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Author Topic: Critique Baltic Porter Recipe  (Read 5165 times)

Offline rbowers

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Critique Baltic Porter Recipe
« on: April 12, 2012, 01:36:46 pm »
Been throwing things around on this- let me know what you think

6 Gallon Batch

Base:
9lb Marris Otter
6lb Munich

Specialty:
1.5lb Crystal 120
3oz Special B
4oz Aromatic Malt
8oz Chocolate
8oz Carafa II

Hops:
Czech Saaz 2.25 oz at 60min
Czech Saaz 1 oz at 30 min

Yeast:
San Fran Lager with large starter

Mash at 156F x 50 min
Boil x 90 min
Ferment as close to 60 as possible (any lower will be difficult)

OG: ~1.082

My concerns:
- Will the Carafa II provide enough roast character or is it better to go with some black malt?  I'm trying to make it as smooth as possible with little astringency

- Would caramunich offer any advantage over crystal 120?

Any thoughts or comments appreciated.

Offline dannyjed

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Re: Critique Baltic Porter Recipe
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2012, 02:31:12 pm »
I don't think you will get much roast character.  I would lower the crystal to maybe a pound and up your chocolate to .75 or 1 lb., but that's just my tastes.
Dan Chisholm

Offline hoser

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Re: Critique Baltic Porter Recipe
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2012, 02:42:23 pm »
If you want it to be smooth and not astringent, I would stick with the carafa and not use the black malt.  However, 1lb of carafa and chocolate is a fair amount of roast malt.  You may want to consider cutting both back to 6oz or 4oz?

Also, there is negligible difference between special B and C120L.  Maybe switch one to a mid-level crystal like 40L, 60L, or 80L for a little more complexity?  Cut back the total crystal used to about 1lb.

Offline blatz

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Re: Critique Baltic Porter Recipe
« Reply #3 on: April 13, 2012, 09:03:48 am »
+1 to hoser's comments - I used roughly that % of roasted (choc and carafa) in mine a couple of years ago and it came across a bit too much for my tastes.  I prefer this style a bit more malty and smooth.
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Offline hoser

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Re: Critique Baltic Porter Recipe
« Reply #4 on: April 13, 2012, 09:16:50 am »
I prefer this style a bit more malty and smooth.

+1

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Critique Baltic Porter Recipe
« Reply #5 on: April 13, 2012, 09:19:45 am »
I would use more special B.  That's just me though.
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Offline snowtiger87

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Re: Critique Baltic Porter Recipe
« Reply #6 on: April 13, 2012, 01:31:04 pm »
The question is, how will you use the dark grains? My suggestion would be to cold steep them for 8 hours or so, strain the liquor into a pot and boil for 5 minutes while your main mash and boil is happening, then cool down and put in the primary fermenter with the rest of the wort. That will minimize the roast / bitter character and give you smooth darkness.
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Offline rbowers

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Re: Critique Baltic Porter Recipe
« Reply #7 on: April 13, 2012, 03:26:25 pm »
Revision:  I think avoiding the black malt will keep any astringency at bay.  That being said I hope to maximize the roast/chocolate tones from the chocolate malt and use the carafa for color and some roast as well.  I kept the sum of the 2 under 10% of the grain bill.   Bumped the special B up a tad and changed the crystal to 60.  Additional thoughts?

Base:
10lb Marris Otter
5lb Munich

Specialty:
.75lb Crystal 60
4oz Special B
4oz Aromatic Malt
.75lb Chocolate
.5lb Carafa II

Hops:
Saaz 2.5oz at 60; 1.5 @ 30

Offline dannyjed

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Re: Critique Baltic Porter Recipe
« Reply #8 on: April 14, 2012, 03:44:12 pm »
looks good to me ;)
Dan Chisholm

Offline scottbreak

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Re: Critique Baltic Porter Recipe
« Reply #9 on: April 14, 2012, 06:34:52 pm »
Looks great! As for your concerns, if you don't like the astringency, stick with the Carafa II. I think the Crystal vs. CaraMunich is personal preference. I like CaraMunich myself. My only other input would be maybe a lower mash temp. Good luck and have fun. Cheers!

Offline hoser

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Re: Critique Baltic Porter Recipe
« Reply #10 on: April 14, 2012, 08:26:07 pm »
Add 2oz. of Special B, Mash 152-154F and call it good.
Cheers!

Offline jmcamerlengo

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Re: Critique Baltic Porter Recipe
« Reply #11 on: April 16, 2012, 02:22:37 pm »
Briess BlackPrinz malt is supposed to provide no astringency but some roast character IIRC. May be worth trying!
Jason
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Offline bwana

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Re: Critique Baltic Porter Recipe
« Reply #12 on: April 23, 2012, 12:16:06 pm »
Your recipe looks good. I agree with the obove poster on lowering your mash temps.