Dark ale and APA recipe suggestions

[Oliver]

Hi guys,

There are a few ingredients sitting in the back of the cupboard that I want to use to make my last brews before my foray into BIAB.

I've got:
1 can Coopers Dark Ale
1 can Coopers Bavarian Lager
1 packet (1kg) Coopers Brew Enhancer 1 (it's not essential to use this, but if I can work it in I will)

I was thinking of doing a couple of mini-mashes and making an American pale ale and an English-style dark ale. Any comments on these?

English dark ale
1 can Coopers Dark Ale
500g Coopers BE1
500g light dried malt extract
300g pale malt (mini-mash)
100g choc malt (mini-mash)
10g Fuggles @ 60 minutes (4.2% AA)
10g Fuggles @ 20 minutes
10g Fuggles @ flamout
Possibly dry hop with 10g Fuggles?
S-04 yeast

American pale ale
1 can Coopers Bavarian Lager
500g Coopers BE1
750g light dried malt extract
400g pale malt (mini-mash)
100g light crystal malt (mini-mash)
10g Cascade @ 60 mins (5.9% AA)
15g Cascade @ 20 mins
15g Cascade @ flameout
US-05 yeast

Thoughts?

Cheers,

Oliver

[timmy]

Hi Oliver,

I'd up the crystal to around 250g for the APA. What is your final IBU's on that one?

Dark ale looks nice. I did a similar one recently with a can of Tooheys Dark Ale, but I'm yet to taste it. I used cultured Coopers yeast so it should turn out nicely.

Cheers,

Tim

[Oliver]

I'd up the crystal to around 250g for the APA. What is your final IBU's on that one?

Thanks for the reply, Timmy.

Not exactly sure of the final IBUs. I don't mind if it's a bit on the bitter side, though. Not sure about the IBUs of that can, as it's discontinued and I can't find any definitive info here or anywhere else (I'm it was here somewhere ...)

Are you suggesting scaling back the early additions a bit?

I'll increase the crystal as you suggest.

Cheers,

Oliver

[timmy]

No - not in the least.... just curious that's all.

I'd expect that to be a great drop.

[Bum]

The dark ale looks alright but the APA looks very light on for everything to me. OG might be very bottom end for style by the looks (if not not too low) and I dunno what IBUs are in the tin but I'd be tipping bitterness would also fall short. Maybe it'll balance out but it won't be an APA. I'd imagine the flavours in the Bavrian Lager tin would be pretty Germanic too (funny that) - not sure how well it might gel with the cascade. Either way, it could easily be a crowd pleasing beer but I dunno how keen I'd be to serve it up to someone as an "APA".

[Oliver]

Thanks Bum. Perhaps up the dried malt to 1kg?

What do you reckon about:

10g Cascade @ 60 mins (5.9% AA)
20g Amarillo @ 60 mins (8.2%)
15g Cascade @ 20 mins
10g Amarillo @ 20 mins
15g Cascade @ flameout
10g Amarillo @ flameout

I take your point about using the Bavarian Lager as the base for an APA, but really just want to get rid of it and make a drinkable beer in the process. If it's "APA-ish" then I'm OK with that.

Cheers,

Oliver

[Bum]

I haven't run the numbers but that looks much more like it - obviously running the numbers will help you work out if it'll be to your tastes but that does look much more like an APA now, especially with an increase in crystal like Timmy suggests.

[Oliver]

Thanks chaps.

Here they are then:

English dark ale
1 can Coopers Dark Ale
500g Coopers BE1
500g light dried malt extract
300g pale malt (mini-mash)
100g choc malt (mini-mash)
10g Fuggles @ 60 minutes (4.2% AA)
10g Fuggles @ 20 minutes
10g Fuggles @ flamout
Dry hop with 10g Fuggles
S-04 yeast

American pale ale
1 can Coopers Bavarian Lager
500g Coopers BE1
1kg light dried malt extract
400g pale malt (mini-mash)
250g light crystal malt (mini-mash)
10g Cascade @ 60 mins (5.9% AA)
20g Amarillo @ 60 mins (8.2%)
15g Cascade @ 20 mins
10g Amarillo @ 20 mins
15g Cascade @ flameout
10g Amarillo @ flameout
US-05 yeast

[barrelboy]

Hi all. Oliver how did the dark ale turn out? Did you stick to your recipe?
Cheers BB

[Oliver]

G'day BB. I'll dig out the final recipe when I get home from Vietnam. I can't remember if it was different to what's posted above, but I don't think so. Remind me when I forget

I was pretty happy with it. Nice and hoppy and overall a good beer. Good drinking at cellar temperature, which is what my house is during winter! I'd probably make a bit bigger mini-mash next time (maybe 500g or 600g) of pale malt. It turned out better than the APA I did at the same time, which was nice enough but a bit sweet.

Billybushcook has tasted this beer ... he won it in the original HB&B Lotto, so he might be able to offer a more objective perspective.

Cheers,

Oliver

[barrelboy]

Is it time to remind your "forgetfulness"? Also Oliver did you use the normal amount of sugar to prime or half the amount as you do with some ales and stouts?
Cheers
and thanks BB

[Oliver]

English dark ale
1 can Coopers Dark Ale
500g Coopers BE1
500g Briess sparkling amber dried extract
300g Joe White ale malt (mini-mash)
100g Joe White chocolate malt (mini-mash)
10g Fuggles @ 60 minutes (5.6% AA)
10g Fuggles @ 20 minutes
10g Fuggles @ flamout
10g Fuggles (dry hop after four days)
S-04 yeast

Partial mash was at 66C for 1 hour.

No SG was recorded due to time constraints

So the recipe was the same. Only difference above is clarifying it was JW malt and that it was Briess sparking extract.

As mentioned, I would be tempted to do a bit bigger mash.

I tend to underprime most (read all) of my beers. I don't bulk prime and would have used a heaped stubby measure for a 750ml bottle.

I might go and have one of these now I think!

Cheers,

Oliver

[barrelboy]

Thanks Oliver, will put this one down on Tuesday.
BB

[Oliver]

Great. Let me know what you think. (I'm actually not having one yet, as I had fish for dinner so went for a paler beer. Dark ale next thought )

Oliver

[barrelboy]

Out of interest Oliver, is there a particular reason why you tend to underprime your beers? Any particular benefit?
Ta BB
Ps. Will let you know outcome of brew.

[Oliver]

Hi BB,

No, no reason apart from personal preference. I don't like my beer too carbonated. I think Dr S is much the same ... he tends to underprime.

Cheers,

Oliver