Sunset Stout #1

Brewed: 24 January 2016
OG: 1.053
Target: 1.042-1.044
Bottled: 28 February 2016
F.G: 1.014
Target: 1.009-1.010
Estimated IBU: 36
Estimated ABV: 5.2%
Target ABV: 4.2%

This recipe is taken from Beer Captured and I will not therefore reprint the whole of it here.

Extract and specialty grains combined in this brew to approximate Beamish Irish Stout.


I can't say for sure that it's close or not as I couldn't remember the last time I had a Beamish. It is however, quite good with a few caveats.

Nearly all black in color this stout pours with a moderate tawny head that does not last. Likely due in part to the fact that I chose to more lightly carbonate this batch than suggested.

The bottom of the glass finishes clean and despite the beer's darkness it is obviously nicely cleared.

I would imagine that if the target ABV was closer than a full point away it may not seem as thin flavor wise as I feel this is.

I ended up using some non-recipe hops I had to approximate the required bitterness as the hops I received through mail order had a much lower AA% than I had expected based on the average. There is likely some flavor skew because of this but not enough to be notable.

Strange to be off the numbers by so much in an extract recipe. The primary difference may come from not knowing if one of the ingredients should have been a liquid ounce or weighed ounce. I went with liquid perhaps increasing my OG by 10 points.

All in all, not bad...but not quite.

Smoky IPA

4 lbs. Maris Otter
4 lbs. Weyermann Rauchmalt
4 lbs. Briess 2-Row Pale
1 oz. UK Roasted Barley

4 AAU      German Hersbrucker
2.7 AAU   German Hallertau
12.4 AAU German Magnum
10.5 AAU German Northern Brewer

Wyeast 1056 American Ale

Brewed: 3 April 2016

Single infusion mash
90 minutes 154° F

Calculated OG to fermenter: 1.061 @ 75% efficiency.
Measured OG at fermenter 1.067

Originally, I had planned to do a Märzen as is tradition once March comes. Unfortunately my schedule and the weather conspired against me. When I finally found some time, I made this essentially unplanned recipe.

Notes to come.