DIY all grain recipes

[krockett]

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.

[delzep]

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

[krockett]

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...

[LordEoin]

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...

[krockett]

@lordeoin take your time why dont ya ; )

Really appreciate any pointers!

[LordEoin]

Start with some thing simple and tasty looking like http://beersmithrecipes.com/viewrecipe/653/dr-smurtos-golden-ale or 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

[LordEoin]

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/


Beersmith http://beersmith.com/

[johnrm]

(Looks like LE is at work)

[LordEoin]

nope, home now and waiting for a beer to chill in the freezer 

[Taf]

(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.

[krockett]

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!

[LordEoin]

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

[ferg]

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!

[Bubbles]

Great post, LordEoin.


OP, I find the BYO website a great resource for exploring beer styles:
https://byo.com/american-pale-ale

[Qs]

Good call, the beer styles articles are especially helpful. https://byo.com/stories/beer-styles