5 replies to this topic

[MAZ]

The inspiration for this brew was Arrogant Bastard and a bunch of Chinook hops I'd been meaning to use for a few months. The oak aging was somewhat an afterthought, and I'm glad I did it. If you like big, aggressive, hoppy, flavorful brews, you might like this.

Big Woody

OG: 1.075
FG: 1.015
Est Color: 15.2 SRM
Est IBU: 72.7 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 65.00 %

14 lbs Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM)
8.0 oz Dark Crystal Malt II (120.0 SRM)
4.0 oz Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM)
4.0 oz Honey Malt (25.0 SRM)
1.0 oz Black Patent Malt (500.0 SRM)
1 lb Brown Sugar, Light
1.50 oz Chinook [11.10 %] (60 min)
1.00 oz Chinook [11.10 %] (30 min)
1.50 oz Chinook [11.10 %] (0 min)
2.00 oz Oak Cubes (Secondary 17.0 days)

British Cask Ale (Wyeast Labs #1026) - harvested from previous batch

Mash - single infusion - 154F

Oak cubes from Morebeer.com. American heavy toast. Tasted every few days after a week in the secondary. Kegged when oak flavor was just becoming evident.

Attached file is in BeerSmith (bsm) format.

[MAZ]

Just received my scoresheets for this brew (BOSS 2009 comp). Avg score was a 27, which doesn't bother me a bit since it's a beer that wasn't brewed to any particular style (other than having wood in it, and it's loosely an IPA). Some comments... "caramel up front followed by a harsh oak character", "hop bitterness low for style" and "oak is out of balance, back off on amount of oak". I can live with that. The oak will mellow (although I'm kinda digging it right now). I'm a little perplexed on the "not enough hops" comments (both judges made the same comment). Chinook is aggressive as hell, it clocks in at 75 IBU, I guess people judging APA and IPA styles are really looking for something that burns your lips off.

[pods8]

Just received my scoresheets for this brew (BOSS 2009 comp). Avg score was a 27, which doesn't bother me a bit since it's a beer that wasn't brewed to any particular style (other than having wood in it, and it's loosely an IPA). Some comments... "caramel up front followed by a harsh oak character", "hop bitterness low for style" and "oak is out of balance, back off on amount of oak". I can live with that. The oak will mellow (although I'm kinda digging it right now). I'm a little perplexed on the "not enough hops" comments (both judges made the same comment). Chinook is aggressive as hell, it clocks in at 75 IBU, I guess people judging APA and IPA styles are really looking for something that burns your lips off.

I've noticed similar stuff with my wood beers. I did a RIS that did well and scored decently on its own but when I oaked it and submitted it under wood beers the reviews were lack luster by the judges. However I liked the oaked one more than the plain one. Had a good oaky/vanilla notes in my opinion. (Hey MNT, what is your honest outsider opinion on that one if you can remember it, I'm pretty sure you had both versions). I'm thinking the big issues is the judges don't know how to address the wood beers even though there is a category.

[MtnBrewer]

Am I MNT?As I recall it did have some nice vanilla and banana esters. I also liked the oaked one better. It had more going on than the other one....more complex. It's getting about time to brew another IS, I think.

[pods8]

Am I MNT?As I recall it did have some nice vanilla and banana esters. I also liked the oaked one better. It had more going on than the other one....more complex. It's getting about time to brew another IS, I think.

Yeah that would be you.I'm due for one, I've got a couple gal of my last batch in a carboy somewhere but never could have too much...

[MtnBrewer]

I have a yeast cake of 1098 I could use.