I’m not one to do things on a whim. But I don’t always have a plan either. But this time I thought I had a plan. I had planned to buy a bunch of grain and work on my mini batches over the winter. I bought 20 lbs of 2 row and a pound of willamettes. I could easily pick up the ounce here or there of other grains on brew day if needed.
As my first recipe I was going to go ahead and brew a bitter. Just an everyday bitter, but using American, Willamette hops, and American 2 row. Ok, I know, I know,, its a pale ale. (but Bitter sounds better)
As I’m adjusting the final recipe something goes off in my brain.
“Lets make this and Amber. No wait,, a brown. Yes an American brown!”
Yes! I love browns. And its been a while since I’ve drank, much less brewed one. Ok I have the basic beer formulated,, just need brown it up so to say.
Ok that was easy. We now have a good looking beer recipe. The once again something in my head pings.
“Make a bigger batch”
But I wanted to start the mini batches. I suppose I could do a regular batch. I’ll still have enough grain for two minis.
“Do a 10 gallon batch”
A what? 10 gallons? Are you nuts? But right then several things occurred to me all at once.
1- I am looking at 2 empty kegs and another not far behind.
2- If I fill these kegs now, I would almost no choice but to do mini batches for a while.
3- The basement is the perfect temperature right now (never mind that the ferment chamber is always the right temperature. I just skipped remembering that part)
4- I have right here in front of me almost everything I need
5- I am off tomorrow and have nothing to do
Fine! 10 gallons it is. I scaled everything up. And all I needed was 1.5 lbs more grain. I dug out the big mash tun and fiddled with the manifold a bit. And here is what we brewed on Tuesday.
Harbor Lights brown10 gallon
20 lbs 2 row
1 lb crystal 120
.5 black pat
1 lb chocolate malt
1 oz Chinook @60
2 oz Willamette @10
1 oz Willamette @1
2 pkg us 05
Mashed at 152
Had an angry boil with this one. Didnt think the 15 gallon keggle was gonna keep it in.
9stripe Brewing 