Smash Maris Otter

[Couchbrew]

Any need for a step mash or anything fancy to get a full flavour from a smash? I haven't done one yet but keen to try and see how simple I can make things. Northern brewer hops is the plan for hops

 

[Adr_0]

Depends on your gravity, but I'd go into the 50's or even 60's as your target SG.

Good malt, should only need a 65-67 rest for an hour and 71-72 for 15min,then mash out.

Have you used Northern Brewer before?

 

[Couchbrew]

I put some in an English mild with Columbus but it just got bottled a week ago

 

[Adr_0]

I put some in an English mild with Columbus but it just got bottled a week ago

It's alright, but gives a real tea flavour which can clash with some English yeast esters and some caramel malts. Great in a California common, and with Columbus it should be good.

What sort of yeast are you going to use? I highly recommend a good English strain or California Common rather than US-05 and similar American strains - which will not lift the character of the malt, but not sure that Northern Brewer is a good match for the English strains.

 

[Couchbrew]

I only have access to dry yeast. I have a choice of Morgan's English ale or safale04. I'm choosing NV based solely on the smell of the pellets now Really pungent. I was thinking of 40g bittering and 30g Whirlpool or cube

 

[Adr_0]

The hopping is probably ok, though you'll get some woodiness coming through soon not sure where that puts your IBUs.

I would pick S04 and mash for 1.5hrs at 63-64 or so, then 10min at 71-72 and then mash out.

Ferment at probably 16°C for a few days, then let it rise up to 20-22°C.

 

[Couchbrew]

Sounds good thanks