Brown ale

[mtrogers14]

I brewed the following recipe for a brown ale, its tastes great but my issue with it is that its too heavy. Any suggestions ?

9 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 81.8 %
1 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 2 9.1 %
8.0 oz Chocolate Malt (350.0 SRM) Grain 3 4.5 %
8.0 oz Smoked Malt (9.0 SRM) Grain 4 4.5 %


Mash In Add 13.75 qt of water at 159.1 F 148.0 F 75 min
◯ Batch sparge with 2 steps (1.76gal, 3.88gal) of 168.0 F water


1.00 oz Perle [8.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 5 25.8 IBUs
0.50 oz Perle [8.00 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 6 6.4 IBUs
1.00 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 mins) Fining 7 -
0.50 oz Goldings, East Kent [5.00 %] - Boil 10.0 min

 

[Yooper]

If it's "heavy" and thick bodied, it sounds like the mash temperature was too high.

What temperature did you mash out? For that beer, I'd probably mash at about 151/152 for a medium bodied beer.

 

[mtrogers14]

I mashed at about 159.

 

[TANSTAAFB]

Your recipe shows mashing in with 159° water with an estimated stable mash at 148°...did you have a stable mash at 159 or heat your mash water to 159?

 

[JLem]

I'd say the heaviness comes mostly from the mash temp of 159 and partly from the almost 10% crystal malt. Next time try mashing in the 150-152 range. (and, personally, I'd cut the crystal malt in half...but that's just me)

 

[RonPopeil]

yeah 159 is way high. i think you were supposed to strike at 159 and end up around 148. sounds like you did strike at 170's and got pulled down to 159.