Critique my American Brown

[GrumpyPaul]

Im not a style nazi - but aiming for something American Brownish.

The other guiding principle in this recipe is to use the grains and hops I have on hand. In particular trying to use up the last of a bag of vienna.

Is there too much crystal?

Have plenty of Pilsner or Ale malt and Wheat to sub out the crystals for something else...

Grumpy's Brown Bunny
American Brown Ale

Recipe Specs
----------------
Batch Size (L): 40.0
Total Grain (kg): 8.400
Total Hops (g): 98.00
Original Gravity (OG): 1.047 (°P): 11.7
Final Gravity (FG): 1.012 (°P): 3.1
Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 4.62 %
Colour (SRM): 35.9 (EBC): 70.7
Bitterness (IBU): 35.2 (Average - No Chill Adjusted)
Brewhouse Efficiency (%): 75
Boil Time (Minutes): 60

Grain Bill
----------------
5.000 kg Vienna (59.52%)
0.700 kg Chocolate (8.33%)
0.700 kg Crystal 120 (8.33%)
0.700 kg Crystal 60 (8.33%)
0.700 kg Crystal 90 (8.33%)
0.500 kg Wheat Malt (5.95%)
0.100 kg Roasted Barley (1.19%)

Hop Bill
----------------
20.0 g Nugget Plug (8.5% Alpha) @ 60 Minutes (First Wort) (0.5 g/L)
10.0 g Falconers Flight Pellet (10.8% Alpha) @ 20 Minutes (Boil) (0.3 g/L)
10.0 g Galaxy Pellet (14.2% Alpha) @ 20 Minutes (Boil) (0.3 g/L)
20.0 g Falconers Flight Pellet (10.8% Alpha) @ 0 Minutes (Aroma) (0.5 g/L)
20.0 g Galaxy Pellet (14.2% Alpha) @ 0 Minutes (Aroma) (0.5 g/L)
10.0 g Falconers Flight Pellet (10.8% Alpha) @ 0 Days (Dry Hop) (0.2 g/L)
10.0 g Galaxy Pellet (14.2% Alpha) @ 0 Days (Dry Hop) (0.3 g/L)

Misc Bill
----------------

Single step Infusion at 66°C for 60 Minutes.
Fermented at 18°C with Safale US-05


Recipe Generated with BrewMate

 

[sponge]

25% crystal in an American brown is probably a bit much IMO and would be looking at at least half that amount. Looks pretty good otherwise.

 

[technobabble66]

Hey GP, I'd agree the crystal % looks too high. Just in terms of general balance, not from any great experience with Browns, mind you.
I believe you received a cube of the 2014 case swap brew that was an American Brown. How did you find that?
FWIW, DJ lethal did a 21L batch scale-down of the recipe, post#188:
http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/index.php?/topic/81610-2014-Vic-Christmas-Case-Swap---Recipe
I thought (mine, at least) was a great version of a Brown. Maybe a fraction light, but pretty much bang on. I think it only has ~5% crystal.
If you're keen to take it in a certain direction, how would you tweak that one, as a reference point? More malty/caramelly/roasty?

 

[Phoney]

I would look at using brown or pale chocolate malt to get your colour instead of relying on crystal and roast barley. Personally 10% crystal is about the most I'd ever go. (I once tried a saison with 40% crystal (finished at 1.003), but that was another story, and a weird beer.)

Have a look at the Janet Brown recipe for reference

 

[GrumpyPaul]

tweaking...


