English Brown Ale

[redbeardthefarmer]

Alright. I haven't even made my first batch yet and I am already working out the next four or five beers I want to make. Is that bad? Also...Is it bad that I have dreamed about brewing at least three times over the last two weeks?

Anyway. My next batch, after I complete my first batch, is going to be an English brown ale. I used beercalculus and it gave me the following recipe [tweaked by me of course].

5 lbs Briess LME
1/2 lb Briess Caramel 90L
1/2 lb Briess Chocolate 350L
1.5 oz Goldings hops [boiling]
0.25 oz Cascade hops [flavor]
Safale US-05 Dry yeast
5 oz priming sugar

Beercalculus said that this would meet the stylistic guidelines for an English Brown Ale. I have no clue what I am doing. I have never tried a recipe on my own. The only problem that I have found in looking at mash-extract recipes for brown ales is that they are all American Brown Ales, not English. Any advice, criticism or help would be appreciated. I am brand new to all of this, but can't stop thinking about beer. As an aside: How many of you use Beersmith? Is it worth the money to get the program, or is beercalculus good enough for right now? I know this is a lot in one post, but I am kind of in a weird random place right now. Happens after a day with middle school students.

Cheers!
Redbeard

[salad 419]

1/4 lb chocolate
no cascades (use the rest of the goldings)

[Steve Urquell]

I'd use S-04 yeast in that. S-05 is a little bland/clean for an English ale.

No more than 4oz of priming sugar also. Lower carb will give it a softer mouthfeel more common to the style.

Beer calculus is fine. I've been using it for over 4 years and have no reason to switch to anything different. I hit my numbers, color, and bitterness with it consistently.

[salad 419]

Shit, I missed the US-05 part.
Good Call, Steve. I agree with your recomendations.

[redbeardthefarmer]

Awesome! Thanks guys!