Amberish ale constructive criticism please

[nelstrodomus]

Hey fanatics,

I just developed a simple recipe to be ready in the spring. Nothing special, just worried about using crystal 120 because it's such a dark crystal, I went on a specialty grain shopping spree and simply stocked up so I figured this would be a good ale to use it in. I plan on mashing around 150-152, single infusion batch sparge. This one is for the swmbo, but I want something that I would like to, so I hopped it up a bit with some cascade in the freezer. Thanks in advance...



DDB Amberish Ale
American Amber Ale


Type: All Grain
Date: 2/20/09
Batch Size: 11.00 gal
Brewer: Dan
Boil Size: 12.59 gal Asst Brewer:
Boil Time: 60 min Equipment: My Equipment
Taste Rating(out of 50): 35.0 Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.0
Taste Notes:

Ingredients

Amount Item Type % or IBU
21.00 lb Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) Grain 93.3 %
1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt -120L (120.0 SRM) Grain 4.4 %
0.50 lb Chocolate Malt (350.0 SRM) Grain 2.2 %
2.75 oz Northern Brewer [7.00%] (60 min) Hops 31.0 IBU
2.00 oz Cascade [5.50%] (10 min) Hops 6.4 IBU
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50%] (5 min) Hops 1.8 IBU
2.00 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs American Ale (Wyeast Labs #1056) Yeast-Ale



Beer Profile

Est Original Gravity: 1.054 SG
Measured Original Gravity: 1.056 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.013 SG Measured Final Gravity: 1.013 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 5.3 % Actual Alcohol by Vol: 5.6 %
Bitterness: 39.2 IBU Calories: 250 cal/pint
Est Color: 16.3 SRM Color: Color

[beerking]

My first impression is that it will be one very dark amber ale. It will also likely have some very intensedark fruit notes, of the type you would more expect to find in a Belgian Dark Strong or a Dubbel, maybe even a RIS.

120L crystal will tend to give your beer some dark fruit notes. Kind of raisiny,pruney, maybe even a little rummy.

I would try that recipe with a 40L crystal myself (maybe 60), and save the 120 for a bigger beer than an amber.

[markaberrant]

I think it is a good recipe, but might be more in line with an American Brown.

[nelstrodomus]

Thanks guys, to be honest with you, the swmbo is catching on with belgian ales, especially dubbels (which is a godsend), so I'm trying to get her more on american hopped ales as well, so looks like I'll be following this recipe more or less...

I'll let you know how it comes out, thanks