Other Beer Recipes
These are recipes for a few beers which I like and have made in the past, which you might like to try. I don't make them on a regular basis, but I still occasionally make them, if I want a change from my normal bitters.
Dark Island
Based on Orkney's Dark Island but with the strength upped a bit, this is a nice, easy drinking brown ale with a reasonable hop flavour.
Specifics
- 26 IBU
- 1045 OG
- 4.8% ABV
- 75 minute mash
- 70 minute boil
- 67°C mash
- 10.1 litres mash water
| Pale Malt | 3728g | (80%) |
| Munich Malt | 221g | (5%) |
| Chocolate Malt | 140g | (3%) |
| Crystal Malt | 140g | (3%) |
| Flaked Wheat | 140g | (3%) |
| Soft Dark Brown Sugar | 280g | (6%) |
| Progress | 5.5% A/A | 44g | 60 mins |
| Goldings | 4.3% A/A | 23g | 5 mins |
Dark White
Dark white? Simple - this is a wheat (white) beer with a small amount of chocolate malt, to make it dark.
Specifics
- 23 IBU
- 1048 OG
- 75 minute mash
- 90 minute boil
- 67°C mash
- 11.6 litres mash water
| Pale Malt | 2522g | (50%) |
| Wheat Malt | 2471g | (49%) |
| Chocolate Malt | 113g | (1%) |
| Cascade | 5.1% A/A | 44g | 90 mins |
FES
There are no problems in finding recipes for a reasonable copy of Guinness. Guinness is OK, but it's a bit weak for my taste, and in pubs is often served too cold, anyway. My favourite version of Guinness is Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. The secret to FES is that you need a 'soured' beer to add to the fresh brew. In my case I buy a small can of ordinary Guinness and about a week before brewing, pour it into a bowl, cover it with a clean cloth and leave it somewhere cool and safe where it can't get knocked over. Then, right at the end of the boil, this is added to the freshly brewed beer. You could use some of your previous brew of FES in the same way, if you wanted.
This recipe is for 2 gallons (9 litres). You'll need to collect about 12 litres from the mash tun to allow for evaporation and trub loss in the boil. It doesn't need to be left for long to mature - just give it a few weeks.
Specifics
- 63 IBU
- 1078 OG
- 7.5% ABV
- 75 minute mash
- 75 minute boil
- 68°C mash
- 9.3 litres mash water
| Pale Malt | 3072g | (75.8%) |
| Crystal Malt | 255g | (6.3%) |
| Roast Barley | 385g | (9.5%) |
| Flaked Wheat | 340g | (8.4%) |
| Northern Brewer | 9% A/A | 29g | 60 mins |
| Goldings | 6.3% A/A | 14g | 60 mins |
Honey Wheat Beer
This is very refreshing in the summer - but be careful, because it's strong. The honey is added about halfway through the boil, like any other sugar. Crush the coriander seeds just before you add them.
Specifics
- 24.5 IBU
- 1050 OG
- 6% ABV
- 75 minute mash
- 90 minute boil
- 66°C mash
- 8 litres mash water
| Pale Malt | 3003g | (62.5%) |
| Wheat Malt | 481g | (10%) |
| Clear honey | 1321g | (27.5%) |
| Cascade | 5.0% A/A | 48g | 90 mins |
| Cascade | 5.0% A/A | 16g | added 5 mins before run off |
| Crushed coriander seeds | 20g | 15 mins |
HSH 10
I was trying to make a beer similar to St Austell HSD. This is nothing like it, but I like it anyway.
Specifics
- 23.5 IBU
- 1050 OG
- 75 minute mash
- 90 minute boil
- 67°C mash
- 11.3 litres mash water
| Pale Malt | 4409g | (85%) |
| Crystal Malt | 182g | (3.5%) |
| Black Malt | 26g | (0.5%) |
| Flaked Wheat | 311g | (6%) |
| Cane Sugar | 259g | (5%) |
| Progress | 6% A/A | 4g | 90 mins |
| Fuggles | 4% A/A | 50g | 90 mins |
Munich Bitter
Made with a high percentage of Munich Malt, this has a lovely malty character. The only reason that I don't make this beer too often is because I have to specially order Munich malt - and what I do order tends to get used in other brews first!
Specifics
- 36 IBU
- 1047 OG
- 75 minute mash
- 90 minute boil
- 67°C mash
- 11.8 litres mash water
| Pale Malt | 3002g | (60%) |
| Crystal Malt | 250g | (5%) |
| Munich Malt | 1750g | (35%) |
| Northern Brewer | 7.5% A/A | 32g | 60 mins |
| Goldings | 5% A/A | 20g | 30 mins |
| Goldings | 5% A/A | 20g | 15 mins |
90/-
This was inspired by the beer of the same name, made by Mitchell's Brewery, Knysna, South Africa. Knysna is a nice place, so if you're doing the 'Garden Route' it's well worth making an extended stop in Knysna and taking a trip to the Brewery. (I can recommend 'The Brewers Tap House' for an excellent place to try Mitchell's beers.)
For those who don't know, 90/- is pronounced '90 shilling' and the name comes from an old Scottish method of classifying the strength of beer by the cost of the barrel. Cinnamon bark is usually available in a rolled stick about 6 inches long. Each stick weighs about 6 grams.
Specifics
- 25 IBU
- 1048 OG
- 75 minute mash
- 90 minute boil
- 67°C mash
- 11.8 litres mash water
| Pale Malt | 4480g | (86.8%) |
| Crystal Malt | 600g | (11.6%) |
| Black Malt | 80g | (1.6%) |
| Northern Brewer | 7.5% A/A | 16g | 90 mins |
| Fuggles | 4% A/A | 30g | 90 mins |
| 2/3 of a stick of cinnamon bark | 90 mins | ||
| 1/3 of a stick of cinnamon bark | 10 mins |