Planning a Big Irish Red

[dean2k]

Thinking of doing bigger Irish Red this week. Not a Left-Coast Red, but just a slightly bigger, hoppier version of an Irish Red. Why I dunno. Just messing around. 6.5% and +/- 45 IBU

86% MO
4% C60
4% Caravienne
4% Torrified Wheat
2% roasted barley

I have some Nottingham dry yeast, or S-05. Am I missing anything?

[jeffsmith]

What are you using for hops?

[dean2k]

Probably northern brewer and some fuggles near the end. Even though I'm breaking style, I'd still like to maintain trajectory. So if BJCP says "generally no hop flavour/medium-low bitterness", I'm going to try for some hop flavour with medium bitterness.

[dean2k]

Warrior @ 60
Fuggles @ 10

Now.... to oak, or not to oak?

[jeffsmith]

Personally, I'd try the recipe once without oak. If you are planning to add oak, I'd go pretty light on it. Not sure how a 6.5% beer will standup to much oak.

[dean2k]

If I add oak, it would be a light touch for sure. Didn't consider how the higher alcohol % might affect that though. I must read up on it.

Not sure why I'm feeling so unconventional with this batch. Just rolling with it. But that's the beauty of 1 gallon batches. Only really costs me time.

[akr71]

I think Jeff was meaning 6.5% was on the low side for oaking and would quickly become overpowered which can come off as sour.

You can always throw caution to the wind, do 2 gallons and oak 1.

[dean2k]

I think Jeff was meaning 6.5% was on the low side for oaking and would quickly become overpowered which can come off as sour.

You can always throw caution to the wind, do 2 gallons and oak 1.

Far too late to adjust volumes. Fuggles are now funking up the kitchen. Still TBD with the oak anyway. I may lose the courage by then.

[akr71]

The best way to find out if you'll like oak aged beer is to try it. Maybe just a few grams or quarter ounce for about 5 days after fermentation is mostly done.

[jeffsmith]

You can always throw caution to the wind, do 2 gallons and oak 1.

That way you'll be able to get a taste for the recipe without the oak as well.

[dean2k]

You can always throw caution to the wind, do 2 gallons and oak 1.

That way you'll be able to get a taste for the recipe without the oak as well.

To borrow a theme from the music thread: too late, too late

[dean2k]

Overcooked again. Going to dub this my Big Irish Bastard: The Lynott. Recipe calculator was shooting for OG 1.069 with FG of +/-1.019. End up as OG 1.074 and FG 1.011. Didn't get the roast I wanted either. I was worried too much about the SRM given the Lovibond of my roast barley. Oh well, it's only a gallon's worth but we'll see how it does once it carbs up.

[sleepyjamie]

1.074 with an fg of 1.011 = deadly

[dean2k]

And all my bottles are 500ml