National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => All Grain Brewing => Topic started by: krockett on October 15, 2014, 09:54:19 PM

Title: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: krockett on October 15, 2014, 09:54:19 PM
Hi,

I've only done all grain brewing using HBC kits. Am debating what to do for my next brew.

I have a load of hops in my freezer - would like to use those and start making my own recipes.

the thing is I dont really know what I'm doing yet ; )

Can anyone tell me - would, say 5kgs of Maris Otter and .5 kg of Crystal get the same type of product as a HBC Ale kit?

Thanks in advance!

-D.
Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: delzep on October 15, 2014, 09:57:39 PM
Quote from: TheEnthusiast on October 15, 2014, 09:54:19 PM
Hi,

I've only done all grain brewing using HBC kits. Am debating what to do for my next brew.

I have a load of hops in my freezer - would like to use those and start making my own recipes.

the thing is I dont really know what I'm doing yet ; )

Can anyone tell me - would, say 5kgs of Maris Otter and .5 kg of Crystal get the same type of product as a HBC Ale kit?

Thanks in advance!

-D.

Do more research...google sample recipes or clone recipes of your favourite commercial beers and go from there
Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: krockett on October 15, 2014, 10:04:43 PM
Thanks Delsep. btw I am doing research!

Problem is a lot of recipes seem to be US-based - for 2 row malt or similar.

Would love to make this for example http://beersmithrecipes.com/viewrecipe/17432/citra-double-ipa-clone-kern-river-brewing-company-cybi-podcast-version

- but the grain doesnt seem to be available here.

Am just looking for recommendations is all...
Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: LordEoin on October 15, 2014, 10:34:16 PM
don't worry about 2row/3row etc, just use maris otter for an ale base and whatever lager/pilsner malt for those.
I'll show you how I generally attack a recipe if i don't have my beersmith.

gimme a few minutes while I type this up...
Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: krockett on October 15, 2014, 10:52:48 PM
@lordeoin take your time why dont ya ; )

Really appreciate any pointers!

Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: LordEoin on October 15, 2014, 11:09:41 PM
Start with some thing simple and tasty looking like http://beersmithrecipes.com/viewrecipe/653/dr-smurtos-golden-ale (http://beersmithrecipes.com/viewrecipe/653/dr-smurtos-golden-ale) or http://beersmithrecipes.com/viewrecipe/1660/american-session (http://beersmithrecipes.com/viewrecipe/1660/american-session)

5 lbs 4.0 oz    Brewers Malt 2-Row (Briess) (1.8 SRM)    Grain    1
1 lbs 12.0 oz    Maris Otter (Crisp) (4.0 SRM)    Grain    2
1 lbs    Caramel Malt - 20L (Briess) (20.0 SRM)    Grain    3
2.0 oz    Cascade [5.5%] - Mash Hop    Hops    4
1.0 oz    Centennial [10.0%] - Mash Hop    Hops    5
1.0 oz    Cascade [5.5%] - Boil 60 min    Hops    6
0.5 oz    Cascade [5.5%] - Boil 20 min    Hops    7
1.00    Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15 min)    Misc    8
0.5 oz    Cascade [5.5%] - Boil 10 min    Hops    9
0.5 oz    Centennial [10.0%] - Boil 5 min    Hops    10
1.5 oz    Centennial [11.0%] - Boil 0 min    Hops    11
1 pkgs    English Ale (White Labs #WLP002)    Yeast    12
1.0 oz    Cascade [5.5%] - Dry Hop 5 days    Hops    13
1.0 oz    Centennial [11.0%] - Dry Hop 5 days    Hops    14

Separate it out into it's components and convert quantities into something less moonspeak and more sensible and decimal
Grain
2.4kg   Brewers Malt 2-Row (Briess) (1.8 SRM)    Grain    1
800g    Maris Otter (Crisp) (4.0 SRM)    Grain    2
450g    Caramel Malt - 20L (Briess) (20.0 SRM)    Grain    3

Hops
56g    Cascade [5.5%] - Mash Hop    Hops    4
28g    Centennial [10.0%] - Mash Hop    Hops    5
28g   Cascade [5.5%] - Boil 60 min    Hops    6
14g    Cascade [5.5%] - Boil 20 min    Hops    7
14g    Cascade [5.5%] - Boil 10 min    Hops    9
14g   Centennial [10.0%] - Boil 5 min    Hops    10
42g    Centennial [11.0%] - Boil 0 min    Hops    11
28g    Cascade [5.5%] - Dry Hop 5 days    Hops    13
28g   Centennial [11.0%] - Dry Hop 5 days    Hops    14

Yeast
1 pkgs    English Ale (White Labs #WLP002)    Yeast    12

Other
1.00    Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15 min)    Misc    8

Bang whatever hops you want to use into brewmate (beersmith is better but brewmate is free and simple) to make up the bitterness
In this case the recipe calls for 47 IBU. I have some magnum and cascade handy so i'll use the magnum for a nice clean bittering and just cascade the shit out of it.
15g magnum @60min
20g cascade @20min
20g cascade @10min
30g cascade dryhop.

Decide on a yeast
Not in the mood to spend 8-10 quid on fancy WLP002. so a quick google shows that fermentis s04 shoul ddo the trick, but feck it I'm making an american ale so I'll just go with US05 altogether.

