I've been wanting to make an ESB and have ordered some S-04 to have on hand. Looking at various recipes I'll need to use British grains, which means I'll need to try my first all grain (BIAB). It just doesn't seem right to use an extract of American grain...
Now that brings me to the water. I read a portion of a thread I was directed to some time ago, but I felt I was trying to read and comprehend another language.
I have hard water that I've been filtering from the tap with my partial mashes/extracts. It seems hard water would be bad for a light beer like this. Would using 1/2 or all RO water do me well or will I need to Dr up the water with stuff?
4 gal boil, 2 gal top off for 5.5 gal batch
9 lbs Marris Otter pale
1/2 lb crystal 40
1/2 lb honey malt
1/2 lb special roast
1/4 lb carapils
1/2 lb Bavarian wheat DME (flame out)
1 oz Northern Brewer @ 60 mins
1 oz Kent Goldings @ 15/5 mins
S-04
Mash in 3.5 gal of water (BIAB) and use another 1/2 gal to sparge and bring up to 4 gal for boil.
I also considered using up to 1/2 lb of victory, but 86'd it.
The only ESB's I've had were Foster's (I know, I know, but I like it), and another at a brewpub. I'm not trying to replicate anything in particular.
Now that brings me to the water. I read a portion of a thread I was directed to some time ago, but I felt I was trying to read and comprehend another language.
I have hard water that I've been filtering from the tap with my partial mashes/extracts. It seems hard water would be bad for a light beer like this. Would using 1/2 or all RO water do me well or will I need to Dr up the water with stuff?
4 gal boil, 2 gal top off for 5.5 gal batch
9 lbs Marris Otter pale
1/2 lb crystal 40
1/2 lb honey malt
1/2 lb special roast
1/4 lb carapils
1/2 lb Bavarian wheat DME (flame out)
1 oz Northern Brewer @ 60 mins
1 oz Kent Goldings @ 15/5 mins
S-04
Mash in 3.5 gal of water (BIAB) and use another 1/2 gal to sparge and bring up to 4 gal for boil.
I also considered using up to 1/2 lb of victory, but 86'd it.
The only ESB's I've had were Foster's (I know, I know, but I like it), and another at a brewpub. I'm not trying to replicate anything in particular.