Kit And Bits Recipe Critique Please

[chappo1970]

Basically still a newb but I am moving up to extract and the Dark side (scrounging up the gear now). So I want to use up the last 2 K&K's and bits I have lurking around. First kit is a Cascade Golden Harvest Lager and the other is a Cascade Imperial Pale Ale. After some earlier advice and looking thru the Db I have come up with the following 2 recipes:

Brew #1
1.7kg - LME (Cascade Golden Harvest Lager)
0.5kg - BE2
0.5kg - LDME
0.5kg - Crystal Caramalt (Steeped 2lt @ 68c for 30mins and sparged 2lt)
30g - Cluster AA9.3% (30mins with steeped crystal)
15g - Cascade Organic AA7.2% dry hopped day 4 or at secondary
Yeast - Saflager W34
Ferment @ 12c till done (Ferment fridge)
Fine and Crash Chill @ secondary 4 days and bottle


Brew #2
1.7kg - LME (Cascade Golden Imperial Pale Ale)
0.5kg - BE2
0.5kg - LDME
0.7kg - Crystal Caramalt (Steeped 2lt @ 68c for 30mins and sparged 2lt)
30g - Cluster AA9.3% (30mins with steeped crystal)
15g - Cluster AA9.3% (0mins)
30g - Cluster AA9.3% dry hopped day 4 or at secondary
Yeast - Safale S04
Ferment @ 18c till done (Ferment fridge)
Fine and Crash Chill @ secondary

Give me your thoughts, suggestions and or alternates :super:

Cheers

Chappo

 

[troopa]

think most will say drop the BE2 and seeing as though your using LDME up it to a full 1kg

the rest i think would be good

 

[chappo1970]

Troopa I agree with ditch the BE2 but I am trying to rid my brew cupboard of the stuff.

 

[PostModern]

Just me, but I'd halve the caramalt.

 

[Bizier]

Ditto on PoMo - that looks like it will make it too sweet.

 

[buttersd70]

Just me, but I'd halve the caramalt.

Agree with this...without something dry to balance it, I think you have too much there.

 

[Fatgodzilla]

Troopa I agree with ditch the BE2 but I am trying to rid my brew cupboard of the stuff.

Run with that, Chappo .. it looks good enough. Just a thought, the extra caramalts and BE2 shoild make this a pretty sweet, filling brew. You didn't mention water volume - I'd make these as big as you can to keep these relatively low alcohol brews with a lot of body.

Though I've never had a cascade can I liked and I tried a few .. caused me to go to firstly extract brewing and AG much quicker !

edit : the caramalt will come in handy later if you wish to cut down the levels - maybe add a bit of sugar for a dryer flavour effect

 

[chappo1970]

How about something more like this? I don't want it too sweet but wouldn't mind a low alc and better body as FatGod implied. BTW 23lt final vol was my thoughts. Really aiming to lessen the twang factor.

Brew #1
1.7kg - LME (Cascade Golden Harvest Lager)
0.5kg - BE2
0.5kg - LDME
0.3kg - Crystal Caramalt (Steeped 2lt @ 68c for 30mins and sparged 2lt)
30g - Cluster AA9.3% (30mins with steeped crystal)
15g - Cascade Organic AA7.2% dry hopped day 4 or at secondary
Yeast - Saflager W34
Ferment @ 12c till done (Ferment fridge)
Fine and Crash Chill @ secondary 4 days and bottle


Brew #2
1.7kg - LME (Cascade Golden Imperial Pale Ale)
0.5kg - BE2
0.5kg - LDME
0.3kg - Crystal Caramalt (Steeped 2lt @ 68c for 30mins and sparged 2lt)
30g - Cluster AA9.3% (30mins with steeped crystal)
15g - Cluster AA9.3% (0mins)
30g - Cluster AA9.3% dry hopped day 4 or at secondary
Yeast - Safale S04
Ferment @ 18c till done (Ferment fridge

 

[drsmurto]

Was doing the same before crossing to the dark side

I still have a bag of brew enhancer.

Dont use it, trust me. You will make a much better beer without it.

All malt, some steeped speciality malts, fresh hops and a good yeast and you will have a very nice beer.

 

[chappo1970]

Cheers Guys for the help and advice. Will probably put this down on Saturday and let you know how it turned out!