Step back and have a look
2.4kg   Brewers Malt 2-Row (Briess) (1.8 SRM)    Grain    1
800g    Maris Otter (Crisp) (4.0 SRM)    Grain    2
450g    Caramel Malt - 20L (Briess) (20.0 SRM)    Grain    3
15g magnum @60min
20g cascade @20min
half whirfloc @10 mins
20g cascade @10min
30g cascade dryhop.
1 pack US05

Look for tweaks/flaws
The only base malt I have at the moment is Maris Otter, so I'll sub that in.
I have no caramel, but I have some crystal 20. pretty much the same thing.
I have some melanoiden and like it, so I'll bang a little of that in there too.
seems like it'll be very weak and girly 'sessionable' so I'll up the maris otter a bit
4.5kg    Maris Otter
450g    crystal 20
50g           Melanoiden
15g magnum @60min
20g cascade @20min
half whirfloc @10 mins
20g cascade @10min
30g cascade dryhop.
1 pack US05
Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: LordEoin on October 15, 2014, 11:28:26 PM
So there you go. A pretty easy recipe that mostly fits what's available and takes the moonspeak out of a lot of it
Looks fine, but I'd probably tweak the quantities a bit more until I have them where I want them.
Also you'll need t oadjust the default AA  levels to match your hops etc.
And if in doubt, post your recipe and ask for advice :)

Brewmate http://www.brewmate.net/ (http://www.brewmate.net/)
(http://i.imgur.com/spWEN1d.jpg)

Beersmith http://beersmith.com/ (http://beersmith.com/)
(http://i.imgur.com/cJ6GMFJ.jpg)



Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: johnrm on October 15, 2014, 11:49:08 PM
(Looks like LE is at work)
Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: LordEoin on October 15, 2014, 11:58:20 PM
nope, home now and waiting for a beer to chill in the freezer  ;D
Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: Taf on October 16, 2014, 09:53:24 AM
Quote from: johnrm on October 15, 2014, 11:49:08 PM
(Looks like LE is at work)
Ha ha, was going to say the same, but looks like we are both wrong! Hopefully the beer didn't freeze in the time it took to do that! Great advice anyway.
Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: krockett on October 16, 2014, 10:09:25 AM
Thanks a mill Lord Eoin.

I'm using brewtarget to work out IBUs etc. the grains I put in (5kg MO, .5 CM) seem to work on paper, but I dont know as much about different speciality grains to add.

Will try your grain base there..

Thanks - really appreciated!


Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: LordEoin on October 16, 2014, 10:13:48 AM
just taker a look at some other recipes for the style you want and you'll soon see if there are any common elements. there are also many grain substitution charts out there. Google is your best friend :)
Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: ferg on October 16, 2014, 10:40:02 AM
Quote from: LordEoin on October 16, 2014, 10:13:48 AM
just taker a look at some other recipes for the style you want and you'll soon see if there are any common elements. there are also many grain substitution charts out there. Google is your best friend :)

This. Before I got a hold of grain substitution chart I was so perplexed by the number of different malts... Turns out there's just 3 or 4 names for everything!
Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: Bubbles on October 16, 2014, 01:34:18 PM
Great post, LordEoin.


OP, I find the BYO website a great resource for exploring beer styles:
https://byo.com/american-pale-ale
Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: Qs on October 16, 2014, 01:42:53 PM
Good call, the beer styles articles are especially helpful. https://byo.com/stories/beer-styles
Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: krockett on October 16, 2014, 09:47:23 PM
Thanks lads.. much obliged.
Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: krockett on October 17, 2014, 12:04:28 PM
Anyone used this as a base? Would it be good for American Ales/ IPAs?

https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/pilsner-malt-crushed-25kg-crushed-ebc-25-40-weyermanns-p-2532.html
Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: armedcor on October 17, 2014, 01:00:16 PM
Quote from: TheEnthusiast on October 17, 2014, 12:04:28 PM
Anyone used this as a base? Would it be good for American Ales/ IPAs?

https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/pilsner-malt-crushed-25kg-crushed-ebc-25-40-weyermanns-p-2532.html

Weyermanns do a pale malt which would be a good base for APA/IPAs but Maria otter will do the job just as well.
Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: armedcor on October 17, 2014, 01:01:45 PM
https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/pale-malt-crushed-grain-1kg-weyermans-p-2424.html
Title: Re: DIY all grain recipes
Post by: Qs on October 17, 2014, 04:00:54 PM
Quote from: TheEnthusiast on October 17, 2014, 12:04:28 PM
Anyone used this as a base? Would it be good for American Ales/ IPAs?

https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/pilsner-malt-crushed-25kg-crushed-ebc-25-40-weyermanns-p-2532.html

Yeah I've a 25g bag of crushed pils malt and its great as a 2 row replacement. However 25g is a lot if you're doing 5 gallon batches. Getting it pre-crushed means it'll lose flavour over time. Unless you are going to do a lot of batches in a reasonably short space of time you might want to buy less. I definitely regret buying such a big bag of pre-crushed.

I really do like working with pils malt as my base for ales though. Its just a touch lighter than UK/Irish pale malt and I find that suits American styles pretty well.