Bitter, first take

[Tiroux]

I usually brew big beers between 6 and 9% abv, but now that summer is coming, I'm going for a small drinkable beer. And since I'm a english-styles lover, i'm going for a bitter.

Here's the recipe I thought...
That's a "make it with what's left" beer...

7.5 lbs English Pale Malt 85% (2.5 MO, 2.5 Pearl, 2.5 GP)
0.33 lbs Crystal 10L 3.75%
0.22 lbs Crystal 40L 2.50%
0.22 lbs Amber malt 2.50%
0.22 lbs Special roast 2.50%
0.11 lbs Crystal 120L 1.25%
0.11 lbs Brown malt 1.25%
0.11 lbs Flaked barley 1.25%

Yhea, so it's 10 differents grains, but we could simplify it like this:
Base malt 85%
Crystal 7.5%
Toasted 6.25%
Flakes 1.25%

1 oz EKG 60'
1 oz EKG 15'
1 oz EKG 5'
1 oz EKG DH


OG 1042
FG 1012 (expected)
IBUs 30
SRM 8
ABV 4.0

Single Infusion @ 154°F
Ferment with WLP023 Burton Ale

 

[bierhaus15]

Why so many malts!? Getting out of the hobby and want to use everything up?

If you really want to make an English bitter, I'd stick to two or three malts max and keep it simple. Bitters are about balance of flavors and all those different malts are just going to muddle everything up in a little beer like this.

Personally, I'd stick to something like 95% pale and 5% medium crystal (40-60L) or for a bit maltier beer, 90% pale, 7% medium crystal, 3% dark crystal (120L). Hopping could stay the same.

However, I could see your crazy malt bill working out in a big, American style ESB. Like 1.060 OG and 45 IBU of American/UK hops.

 

[Tiroux]

No, i'm aint quiting the hobby, it's about the opposite. I had ordered many small samples to have a taste on malts I had never tried. Then i just wanted to brew a small beer with what's left. Because for now we're saving money to go 15-20 gallons.

Anyway, you are probably right. I dont especially look for an authentic english bitter, all I want is a low abv, light yet flavourful beer. I thought tiny amounts of some roastes malts would add some nice toastiness, like on a mild. (It could be a mild instead of a bitter..)

I have worked 3 or 4 other versions of it, some way more simple than this one. I'll post them whrn i get home.

One thing i'm sure, i want to use amber malt and possibly brown malt because I really love those!

 

[Tiroux]

So, as promised:

Always for around a tad less than 4% abv

1-
75% Pale Malt
10% Crystal 40
10% Amber Malt
2.5% Crystal 120
2.5% Brown Malt


2-
90% Pale Malt
3.75% Crystal 10
3.75% Amber Malt
2.5% Crystal 120


3-
95% Pale Malt
5% Crystal 40