Innoculator ESB Recipe

If you’ve never done a group brew – where a bunch of brewers all make the same recipe and compare results – give it a try, its lots of fun.  This particular recipe was from the Aleuminati internet group.

The recipe is for an English bitter and to make it a little unique everyone selected a different English style yeast – which is where the “Innoculator” name came from.   Here’s a link to the forum post with all of the discussion and the original recipes.

As does happen – the home brew shop was out of Fuggles hops when I stopped in, so I went with all East Kent Goldings.  Next time I’ll try to brew it with both types.

For the yeast I picked the Wyeast special release 1768, which you might not be able to find anymore.  If not, the Wyeast 1968/White Labs WLP 002 will work just fine – or check the forum thread linked above for other suggestions.

More important than the recipe though, is how this beer is served.   To get that nice creamy pub-ale texture:

Start by carbonating to a lower level than normal.  When you serve the beer – pour it right down the middle of the glass.  There will be quite a bit of foam so let that settle out then top up.  This will also give the beer time to come up to serving temperature, about 50-55ºF.

I’m still working on a ‘caskerator’ of sorts, to serve proper cask ale at home.  I have the details mostly sorted out, except for maintaining the correct temperature.  Still looking for a balance between ‘cheap to build’ and ‘not a pain to maintain’.  When I find it, all of the project details will be here!

Innoculator ESB – All Grain

Brew Type: All Grain Date: 2/20/2009 Style: Extra Special Bitter (English Pale Ale) Brewer: Jimmy Batch Size: 6.00 gal Boil Volume: 9.35 gal Boil Time: 90 min Brewhouse Eff: 70.00 % Equipment: Brew Pot (10 gal) and Igloo Cooler (10 Gal) Ingredients Amount Item Type % or IBU 11.25 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) UK (3.0 SRM) Grain 84.91 % 1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt – 10L (10.0 SRM) Grain 7.55 % 1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt – 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 7.55 % 1oz (30.00 gm) Goldings, East Kent [4.80 %] (60 min) Hops 19.0 IBU 1.5 oz (40.30 gm) Goldings, East Kent [4.80 %] (30 min) Hops 13.0 IBU .5 (14.00 gm) Goldings, East Kent [4.80 %] (10 min) Hops 1.8 IBU 1 oz (28.30 gm) Goldings, East Kent [5.20 %] (10 min) Hops 3.9 IBU 1 Pkgs VSS – PC English Special Bitter (Wyeast Labs #1768) [Starter 2000 ml] Yeast-Ale Beer Profile Estimated OG: 1.055 SG (1.048-1.065 SG) Measured OG: 1.055 SG Estimated FG: 1.013 SG (1.010-1.016 SG) Measured FG: 1.014 SG Estimated Color: 9.1 SRM (6.0-18.0 SRM) Bitterness: 37.6 IBU (30.0-55.0 IBU) Alpha Acid Units: 11.9 AAU Estimated AbV: 5.46 % (4.60-6.20 %) Actual AbV: 5.35 % Actual Calories: 246 cal/pint Mash Profile Name: Single Infusion, Medium Body, Batch Sparge Mash Tun Weight: 9.00 lb Mash Grain Weight: 13.25 lb Mash PH: 5.4 PH Grain Temperature: 72.0 F Sparge Temperature: 168.0 F Sparge Water: 7.05 gal Adjust Temp for Equipment: TRUE Name Description Step Temp Step Time Mash In Add 16.56 qt of water at 170.1 F 154.0 F 60 mi Carbonation and Storage Carbonation Type: Corn Sugar Carbonation Volumes: 1.9 (1.5-2.4 vols) Estimated Priming Weight: 74.1 gm Temperature at Bottling: 55.0 F Primer Used: - Age for: 2.0 Weeks Storage Temperature: 68.0 F

Innoculator ESB – Extract + Grains

Brew Type: Extract Date: 2/20/2009 Style: Extra Special/Strong Bitter (English Pale Ale) Brewer: Jimmy Batch Size: 6.00 gal Assistant Brewer: Boil Volume: 8.53 gal Boil Time: 60 min Equipment: Brew Pot (10 gal) and Igloo Cooler (10 Gal) Ingredients Amount Item Type % or IBU 9.00 lb Pale Liquid Extract (8.0 SRM) Extract 81.82 % 1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt – 10L (10.0 SRM) Grain 9.09 % 1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt – 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 9.09 % 1 oz (30.00 gm) Goldings, East Kent [4.80 %] (60 min) Hops 19.0 IBU 1.5 oz (40.30 gm) Goldings, East Kent [4.80 %] (30 min) Hops 13.0 IBU 1 oz (28.30 gm) Goldings, East Kent [5.20 %] (10 min) Hops 3.9 IBU .5 oz (14.00 gm) Goldings, East Kent [4.80 %] (10 min) Hops 1.8 IBU 1 Pkgs VSS – PC English Special Bitter (Wyeast Labs #1768) [Starter 2000 ml] Yeast-Ale Beer Profile Estimated OG: 1.056 SG (1.048-1.065 SG) Measured OG: 1.055 SG Estimated FG: 1.013 SG (1.010-1.016 SG) Measured FG: 1.014 SG Estimated Color: 11.8 SRM (6.0-18.0 SRM) Bitterness: 37.6 IBU (30.0-55.0 IBU) Alpha Acid Units: 11.9 AAU Estimated AbV: 5.50 % (4.60-6.20 %) Actual AbV: 5.35 % Actual Calories: 246 cal/pint Carbonation and Storage Carbonation Type: Corn Sugar Carbonation Volumes: 1.9 (1.5-2.4 vols) Estimated Priming Weight: 74.1 gm Temperature at Bottling: 55.0 F Primer Used: - Age for: 2.0 Weeks Storage Temperature: 68.0 F

Tagged as: aleuminati, english ale, ESB, extra special bitter, homebrew, recipe, strong bitter