Do you use a specific Recipe?

[Dutto]

I have seen many references to a variety of books (and I have even bought a few myself) but I wondered just how many of us actually brew to a specific Recipe.

For myself, I brew to a particular style that I check against various Guidelines before the brew, but I have never attempted to follow a specific Recipe from a book or other source.

 

[pvt_ak]

I’ve probably not followed recipes as much last year - but this first half year I intend to brew to recipe.

 

[marshbrewer]

I regularly follow either Graham Wheeler's recipes, or historic Ron Pattinson ones. Sometimes I tweak them a little, such as brewing a historic British lager with a Kolsch yeast, but the core is there. However, sometimes I go off piste and throw something together that matches a style in Brewer's Friend.

 

[The Baron]

only use recipe as a guide line and or to check i am in style? but mainly freelance. I should really do a recipe especially as I find it hard to brew a Bitter that I could use as a house beer as I too always go of piste and throw in this and that

 

[simon12]

I will look at a few recipes for the style them do my own based roughly on 3+ recipes. Have never followed one exactly.

 

[Zephyr259]

Most of the beers in my signature were from a recipe, I'll often change the bittering hop to Admiral if convenient since that's my preferred high alpha hop. I do alter some to make them my own and a couple are entirely my work, most often I'll look at a few recipes for inspiration and guidance. Recipes are good for a first brew of a style as it gives you a baseline, Greg Hughes' Yorkshire bitter was lovely but i wanted a bit more malt so the re-brew got 20% Munich II and is more what I wanted but maybe too far for a summer beer now, fortunately it was ready in autumn.

 

[beertrap]

I used to copy kit recipes then found all the different I grediant that were available. That started years of experiments. Some great, some drain pours.
Now I follow my own recipes I'd there is a request. Otherwise I brew how I feel at the time and what's needed in my cellar.

I'm know as the run and gun Brewer. There ain't much I won't try, which is why I'm at this site. I've already seen many malts, hopping rates and other items I have yet to try. Now I have to find them here.

 

[uDicko]

I follow a recipe for most brews, or to get most of the guidance and then I'll mix it up a bit.

 

[Sadfield]

Voted Never, although technically I've done one, a Ron Pattinson recipe that I brewed for the man, himself.

 

[MickDundee]

I’ve said regularly, but it’s really more like somewhere between regularly and occasionally.

I’ll use GH for new styles most of the time, but often tweak what’s there. Styles I’m familiar with I’ll just plug stuff into Brewers Friend until I’m happy with how it looks

 

[BeerCat]

I make up all mine but have brewed from recipes in the past. I enjoy tinkering with brewing software too much.

 

[Ajhutch]

I tend to refer to the recipe for a style in Brewing Classic Styles, read around a bit and then design something myself based on those resources. So I never use someone else’s recipe straight but I refer to them a lot. On that basis I voted ‘Occasionally’!

 

[PhilM]

I always brew to a recipe. Quite new to it so using these as guidelines to gain experience. Soon, very soon I’ll let go of the reins.

 

[John Holgreaves]

I got my 1st recipe from the label of Saltaire Cascade. It listed the grain and the hops also the ABV. Turned out nice but low on IBU's. Ever since I just make recipes up. Would love to do a TT Landlord that tasted of TT Landlord. Anybody get to try TT Havercake over Christmas, it was the best beer I have tasted all year, apart from my Home Brew

 

[Clint]

Starting AG I followed recipes to the letter as I do when trying something new when cooking. I think you then, hopefully,get an idea how something is supposed to taste.
I have also done a few "user upper" recipes using a calculator to see what style I could achieve with my ingredients. They've all been drinkable and one in particular I've done a few times now as it's quite good. The GH is always out in my house!

 

[matt76]

Occasionally - but I'm new so it's hardly a balanced sample. I've played around a bit as I'm learning my craft, hacked some recipes and created some of my own.

Since i got the Hughes book for Xmas i expect I'll try some of his recipes to the letter (just brewed his Belgian wit yesterday) but i also want to experiment to make the beer i want (which is far from constant!)

 

[Gerryjo]

I've half dozen books and glance through them from time to time picking a style and recipe and always end up changing the hops, malt or just throw a batch together with some good and some not so good but have yet to put any down the drain.
Currently have an Irish Red Ale using REDX and Minch malt and crystal though waiting for a delivery tomorrow from THBC as I need Mosaic and Amarillo hops for a mango pale ale to be brewed for my daughters 18th birthday in March so any suggestions are welcome....

 

[Cwrw666]

First time I brew exactly to the recipe but on repeat brews I usually modify them a bit so they're more to my taste.

 

[MmmBeer]

I voted 'Occasionally', I sometimes start with a Greg Hughes or Graham Wheeler recipe, but often end up modifying to suit the malt / hops available. Other times I pick a commercial beer I have enjoyed and try to emulate it, with mixed success.

 

[Ajhutch]

Starting AG I followed recipes to the letter as I do when trying something new when cooking. I think you then, hopefully,get an idea how something is supposed to taste.

Totally agree with this