Advent #7 - Old Speckled Bastard

[bluenose]

EDITED: Nov 12/14 to reflect latest version.

Old Speckled Bastard
Extra Special Bitter
OG 1.054
FG 1.009
ABV 5.91%
IBU 44.6
SRM 14.5
23 litre batch size

Grain bill:
86.5% Marris Otter
13.5% Crystal 60

BIAB Mash @ 68.9*C for 60 mins

Hops:
80g EKG @ 60 min
40g EKG @ 0 min

WL English Ale yeast

[mr x]

Seems reasonable, but you might find it a bit on the bitter side for that beer.

[bluenose]

Cool, I can adjust the IBUs down a tad

how do youse guys export your recipes from BS?

[bluenose]

Hey X, one more question... that recipe calls for "0.24 Items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins) Fining 4 -"

How does that compare to the stuff you hooked me up with? Or does it?

[mr x]

I usually export as text, or just copy the recipe from the lower half of the 'my recipes' menu.

Use 1/4 tsp per 5 gallons.

[bluenose]

So I finally got around to brewing this in January and I tasted it for the first time last night. It was my first BIAB and first all grain.

The aroma was pretty close to the Innis and Gunn I had the night before, so I'm happy with that. The hop flavour was out of place for style IMO, but not bad. It is a bastard afterall.

My biggest critique is that it is seriously lacking any malt profile (for lack of a better term) that I like about these kinds of beers. Maybe the word I'm looking for is 'body', I dunno

Does any expert have any thoughts on how I could tweak this recipe?

[mr x]

Mashing at a higher temp, carapils (or generic equivalent), some flaked barley, or a lower attenuating yeast.

[bluenose]

bump

[LiverDance]

This is NOT the greatest beer in the world.................... It's a TRIBUTE! Great copper color, surprisingly not as bitter as the specs make it out to be. Great way to start my day of watching football!

[GuingesRock]

Sweet, malty, very alcoholic and low carbonation. That combination is working very well for me. I’m enjoying it quite a lot. It might be a scotch ale ..a wee heavy or something (tastes higher than 6% ABV), and a bonnie one at that! Well made.

I'm giving it a rating #5.

Cheers and thanks.

In fact, I feel it's necessary to update the official Brewnoser Beer Rating Scale:

6 - Bluenose's Old Speckled Bastard AKA: Angels Coming in Your Mouth
5 - Amazing (Best)
4 - Awesome
3 - Pretty Good
2 - Good
1 - Not Good But I'll Drink it Anyway
0 - Are you sure this isn't urine?

[chicanuck]

Sweet and boozy with a nice malty backbone, a very nice beer.

[RubberToe]

Mine was flat. It's probably my punishment for drinking it last night.

[gm-]

Mine was flat as well, seems to be a reoccurring issue with those twist off bottles. Apart from that it is a decent beer

[Keith]

Mine was flat too .

[bluenose]

thanks for the feedback folks.

mine was carbed when I opened it, but that went away before I finished it... I'd say I need to improve my head retention, but I'm also going to stop using twist of bottles

[RubberToe]

I've had problems using twist off bottles with the standard gold caps from Noble Grape but I've had success with those lighthouse caps that were distributed a while back. They have a longer skirt and grip the threads better.

I hope mine stays carbed as my carbonation on this one wasn't the highest to begin with.

[amartin]

I've been using the lighthouse caps on mostly twist off bottles, and they've generally been ok.

[Keith]

I've moved completely away after my first batch went to shit. Crown caps only.

[chalmers]

Good carb level on my bottle, but did notice the bitterness is less than I would have expected from the recipe stating 45 IBUs.

I did get an "old extract" character, which I'd attribute to a bit of oxidization.

[mumblecrunch]

This one was also absolutely dead flat for me. Totally did not taste like 6% or 45 IBU. Thought it had a nice caramel note in the body and was an extremely well-balanced beer. Would love to try version with the intended carbonation; I suspect I could drink a lot of this.

[amartin]

The carbonation on mine was a bit low maybe, but nothing serious. I didn't have any specific expectations on this, since the recipe I the original post is from two years ago, so I don't know if that's the same as what you made, and I don't know what the style is. I thought it was nice though, it had a sweetish, molasses character to it.

[jacinthebox]

Mine was carbd...but the head didn't stick around for long...taste was great...although Im not normally a malt guy...I prefer a bit more bitter.

Good job thanks for sharing.

[akr71]

^ I have that exact same book! Had since university...

Mine had similar carb issues, there was some, but I would have preferred more and the head didn't stick around long. Other than that, I liked it quite a lot and the glass was empty rather quickly.

[HoweFox]

Didnt get much bitterness at all. Kept tasting banana bread. That being said I found it kind of addictive and unique.

[Woody]

I enjoyed this. I got a fruity smell to the beer and low carbonation. Didn't taste bitter but a well made beer.