterday!