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Southern English Brown

Never had one since only a few breweries still make in UK only. Never made one, so makes sense to try. Supposed to be a small milk stout or a sweet dark mild. Hmmm, sounds good. Really want to make a few good low-gravity beers for those all-night poker sessions.

Brewer: Christo Email: -
Beer: Southern English Brown Style: English Dark Mild
Type: Extract w/grain Size: 5.5 gallons
Color:
68 HCU (~27 SRM)
Bitterness: 20 IBU
OG: 1.039 FG: 1.016
Alcohol: 3.0% v/v (2.3% w/w)
Water: Gypsum or CaCl2 recommended (did not do this time). Moderate to high carbonate water is good for this style to cut any astringency from larger percentage of dark grain.
Grain: 8 oz. English crystal 80L
6 oz. Chocolate
4 oz. Carafa II
8 oz. American crystal 10L
8 oz. American crystal 120L
8 oz. Biscuit
Steep: Mash in at 154ºF (temp got up as high as 165ºF after thermometer shifted out of mash and turned on heat to compensate by mistake)
Boil: 60 minutes SG 1.033 6.5 gallons
1 lb. 8 oz. Muntons Light dry malt extract
3 lb. John Bull Light malt extract
Add 4 oz. of lactose to boil to add sweetness & body.
Add Irish moss last 15 min of boil.
In lieu of John Bull LME, used Munton & Fison w/ 6 oz. of malto dextrine. Key is to keep up amount of unfermentables in such a low gravity beer so it doesn't taste watery.
Hops: 1.25 oz. Fuggles (4.75% AA, 60 min.)
Yeast: WL002 English Ale yeast
Log: Did not make a starter this time so it had a long lag period of 42 hours. Primary for 9 days after fermentation began, secondary for 5 days, both at 68 degF.
Carbonation: Bottle primed w/ 3/4 cup per 5.5 gallons. Med-low carbonation is norm.
Tasting: Primary goal was to make a 3% abv beer and not taste watery, and I think I accomplished that fine. Not the best brew/ferment procedures on this batch. Did not add the chalk and ended up a little astringent - definitely would boost next time to counteract dark grains as well as really watch mash temp from getting too high. Maybe some phenols detected probably a slight amount of infection from long lag period - make sure active starter used next time. Will use 0.25 oz. less Fuggles next time as well as is slightly to hoppy side which might work for a Northern Brown but not a Southern Brown - have to be light on hops with such low gravity. Not as dark as calculated, more in the high teens. All in all a good start but will make adjustments next time as noted.

Recipe posted 12/11/06.