Hey all, Just looking to get a better understanding of writing recipes in general. If anyone knows of any good pieces of literature please let me know! Thanks
Brewing Classic Styles is a very good reference and a quick read. It gives some tips, but it doesn't give a lot of recipe creation methodology. Just started reading Brewing Better Beer, and I'm very impressed so far. Radical Brewing was good, but it doesn't teach you from a philosophical stand point like I wanted. Completing two of three and starting the third, all three are worth a read. I find trying good commercial examples gives a good point of view when making a recipe. Other than that, I think it just takes a lot of time with trail and error.
Use a recipe calculator like this... www.tastybrew.com/calculators/recipe.html Set the drop down menu to the style you want and start experimenting with different combinations of grains and hops that you've been researching or you borrowed from another recipe, trying to stay within the guidelines. Then it takes experiencing a big variety of grains, hops and yeast to get the experience you need to create something more advanced/unique/experimental. Short answer...experience is the best way to learn how to create a good recipe, IMO.
The grain bill is the hardest thing, though I subscribe to the Chad Yakobson method: almost all of my beers: 70-80% 2-row 10% Vienna 10% Wheat or oats ~Specialty grains if 2 row < 80%
Brewing Classic Styles is a nice platform for basic recipe but it's not a learning book, on top of that, recipes are extract with all grain option. My recipe design mostly based on NB and other supplier recipe as a base for what I wont to do. But hands on brewing experience is the most beneficial for recipe design.
My method is to look at the winning recipes in the style on sites like the AHA website. Also there is a growing database on here. You can look at winning recipes in the annual Zymurgy mag when they list the recipes for all the 1st place recipes at NHC that year. I look for commonly occurring specialty grains and amounts to get a feel for what usually makes a good recipe, come up with a concept of my own, then go from there.
Silly Herb, there's no search function on this forum! Aside from the obvious designing great beers, there's something to be said for trial and error. Caveat: KISS it first. Trying simple recipes often results with simply delicious beer. SMaSH of course being my personal FAV, but anything that's simple and elegant in its simplicity stands a fair chance of making tasty beer. And don't forget, the next new sensation in beer is never made by following someone else's recipe. Further caveat: don't be stupid. Obviously it would be simple to use 100% C-120 and add 9oz magnum at 60 minutes with rosare blend yeast and ferment at 42F, but just as obvious is how dumb of an idea that would be, as it ignores many basic principles of brewing. Maybe read designing great beers first, then try some simple trial and error beers!
My method: have a vision of what you want your beer to look, smell, taste, feel like before you look at ingredients -> write out a review of your vision even -> pick individual ingredients usually starting with malt then hops then yeast & fermentation process and lastly water profile to match your vision, every ingredient you add should have a purpose -> brew -> review beer -> tinker recipe one change at a time until your as close to your vision as possible.
