[neopaszta]

Hello everyone!

I am still a beginner brewer with only 6-7 batches behinde my back. I have the basics but I havent brewed any complicated so far.
I am planning to brew a few beers for a competition next week, and these are the recipes so far.

American IPA: http://www.brewersfriend.com/homebrew/recipe/view/188379/

Irish Red Ale: http://www.brewersfriend.com/homebrew/recipe/view/188369/

Russian Imperial Stout: http://www.brewersfriend.com/homebrew/recipe/view/188382/enemy-at-the-gates

Every feedback and suggestions are welcomed!

[erockrph]

Have you brewed any of these before? That's a lot of crystal malt for an American IPA. I'd drop the Carapils, and cut the CaraMunich in half (or even get rid of it entirely).

Your hop schedule looks fine, but if you want to really kick up the hop flavor, I'd use all of your late hops in a hop stand instead. If it were me, I'd double the 60 minute addition to supply all my IBU's. After the boil, chill to 170F (77C), and add in all those hops that were going in between 15 and 5 minutes. Stir them in and let them steep at that temp for about 30-45 minutes.

I'll let someone with more experience with the other styles comment on those recipes.

[morticaixavier]

I agree with eric on the IPA. on the irish red I'm not sure why the special B is in there. I don't think of this style as having any raisin flavor at all. it's basically a very clean crisp, almost lager like, ale. use a flavorful base malt like your MO, add color with a touch of roasted barley. hops are okay.

The RIS is heavy on crystal malt as well. You've got nearly 30% crystal malt in there which even with a small beer would be way too much. a big beer like this is going to have a ton of body even if you use nothing but base malt. some people like a sweeter RIS than I do and that's fine but cut out all the crystal but the c120 and replace the caramunich with ordinary munich malt

[HoosierBrew]

Irish Red - I'd drop the roasted barley and special B. The small amount of chocolate will give a hint of roast, roasted barley along with it would make it too much IMO. And I'd switch the C40 to C60 to give you a redder color.

RIS - Mort's advice is excellent. 30% crystal would give you a sweet RIS, directly from it's flavor and indirectly by reducing attenuation.

IPA -  Agreed on the above.

[majorvices]

Heed these words of wisdom: Be ware of recipes you find on the internet!

[neopaszta]

Thanks for the advice all!

@erockrph:
NO, I haven't brewed them yet, I am planning to brew these for the first time. Mabe I am a bit obsessed with crystal malts

@morticaixavier:
I only added the Special B for the coloring. I too, like RIS a bit sweeter then the usual, but as I wrote I'll brew these for a competition so I'll definitely take your advice about the crystal malts.

Thanks again!

[hopfenundmalz]

Heed these words of wisdom: Be ware of recipes you find on the internet!

Good advice Keith, you are smart and handsome!

[majorvices]

Heed these words of wisdom: Be ware of recipes you find on the internet!

Good advice Keith, you are smart and handsome!

And you are known to only post the truth!