Creating recipies

[paulpj26]

Don't know whether this should be in the recipe section or not lol

I was wondering whether there was a methodical way of creating recipes or is it simply a case of knowing the ingredients and how they combine with each other through experience?

 

[Tony]

Well there are ways of understanding how and what different malts and adjuncts do, what hops are best for bittering and which ones for aromas (there is lots of info available on the net relating to this), but... the best way is to look at recipes (the ones on this site are fantastic) and see what others have done.

One of the best things about brewing is experimentation, building up your own bank of knowledge and experience and refining.

There are however some basic rules about quantities etc and you'll find that info in the FAQ.

Have fun :

EDIT: Sorry, meant to add that there is some great software out there to help you, try searching for and downloading the evaluation copy of BeerSmith.

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

Don't know whether this should be in the recipe section or not lol

I was wondering whether there was a methodical way of creating recipes or is it simply a case of knowing the ingredients and how they combine with each other through experience?

Try Beersmith, free for 21 days.
BB

 

[Tony]

Ha BB .... sorry, I just added that as an edit!

 

[Muddydisco]

Try chewing your malts as well it helps you understand what different malts taste like. :thumb:

 

[Halite]

Best thing to do starting off is to copy somebody elses recipe

Once youhave made this and understand how the ingredients produce the taste, you can then tweak this recipe to suit your tastes.

 

[Tony]

Try chewing your malts as well it helps you understand what different malts taste like. :thumb:

Yeah, and the hops


Only kidding!

 

[phettebs]

+2 to Beersmith. I use it and it works well for me.

When I first started brewing, I brewed other recipes I found online. That helped me to understand what certain ingredients tasted like. But for me, the biggest help was buying "Designing Great Beers" by Ray Daniels. It's argued that the book is slightly out of date now but the first half of the book has some great chapters about malts, adjuncts, hops, yeast, water, etc. I read those chapters over and over. the second half of the book is all about styles and guidelines. I've created many a recipe with the help of that book.

What styles do you like to brew/drink? There are also books that focus on specific styles and the components/brewing process for those styles. I have plenty of books like that too. I guess it all depends on your learning style. Some brewers just prefer to jump in and make it up as they go. That works well for them. I'm more scientific and methodical so I like to plan mine out well in advance. Whatever works for you.

Happy brewing!
Barry

 

[cwrw]

Try chewing your malts as well it helps you understand what different malts taste like. :thumb:

Yeah, and the hops


Only kidding!

yeh...and bring back tobacco chewing.......and perhaps a bit of snout might go down well too :sick:
Sincerely though, grain sampling sounds the way to go :thumb:

 

[Tony]

Tobacco beer...? Too bad I gave up smoking!

+1 with the Ray Daniels book, I've read that twice. Its a good read!

 

[paulpj26]

Thanks for the replies guys

I think i'll be chewing grain whilst reading by the sounds of it lol, I'll have a look at the beersmith program too. I would like to take a more scientific method to brewing but I guess there's nothing quite like actually getting out there and doing it (plus you get to drink lots of beer!! :drunk:)

Having looked at clone recipes of some of my favourite commercial beers there seems to be one ingredient which pops up more often than not and thats wheat malt, so I guess thats a good place to start.

:

 

[phettebs]

That surprises me about wheat malt turning up quite frequently. I'd have expected pale and crystal to turn up more frequently. What types of recipes are you looking at?

 

[paulpj26]

I was looking at bitter recipes. Yes you are right about pale malt for all of them lol and the majority do contain crystal malt but I would regard pale malt and crystal malt pretty much a "Stable diet" of most bitters (especially pale malt). I was really just looking at what made the bitters I liked the best different to other bitters, and Wheat malt or Torrified Wheat seem to pop up.

The beers I was looking at were Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Black Sheep Best Bitter, Copper Dragon Golden Pipin, Jennings Cumberland Ale I could go on lol.

I did over xmas have a beer called Fireside which was one of the nicest beers I've ever had, it was just like drinking toffee!! :drink: