ABV

[krockett]

Hi lads,

Just made a few batches and all have ended up with an abv approaching 6%.I'm finding that after just a few of them I'm not enjoying it - its too strong. I'll be aiming for 5% in future.

How strong have you been making yours recently?

[RobShamrock]

I'm new to brewing first batch was mid 4s  which is grand but I do like strong beers for the most part 

[Qs]

I usually find mid-5s to be the sweet spot but I want to try and start making some good 4.5%-4.8% ish beers now because coming into the summer I like to drink a bit more but don't want a head on me the next day.

[imark]

Depends on the style of beer in my opinion. If you're doing an IPA I think you need to be above 6%. While a dry stout that's 4% is fine a RIS obviously needs the alcohol. What are you brewing?

[krockett]

Have been recently drinking a Gamma Ray clone. I was aiming for 5.4% but did a lower mash (64 degrees) to make it thinner and drier and it ended up at 5.8%. Also a punk IPA clone - 6%, and a Rye IPA, should finish at 6%.

How do the Americans do it - most of their IPAs are higher than this, like 7 or 8%? They must just be having one or two max.

[NeillC]

Have been recently drinking a Gamma Ray clone. I was aiming for 5.4% but did a lower mash (64 degrees) to make it thinner and drier and it ended up at 5.8%. Also a punk IPA clone - 6%, and a Rye IPA, should finish at 6%.

How do the Americans do it - most of their IPAs are higher than this, like 7 or 8%? They must just be having one or two max.

Do you have a recipe for the gamma ray clone, love that beer.

[Qs]

Their site lists the ingredients, not amounts or timings mind you. Also I'm surprised they don't have wheat listed in the gamma ray ingredients. Head seemed very wheaty to me.

[krockett]

I got this from another site - this is for the old one (I'm not a fan of the new one). This is very close to it.

Gamma Ray - American IPA
================================================================================
Batch Size: 24.161 L
Boil Size: 27.000 L
Boil Time: 60.000 min
Efficiency: 70%
OG: 1.056
FG: 1.014
ABV: 5.4%
Bitterness: 46.8 IBUs (Tinseth)
Color: 9 SRM (Morey)

Fermentables
================================================================================
                       Name  Type    Amount Mashed Late Yield Color
  Weyermann - Pale Ale Malt Grain  5.600 kg    Yes   No   85%   3 L
        Simpsons - Caramalt Grain 400.000 g    Yes   No   76%  35 L
Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L Grain 200.000 g    Yes   No   74%  40 L
Total grain: 6.200 kg

Hops
================================================================================
Name                                Alpha   Amount     Use       Time   Form  IBU
Magnum                            10.7% 14.000 g    Boil 60.000 min   Leaf 12.7

Columbus/Tomahawk/Zeus 17.2% 10.000 g    Boil 10.000 min   Leaf  5.3
Bravo                                 15.5% 10.000 g    Boil 10.000 min Pellet  5.3
Amarillo                              9.5% 10.000 g    Boil 10.000 min Pellet  3.2

Amarillo                              9.2% 31.000 g    Boil  5.000 min Pellet  5.3
Bravo                                 15.5% 26.000 g    Boil  5.000 min Pellet  7.6
Columbus/Tomahawk/Zeus   17.2% 23.000 g    Boil  5.000 min Pellet  7.4

Amarillo                               9.2% 30.000 g   Aroma    0.000 s Pellet  0.0
Columbus/Tomahawk/Zeus   15.5% 40.000 g   Aroma    0.000 s   Leaf  0.0
Bravo                                  15.5% 35.000 g   Aroma    0.000 s   Leaf  0.0

Columbus/Tomahawk/Zeus   15.5% 25.000 g Dry Hop    0.000 s Pellet  0.0
  Amarillo                             9.5% 28.000 g Dry Hop    0.000 s Pellet  0.0
Bravo                                   15.5% 28.000 g Dry Hop    0.000 s Pellet  0.0


Yeast
================================================================================
        Name Type Form    Amount   Stage
Safale S-05  Ale  Dry 11.000 mL Primary

Mash
================================================================================
               Name     Type   Amount      Temp   Target       Time
                    Infusion 13.460 L  68.212 C 64.000 C 60.000 min
                    Infusion  6.000 L 100.000 C 64.000 C 20.000 min
Final Batch Sparge Infusion 16.267 L  85.798 C 74.000 C 15.000 min

[NeillC]

Their site lists the ingredients, not amounts or timings mind you. Also I'm surprised they don't have wheat listed in the gamma ray ingredients. Head seemed very wheaty to me.

I'll have a look, thanks.

[NeillC]

Thanks Mac780.