I love smokey beers. I've brewed a couple of rauchbiers in the past few years that came out fantastically. I've also brewed stouts and porters with small quantities of smoked malt to add a little bit of extra complexity. This time, I want to split the difference and brew something that's not a rauch but that presents the smoke as a central flavor. I've come up with the following recipe, which is intended provide a smooth, sweet, chocolatey base to balance the smoke. I started with this beer and brewing recipe but tweaked it to be closer to an American oatmeal stout. Since I've never brewed anything quite like this before, I'd appreciate feedback from any other lovers of smoked, dark beers.
Batch Size: 6 gal
Efficiency: 72%
OG: 1.060
FG: 1.015
ABV: 5.9%
AA: 75%
IBU: 26
SRM: 33
7# 2-row
3# smoked malt (either Briess cherrywood or German beech-smoked)
1# flaked oats (for body)
1# flaked wheat (for body & head retention)
1# crystal 60 (for sweetness & flavor)
0.5# chocolate 350L (for color and flavor)
0.5# midnight wheat 550L (for additional color and depth of flavor without too much roastiness)
1 oz any ~9 AA hop @ 60 min (just need some bitterness for balance, hop flavor/aroma should not be prominent)
1 packet S-04 English Ale Yeast (brewing tomorrow and haven't made a starter, so I want to use dry yeast)
Criticism, suggestions, and observations welcome!
Batch Size: 6 gal
Efficiency: 72%
OG: 1.060
FG: 1.015
ABV: 5.9%
AA: 75%
IBU: 26
SRM: 33
7# 2-row
3# smoked malt (either Briess cherrywood or German beech-smoked)
1# flaked oats (for body)
1# flaked wheat (for body & head retention)
1# crystal 60 (for sweetness & flavor)
0.5# chocolate 350L (for color and flavor)
0.5# midnight wheat 550L (for additional color and depth of flavor without too much roastiness)
1 oz any ~9 AA hop @ 60 min (just need some bitterness for balance, hop flavor/aroma should not be prominent)
1 packet S-04 English Ale Yeast (brewing tomorrow and haven't made a starter, so I want to use dry yeast)
Criticism, suggestions, and observations welcome!