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Author Topic: 1st ESB From A Scratch Recipe  (Read 3982 times)

Offline JohnstonGold75

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1st ESB From A Scratch Recipe
« on: October 31, 2017, 05:51:14 pm »
Well, I've got 3 All Grain batches under my belt so far. All of those were recipes I found and scaled to my system. There were maybe 1 or 2 things I added or did differently, but for the most part I stuck with the original idea.

I've been doing some research on ESB's. I'm shooting for something that's malt forward, nice mouth feel, depth of flavor. I thought I'd post the recipe to get some feedback from more experienced brewers.

I brew 5 Gallon batches.

ABV: 5.96 %
OG: 1.058 SG
FG: 1.012 SG
IBUs: 24.3
IBUs Color: 12.2 SRM



Cheers


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Offline blatz

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Re: 1st ESB From A Scratch Recipe
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2017, 05:55:23 pm »
Try 8-12% eng med Crystal and Maris Otter.  25% caramel malts plus brown sugar is counteractive and likely going to be muddled.  Simpler is better.  Hop schedule looks ok.


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Offline JohnstonGold75

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Re: 1st ESB From A Scratch Recipe
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2017, 06:16:55 pm »
Try 8-12% eng med Crystal and Maris Otter.  25% caramel malts plus brown sugar is counteractive and likely going to be muddled.  Simpler is better.  Hop schedule looks ok.


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Should I keep the brown sugar or ditch it?


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Offline el_capitan

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Re: 1st ESB From A Scratch Recipe
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2017, 07:02:55 pm »
Personally, I would ditch the brown sugar.  Sounds like blatz concurs.  I've never seen that in an ESB recipe. 

Offline JohnstonGold75

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Re: 1st ESB From A Scratch Recipe
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2017, 07:03:21 pm »
Personally, I would ditch the brown sugar.  Sounds like blatz concurs.  I've never seen that in an ESB recipe.




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Offline 802Chris

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Re: 1st ESB From A Scratch Recipe
« Reply #5 on: November 01, 2017, 07:03:27 am »
My first impression is too much crystal, and I agree that the sugar and crystal are counter productive. hop schedule looks good. When making my ESB I try to stick to the following ratio more or less. 88% base, 10% crystal/adjunct, 2% color/dark malt.

remember cystal malt adds color but also a lot of flavor, and it can be used sparingly. if you are adding mid/dark crystal for color you can always use less and add a touch of dark malt for color.

sugar on the other hand (even brown sugar) does the opposite. it will ferment out almost completely and is usually used to dry out a beer (lighten the body, while maintaining alcohol content).

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: 1st ESB From A Scratch Recipe
« Reply #6 on: November 01, 2017, 07:22:14 am »
I find the bottled version of Fullers ESB we get in the US to be too sweet compared to the cask version in the UK. The bottled version is stronger in ABV, and is a different recipe.

John Keeling of Fullers was interviewed on a Can You Brew It episode on the Brewing Network, and his recipe was only 5-6% Crystal malt. No sugar either.
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Offline blatz

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Re: 1st ESB From A Scratch Recipe
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2017, 11:54:57 am »
I find the bottled version of Fullers ESB we get in the US to be too sweet

I think so too, although the draft (beer engine) I've had were stateside and I'm sure its not the same.

I looked and my ESB is 92.5% MO/7.5% English dark Crystal 70-80L, as a data point of reference.
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Offline brewinhard

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Re: 1st ESB From A Scratch Recipe
« Reply #8 on: November 01, 2017, 12:30:27 pm »
I concur with the grain adjustments from above and would also state that you will probably want more IBU's in your finished product to balance out the crystal malt. Maybe consider shooting for 35-45 IBU's depending on your preference?

Offline JohnstonGold75

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Re: 1st ESB From A Scratch Recipe
« Reply #9 on: November 01, 2017, 09:49:22 pm »
Really great information here! Thank you for the advice.


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Offline jtoots

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Re: 1st ESB From A Scratch Recipe
« Reply #10 on: November 02, 2017, 05:23:32 am »
I concur with the grain adjustments from above and would also state that you will probably want more IBU's in your finished product to balance out the crystal malt. Maybe consider shooting for 35-45 IBU's depending on your preference?
I'm with that suggestion for what I like in an ESB, worth noting that (1) 2008 BJCP caps the style at 35 IBUs and (2) I thought it was interesting that the OP was going for a malt-forward ESB. 

Offline dmtaylor

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Re: 1st ESB From A Scratch Recipe
« Reply #11 on: November 02, 2017, 07:03:07 am »
I concur with the grain adjustments from above and would also state that you will probably want more IBU's in your finished product to balance out the crystal malt. Maybe consider shooting for 35-45 IBU's depending on your preference?

+1.  My first thought: Need more hops!  Bittering especially.  Aim for at least 32 IBUs if not 35-38.

I'd also use 1/3 as much crystal malts, consider 1/2 as much brown sugar or zero.
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Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: 1st ESB From A Scratch Recipe
« Reply #12 on: November 02, 2017, 09:38:38 am »
I concur with the grain adjustments from above and would also state that you will probably want more IBU's in your finished product to balance out the crystal malt. Maybe consider shooting for 35-45 IBU's depending on your preference?
I'm with that suggestion for what I like in an ESB, worth noting that (1) 2008 BJCP caps the style at 35 IBUs and (2) I thought it was interesting that the OP was going for a malt-forward ESB.

2015 guidelines go up to 50 IBU for strong bitter.

35 IBU is good for Fullers ESB (only ESB in the UK,as that is trademarked), which is a malt showcase.
This may help.
https://byo.com/stories/item/2318-fuller’s-the-pride-of-london
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Offline Phil_M

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Re: 1st ESB From A Scratch Recipe
« Reply #13 on: November 02, 2017, 10:22:28 am »
I'd actually say the brown sugar is an interesting idea. I've got a British homebrewing book that suggests simply using table sugar if invert is unavailable. Since invert is blended with molasses to approximate the darker invert versions, I see brown sugar (table sugar + molasses) being an interesting idea.

I usually use about 10% invert, sometimes more in my bitters.

I agree with others though, more hops and less caramel malt. If the sugar seems to thin the beer out too much without all that caramel malt, decrease the carbonation, it'll help make is seem "thicker".
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Offline brewinhard

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Re: 1st ESB From A Scratch Recipe
« Reply #14 on: November 02, 2017, 10:56:53 am »
I'd actually say the brown sugar is an interesting idea. I've got a British homebrewing book that suggests simply using table sugar if invert is unavailable. Since invert is blended with molasses to approximate the darker invert versions, I see brown sugar (table sugar + molasses) being an interesting idea.

I usually use about 10% invert, sometimes more in my bitters.

I agree with others though, more hops and less caramel malt. If the sugar seems to thin the beer out too much without all that caramel malt, decrease the carbonation, it'll help make is seem "thicker".

From a guy who knows his bitters.... ;)