Cheap Bastard American Mild Ale
Brewed: 6/10/2012 Kegged: 6/23/2012
Last time I gave away Stouticus, it was as a Thank-you to those who donated to the 2nd
Wind Fund (see Thankyou Stouticus). When I was giving it out to people some others said they intended to give but just forgot. One of the people at my work suggested these guys didn't forget, they were just cheap. He thought I should brew a beer for everyone who didn't give and name it "Cheap Bastard".I thought this was an awesome name. I figured it would be low in alcohol and only use enough bittering hops to balance out the flavor. I would only use minimal specialty grains. I would, in other words, try to keep the cost down (while still trying to make a flavorful beer).
The recipe below is what I came up with. We will see how it turns out.
For more information about this beer on my blog, check out the Cheap Bastard label there.
| Cheap Bastard --- batch 1 |
| Style | Mild | Batch Size | 5.50 gal | |||
| Type | All Grain | Boil Size | |
7.51 gal | ||
| Brewhouse Efficiency | |
70.00 | |
Boil Time | |
90 minutes |
Recipe Characteristics
| Recipe Gravity | 1.034 SG | Estimated FG | 1.009 SG | ||||
| Recipe Bitterness | 19 IBUs (Rager) | Alcohol by Volume | 3.2 % | ||||
| BU : GU | |
0.512 | |
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| Recipe Color | 12.2 SRM |
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| Measured OG: | |
1.038 |
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Measured FG: | |
1.011 | |
| ADF: | |
71% |
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Measured ABV: | |
3.7% |
Ingredients
| Amt | Name | Type | # | %/IBU |
| 7 lbs | Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) | Grain | 1 | 95.7 % |
| 5.0 oz | Chocolate Wheat Malt (400.0 SRM) | Grain | 2 | 4.3 % |
| 0.33 oz | Chinook [14.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min | Hop | 3 | 19 IBUs |
| 1.0 pkg | Nottingham (harvested) (Danstar #-) [23.66 ml] | Yeast | 5 | - |
Mash Profile
| Name | Description | Step Temperature | Step Time |
| Mash In | Add 9.14 qt of water at 168.2 F | 156.0 F | 45 min |
Batch sparge with 2 steps (2.35gal, 3.76gal) of 168.0 F water Recipe Notes
NOTE: using harvested yeast. Make starter 2 days in advance.
After boil, chill the wort to around 60F.
Add wort to fermenter, Fill with water as needed, and aerate. Pitch yeast.
Ferment one week starting at around 60F and let rise over the time it is fermenting.
Batch prime with 4.25 oz sugar. Carb for 2 weeks.
Brewing Record
| Brew Date: | 6/10 |
Strike Temp: | |
168 | ||
| Mash Temps: | around 154 for most of it. Down to 150 by the end | |||||
| Pre-boil OG | |
1.032 (1.029 SG) | |
Pre-boil Vol | |
8 gal (7.51 gal) |
| Actual Mash Efficiency | 87 |
Pitch Temp | |
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| Fermentation | |
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| Day 1: 64ish | ||||||
| Day 2: 64ish think it is already mostly done. Took away ice. | ||||||
Brewing Notes
6/6/2012 Bought the ingredients today. When in the LHBS, I decided to go with Colorado Two Row instead of my usual Rahr. Also, went with Chinook instead of CTZ. Neither of these substitutions should make any difference.
6/12/2012 Brewed it up on Sunday. See <href="http://blog.ericshepard.com/2012/06/brewing-cheap-bastard.html">Brewing Cheap Bastard</a> for how it went. Fermentation has been going pretty well. Been right at about 64.
6/21/2012 Took a sample. 1.011 FG puts this at a 3.7% ABV. Nice brown color. There is a hint of chocolate with a bit of malty graininess. There is noticeable bitterness but not enough to get it out of balance. It is a bit thin, but has enough flavor to be very enjoyable. Should keg sometime in the next couple of days.
6/23/2012 Kegged and put in the keggerator. Should be drinking it by next weekend.
6/23/2012 15 psi for now.
6/30/2012 Had one last night. Pretty good. It is a bit thin tasting. Might have to try some more today.
7/8/2012 Great summer beer to suck down while grilling. Had several while cooking pork chops. Turned out fantastic.
7/22/2012 The more I have of this the more I like it. One really nice thing is that I can drink a bunch and not feel the effects too much. Great summer weekend type beer.
7/22/2012 I think the keg is dead. Long live the keg.
6/6/2012 Bought the ingredients today. When in the LHBS, I decided to go with Colorado Two Row instead of my usual Rahr. Also, went with Chinook instead of CTZ. Neither of these substitutions should make any difference.
6/12/2012 Brewed it up on Sunday. See <href="http://blog.ericshepard.com/2012/06/brewing-cheap-bastard.html">Brewing Cheap Bastard</a> for how it went. Fermentation has been going pretty well. Been right at about 64.
6/21/2012 Took a sample. 1.011 FG puts this at a 3.7% ABV. Nice brown color. There is a hint of chocolate with a bit of malty graininess. There is noticeable bitterness but not enough to get it out of balance. It is a bit thin, but has enough flavor to be very enjoyable. Should keg sometime in the next couple of days.
6/23/2012 Kegged and put in the keggerator. Should be drinking it by next weekend.
6/23/2012 15 psi for now.
6/30/2012 Had one last night. Pretty good. It is a bit thin tasting. Might have to try some more today.
7/8/2012 Great summer beer to suck down while grilling. Had several while cooking pork chops. Turned out fantastic.
7/22/2012 The more I have of this the more I like it. One really nice thing is that I can drink a bunch and not feel the effects too much. Great summer weekend type beer.
7/22/2012 I think the keg is dead. Long live the keg.