Embryo-Faced Assassin

Grist
3.5kg Maris Otter (97%)
75g Crystal 40L (2%)
50g Amber Malt (1%)

Hops and Additions
15 mins - 30g Citra leaf 13.8%AA
10 mins - 10g Protafloc granules
5 mins - 40g Citra leaf 13.8%AA
1 min - 70g Citra leaf 13.8%AA

Yeast
Rehydrated Safale US-05

Method
Mash at 66 degrees for 75 minutes
Collect 25 litres
Boil for 75 minutes, making additions as above
Cool to 25 degrees, splash aerate and pitch yeast

Target Specifications
OG: 1.041 (actual 1.048)
FG: 1.010 (predicted 1.015)
ABV: 4% (predicted 4.5%)
IBU: 40
SRM: 7
Mash Efficiency: 75%
Batch Size: 20 litres

Comments

I think I undercollected on this one - I lost a bit in the boil, and didn't top-off enough. Also, I think I lost a fair bit to hop absorption, yielding about 17 litres to FV, hence the higher than expected OG.

This is my attempt to turn Tom Fozard's (now of Rooster's Brewery) near-legendary Baby-Faced Assassin, a strong IPA with a metric shedload of very late hops, into a more sessionable beer, hence the slightly odd name.

It's a really wasteful way of using hops to make beer, but the results can be amazing if done right. Tom's latest homebrew exploit (and I hope he won't mind me saying this) has taken late hopping to it's illogical conclusion, with 400g of Chinook added at 1 minute before flame out. I hope he'll be good enough to share the recipe and results with us soon.

Thanks also go to Tom for the loan of the boiler.

Contributor
Zak Avery

Mackem Mild

Grist
3kg Marris Otter pale malt
200g Pale Rye malt
130g Black malt
100g Weyermann Rauch malt
100g Torrified Wheat malt

Hops and Additions
15g Bramling Cross (6%AA) at first wort
10g Bramling Cross (6% AA) at 30 minutes
1x Protofloc tablet at 15 minutes
15g Bramling Cross (6% AA) at 10 minutes

Yeast
Safeale S-04

Method
Mash at 67 degrees for 90minutes
Second mash (no sparge arm as yet) at 67 degrees for 45 minutes, collecting a total of 5.5 gallon
Boil for 60 minutes, making additions as above
Transfer to FV
Cool to 20 degrees and pitch yeast
Ferment for around 4 days, check gravity after 3 days

Target Specifications
OG: 1.041
FG: 1.010
ABV: 4%
IBU: 24.84
SRM: 19.4
Mash Efficiency: 70%
Batch Size: 5 gallon

Comments
This is my 6th AG brew, and my first attempt at a mild. I'm hoping the combination of malts will provide a depth and a little complixity to the flavour and the late addition Bramling Cross will bring some berry fruit flavours. The brewday went very well, I came up slightly short on the batch size at just under 5 gallons but managed to achieve my target OG (it came up at 1.041/1.042) which was pleasing. I will leave further notes in the comments section below as the fermentation takes place, and of course some tasting notes in a month or so.

Contributor
Dean Pugh

Inaugural Meet-Up/Tweet-Up

We're taking calls for a date for the first meet of Leeds Homebrewers. Early to mid-October seem like a good idea, as that means the second meet will fall in early to mid-January, which will give everyone something to look forward to, and not clash with Christmas plans.

Dean at Mr Foleys Cask Ale House on The Headrow in Leeds has very kindly offered the use of part of the pub, so I suggest that as the venue.

The exact format of how it works will be ironed out as we get nearer the date, but can we suggest that depending on how many people show an interest, homebrewers try to let us know in advance what they will be bringing, and try to bring around a litre of beer (e.g. 3 x 33cl or 2 x 50cl, or a 1 litre PET bottle) to share.

If you'd like to post a recipe, please send and email to zak(at)thebeerboy.co.uk, and he'll send an email back inviting you to be a contributor on the blog.

Please get involved - without you, this is just another page on the web!

Amber Samsara (an easy IPA)

Grist
11lb (5kg) Maris Otter pale malt
4.5oz (125g) Amber Malt (Fawcett's)

Hops and Additions
.9oz (25g) Chinook (12.4%AA) at 60 minutes
.46oz (13g) Chinook (12.4%AA) at 30 minutes
.46oz (13g) Amarillo (9.4%AA) at 30 minutes
1tsp Protafloc / Irish Moss at 15 minutes
.46oz (13g) Amarillo (9.4%AA) at 10 minutes
.9oz (25g) Chinook (12.4%AA) at flame out, steep for 20 minutes
.9oz (25g) Amarillo (9.4%AA) at flame out, steep for 20 minutes

Yeast
Fermentis S-05 American Ale Yeast

Method
Mash at 67ºC for 90 minutes, sparge and collect 5.5 gallons
Boil for 60 minutes, making additions to schedule
Cool, aerate and pitch around 25ºC
Ferment 7-10 days

Target Specifications
OG 1.066
FG 1.018
Target %abv – 6.5%
IBU 50

Comments
I'm fascinated by the dialogue between British and American brewing cultures, and so this is a stab at a hybrid between a pale golden English ale (Summer Lightning is a classic) and an American IPA (a pale one like Dogfish Head 60 Minute). The amber malt gives this beer a subtle biscuity background note.

Contributor
Zak Avery