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Author Topic: American Amber...Red Seal  (Read 2191 times)

Offline blatz

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  • Paul Blatz - Jupiter, FL
American Amber...Red Seal
« on: May 02, 2017, 02:56:48 pm »
I've been having trouble of late mastering this style.  One of my all time favorites is Red Seal - and I would love to capture that malt flavor albeit with a different hop expression.

I've tried Denny's Waldo Lake, Jamil's Evil Twin and while they made good beers, it wasn't what I was looking for.

My most recent Amber (exact recipe at home - but 2 row, Munich, C-45, C-120, melanoiden and pale chocolate) turned out to not be an amber at all - sort of in between brown and amber.  An interesting beer, but way off the mark for my goal.

what would you think of this malt bill?

90% 2 row
10% Bairds 75-80L Crystal

at 1.054, it comes out to about 10.7SRM, almost double my house APA recipe color, which seems about right.

just wondering if I shouldn't go back to simpler is better, seems to be the case with all my other recipes.  could throw a little 120L or carared in there, but I'm looking for some insight.
The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

BJCP National: F0281

Offline tommymorris

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American Amber...Red Seal
« Reply #1 on: May 02, 2017, 03:28:18 pm »
I have never had Red Seal.

Regarding the Amber that was more like Brown Ale. I would drop the chocolate malt and replace with Carafa Special 3. The Carafa gives color with a lot more mellow flavor. I also like carared. It helps with red color if your into that.

I like an amber that has a sweet finish. I am pretty liberal with the caramel malt. 10-15% of the bill.
« Last Edit: May 02, 2017, 03:30:49 pm by alestateyall »

Offline blatz

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Re: American Amber...Red Seal
« Reply #2 on: May 02, 2017, 03:42:36 pm »
Correction - Carared not C45L on that last one:

Quote
Boil Size: 14.90 gal
Post Boil Volume: 12.50 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 12.00 gal   
Bottling Volume: 12.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.054 SG
Estimated Color: 11.7 SRM
Estimated IBU: 44.7 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 80.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 80.0 %
Boil Time: 90 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt                   Name                                     Type          #        %/IBU         
14 lbs 8.0 oz         Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM)           Grain         1        64.4 %       
4 lbs                 Munich Malt - 10L (6.6 SRM)              Grain         2        17.8 %       
2 lbs 4.0 oz          Carared - 20L (20.0 SRM)                 Grain         3        10.0 %       
1 lbs                 Melanoiden Malt (20.0 SRM)               Grain         4        4.4 %         
6.0 oz                Caramel/Crystal Malt -120L (120.0 SRM)   Grain         5        1.7 %         
6.0 oz                Pale Chocolate Malt (200.0 SRM)          Grain         6        1.7 %         
1.00 oz               Amarillo Gold - 2012 [9.50 %] - First Wo Hop           7        16.9 IBUs     
1.00 oz               Cascade - 2012 [6.40 %] - First Wort 90. Hop           8        12.6 IBUs     
0.50 oz               Magnum - 2012 [12.20 %] - Boil 60.0 min  Hop           9        10.2 IBUs     
1.00 oz               Amarillo Gold - 2012 [9.50 %] - Boil 5.0 Hop           10       2.9 IBUs     
1.00 oz               Cascade - 2012 [6.40 %] - Boil 5.0 min   Hop           11       2.1 IBUs     
1.50 oz               Amarillo Gold - 2012 [9.50 %] - Steep/Wh Hop           12       0.0 IBUs     
1.50 oz               Cascade - 2012 [6.40 %] - Steep/Whirlpoo Hop           13       0.0 IBUs     
1.0 pkg               American Ale (Wyeast Labs #1056) [124.21 Yeast         14       -             


not sure if Carafa is the answer, or scrapping and going in a new direction?
The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

BJCP National: F0281

Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: American Amber...Red Seal
« Reply #3 on: May 02, 2017, 04:18:46 pm »
I used to buy Red Seal pretty regularly, Paul. Loved the stuff. I like the idea of simplifying. I think the 90/10 2- row/C75-80 sounds good, or even a little less of the Baird's along with some Munich and adjust SRM with Midnight Wheat or Carafa III if need be. I like the hop schedule there. I don't think trying it with 1450 is a bad idea either though, for a slightly fuller mouthfeel.

I was at a pub a long time ago that got a fresh keg of Red Seal - just a great beer fresh. Put the semi-fresh stuff we got here in bottles to shame. I may have had a few too many. Anyway, I think simpler might be better here. 
Jon H.

Offline dannyjed

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Re: American Amber...Red Seal
« Reply #4 on: May 02, 2017, 05:30:06 pm »
If you're looking for a more simple grain bill like Jon suggests, I've made an Amber with Two-row, Maris Otter, and Crystal 120 (50/40/10). Also, I like hop bursting in an Amber.


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