Grumpy's Brown Bunny
American Brown Ale

Recipe Specs
----------------
Batch Size (L): 40.0
Total Grain (kg): 8.207
Total Hops (g): 98.00
Original Gravity (OG): 1.047 (°P): 11.7
Final Gravity (FG): 1.012 (°P): 3.1
Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 4.62 %
Colour (SRM): 33.8 (EBC): 66.6
Bitterness (IBU): 35.2 (Average - No Chill Adjusted)
Brewhouse Efficiency (%): 75
Boil Time (Minutes): 60

Grain Bill
----------------
6.155 kg Vienna (75%)
0.821 kg Chocolate (10%)
0.657 kg Wheat Malt (8%)
0.246 kg Roasted Barley (3%)
0.164 kg Crystal 120 (2%)
0.164 kg Crystal 90 (2%)

Hop Bill
----------------
20.0 g Nugget Plug (8.5% Alpha) @ 60 Minutes (First Wort) (0.5 g/L)
10.0 g Falconers Flight Pellet (10.8% Alpha) @ 20 Minutes (Boil) (0.3 g/L)
10.0 g Galaxy Pellet (14.2% Alpha) @ 20 Minutes (Boil) (0.3 g/L)
20.0 g Falconers Flight Pellet (10.8% Alpha) @ 0 Minutes (Aroma) (0.5 g/L)
20.0 g Galaxy Pellet (14.2% Alpha) @ 0 Minutes (Aroma) (0.5 g/L)
8.0 g Falconers Flight Pellet (10.8% Alpha) @ 0 Days (Dry Hop) (0.2 g/L)
10.0 g Galaxy Pellet (14.2% Alpha) @ 0 Days (Dry Hop) (0.3 g/L)

Misc Bill
----------------

Single step Infusion at 66°C for 60 Minutes.
Fermented at 18°C with Safale US-05


Recipe Generated with BrewMate

 

[Pogierob]

tweaking...


Grumpy's Brown Bunny
American Brown Ale

Recipe Specs
----------------
Batch Size (L): 40.0
Total Grain (kg): 8.207
Total Hops (g): 98.00
Original Gravity (OG): 1.047 (°P): 11.7
Final Gravity (FG): 1.012 (°P): 3.1
Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 4.62 %
Colour (SRM): 33.8 (EBC): 66.6
Bitterness (IBU): 35.2 (Average - No Chill Adjusted)
Brewhouse Efficiency (%): 75
Boil Time (Minutes): 60

Grain Bill
----------------
6.155 kg Vienna (75%)
0.821 kg Chocolate (10%)
0.657 kg Wheat Malt (8%)
0.246 kg Roasted Barley (3%)
0.164 kg Crystal 120 (2%)
0.164 kg Crystal 90 (2%)

Hop Bill
----------------
20.0 g Nugget Plug (8.5% Alpha) @ 60 Minutes (First Wort) (0.5 g/L)
10.0 g Falconers Flight Pellet (10.8% Alpha) @ 20 Minutes (Boil) (0.3 g/L)
10.0 g Galaxy Pellet (14.2% Alpha) @ 20 Minutes (Boil) (0.3 g/L)
20.0 g Falconers Flight Pellet (10.8% Alpha) @ 0 Minutes (Aroma) (0.5 g/L)
20.0 g Galaxy Pellet (14.2% Alpha) @ 0 Minutes (Aroma) (0.5 g/L)
8.0 g Falconers Flight Pellet (10.8% Alpha) @ 0 Days (Dry Hop) (0.2 g/L)
10.0 g Galaxy Pellet (14.2% Alpha) @ 0 Days (Dry Hop) (0.3 g/L)

Misc Bill
----------------

Single step Infusion at 66°C for 60 Minutes.
Fermented at 18°C with Safale US-05


Recipe Generated with BrewMate

yep taking away that 2g should fix it.
:chug:

 

[GrumpyPaul]

yep taking away that 2g should fix it.
:chug:

how did that happen???

played with the grain bill - didnt even touch the hops, or so I thought.

 

[Blind Dog]

I wouldn't necesarily be so fast in pulling the crystals back from 25% to 4%, although I would be inclined to go for only the darker crystals. Sarah Hughes Mild supposedly uses 25% dark crystal. Must admit I was skeptical until I tried a Homebrew version; nice drop.