historical differences between pale malts?

Marquis posted links to the recipes on an earlier thread about a BBA wee heavy recipe:

BBA Wee Heavy Scotch Ale.. input?

Just reading about them got me hooked. Now I have to try them, even if I don't replicate them perfectly.

 

Thanks, everyone! And yes, I received a separate message from the blog owner this afternoon. I have only just discovered the blog myself, but was very happy when Ron introduced himself.

With a little more guidance on sourcing appropriate malts, I think I will be able to tackle this thing.

 

In celebration of mid 50s yesterday and mid 60s today, I did indeed make my first attempt at a historical beer recipe. I tried Younger's #1 from 1879 from patto1ro's blog using 18 lbs of Irish ale malt, which I used on other batches earlier this season and really liked. I also substituted US Magnum for the 120 minute hop addition, as I couldn't see a benefit to doubling the amount hop debris with a lower AA hop for a 120 minute addition. I used all the other hops as specified, adjusting for AA levels as necessary.

Even though I hit 157° for my mash and held it throughout, and underpitched the Wyeast London Ale 1318 per a suggestion in a note, I am skeptical that it's going to finish as high as 1.040. The OG on this batch is 1.104, 5 gallons net in the buckets. But I have a good month at least before I find out.

Fermentation is now underway in a 58° space, and the contents seem to be at about 64° right now. I'm going to have it sit on the yeast for a month or longer, and I may be asking for advice on bottle conditioning when it's time to bottle. This is going to be a really big beer, and I want to achieve mild carbonation. Not too much, but I don't want a still beer, either.

 

I forgot to update this upon bottling, but the beer did indeed finish lower than 1.040, going instead to 1.031. I let it sit and bottled once I was sure it was done, priming for low carbonation.

I popped one open after 3 more weeks of warm conditioning, and to my relief I got the carbonation I was looking for. After having an entire batch of a wee heavy fail to carbonate once, this stage is always a nail-biter for me.

It is obviously a very young beer at this point, but it is a surprisingly well balanced strong ale. Very assertive (although not at all harsh) hoppiness is just enough to cut through the robust body and sweetness of the malt. Surprisingly no perceptible alcohol bite, either, making it diabolically dangerous to drink. My kind of beer, highly recommended if it sounds like your thing!