So, this is the first time linking something I've done here. Might be useful to see what people think or point out any howlers in my process or recipes :) I'm working away from a clone book, but mostly to find some tried and tested combinations before I start going my own way with the batches.
There's two other recipes I can post up later as well that I've tried - a Russian Imperial Stout and an american amber ale (really enjoying the ale actually!)
Recipe:
Steeping Grains, 30 mins in 3.8 Ltr water @ 65 C
255 g Crystal 113 EBC
142 g Chocolate Malt
60 minute Boil:
@ 60 mins
1.088 Kg Muntons Extra Light DME
3 kg Light LME
57 g Malto Dexterin
35 g Norther Brewer
@ 15 mins
7 g Northern Brewer
13 mm Vanilla Bean
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/4 tsp Star Anise
28 g Belgian sweet orange peel
25 mm Cinnamon stick
1 tsp Irish Moss
@ 1 min
13 mm Vanilla Bean
1/4 tsp Star Anise
OG: 1068
Cooled to 20 C with wort chiller, then added to fermenter with a yeast starter made from harvested WLP001 California ale yeast. Kept at 21 C with temperature control for two weeks, now resting for one week with no control before bottling this weekend.
I normally don't use a secondary unless I'm bulk aging a beer. When leaving in primary, I just leave it for 3 weeks and take a FG reading at that point. Should I watch that more carefully for instance?
I'll post up how it turns out :) What would people expect from a combination like that?