Old ale spruce tip beer help

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Matthew_Reagor, Jan 4, 2016.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Matthew_Reagor

    Matthew_Reagor Initiate (0) Oct 14, 2014 Oklahoma

    I am trying to come up with an old ale that has a bunch of spruce tips in it that I plan on brewing next week. I plan on aging it tell next Christmas. Here is what I have so far for a 10 gallon batch...

    3 hour boil... Wanting a huge beer

    20# marris otter
    9# biscuit
    3# crystal 40
    2# crystal 80
    .5# acid malt
    3 cups molasses


    1oz fuggles 90 minutes
    1oz EKGs 90 minutes
    1oz EKGs 60 minutes
    10oz spruce tips 60 minutes
    1oz EKGs 30 minutes
    1oz chinook. 20 minutes
    20 oz spruce tip 10 minutes

    Was thinking wyeast1728 scotch ale yeast?

    Any thoughts or tweaks or helpful advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
     
  2. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    You might want to ask the mods to move this message to the main homebrewing forum. This sub-forum is for tried and tested recipes, not recipe critique requests.
     
  3. Matthew_Reagor

    Matthew_Reagor Initiate (0) Oct 14, 2014 Oklahoma

    Thanks... How do I ask a mod to move it?
     
  4. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Like this...
    @FATC1TY @jbakajust1
     
    jbakajust1 likes this.
  5. FATC1TY

    FATC1TY Pooh-Bah (2,564) Feb 12, 2012 Georgia
    Pooh-Bah

    Your wish is granted.... You have two more; and one doesn't include tips on spruce tips!
     
    jbakajust1 and VikeMan like this.
  6. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    You must have a huge mash tun
     
  7. HerbMeowing

    HerbMeowing Maven (1,295) Nov 10, 2010 Virginia
    Trader

    Three things;
    1) Young spruce tips found in spring are generally preferred over old growth found in winter.
    2) Spruce character doesn't fade much with time
    3) ~2# spruce tips seems h-u-g-e
    4) 15% crystal might not end well
     
    jbakajust1 and GormBrewhouse like this.
  8. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Hmmm. Err. Yeah, no. Harumph. Well nuts. No, I can't say it right now, @HerbMeowing. Maybe I'll just sit on my comment for three or four minutes to think about it. :wink:
     
    HerbMeowing and bushycook like this.
  9. SportsandJorts

    SportsandJorts Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2012 Virginia

    With old ales I usually use a long boil with a very plain malt bill. Last couple of old ales I have done have been all Maris Otter plus a small amount of adjunct, and the colors turned out at around 15 L and 22 L. I'd recommend a bit simpler malt bill or standard boil, with my preference being axe all the crystal and boil 3 hours.

    Edit: And I just imagined 2 pounds of spruce tips. That's a lot.
     
  10. Matthew_Reagor

    Matthew_Reagor Initiate (0) Oct 14, 2014 Oklahoma

    I changed the grain bill a bit

    Maris otter 24 pounds 65.8%
    Biscuit 9 pounds 24.7%
    Treacle 1.5 pounds 4.1%
    Caramel 120 1.5 pounds 2.7%
    Special b .5 pounds at 1.4%
    Acid malt .5 pounds 1.4%

    Hops stay the same but omitting the 60 minutes spruce tip addition and going with 10oz at 10 minutes, then the rest at flameout.
     
  11. Matthew_Reagor

    Matthew_Reagor Initiate (0) Oct 14, 2014 Oklahoma

    Adding flamed cinnamon and a couple cloves to secondary.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.