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Blackhawk Black Ale

This page show previous recipes of BlackHawk Black Ale. For the most recent recipe / description, click this link.

BlackHawk Black Ale --- cost $13.43

Style   Belgian Specialty Ale   Batch Size   2.40 gal
Type   Partial Mash   Boil Size   1.92 gal

Recipe Characteristics

Recipe Gravity   1.060 SG   Estimated FG   1.015 SG
Recipe Bitterness   32.2 IBU (Rager)   Alcohol by Volume   5.89 %
BU : GU   0.536        
Recipe Color   29.3 SRM  
Color
   
Actual OG   1.061   Actual FG   1.020
ADF:   67.2%   Measured ABV:   5.50%

Ingredients

Amount Item Type % or IBU
2 lbs 12.0 oz Briess Pilsen Light LME (2.0 SRM) Extract 59.46 %
12.0 oz Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 16.22 %
4.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 75L (75.0 SRM) Grain 5.41 %
4.0 oz Chocolate Malt (350.0 SRM) Grain 5.41 %
4.0 oz Munich Malt (9.0 SRM) Grain 5.41 %
4.0 oz Victory Malt (25.0 SRM) Grain 5.41 %
2.0 oz Black (Patent) Malt (500.0 SRM) Grain 2.70 %
0.13 oz Columbus [14.20 %] (60 min) Hops 14.8 IBU
0.38 oz Columbus [14.20 %] (25 min) Hops 17.4 IBU
0.25 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 15.0 min) Misc  
0.50 gm Seeds of Paradise (Boil 5.0 min) Misc  
0.50 tsp Yeast Nutrient (Boil 10.0 min) Misc  
1.50 oz Raisons (Boil 5.0 min) Misc  
1 Pkgs American Ale II (Harvested) (Wyeast Labs #1272) [Starter 125 ml] [Cultured] Yeast-Ale  

Mash Profile

Single Infusion, Full Body, Batch Sparge
Step Time Name Description Step Temp
45 min Mash In Add 2.34 qt of water at 170.5 F 158.0 F

Batch Sparge Round 1: Sparge with 0.65 gal of 168.0 F water
Batch Sparge Round 2: Sparge with 1.01 gal of 168.0 F water

Recipe Notes
Harvested yeast from Phat & Tyred Ale http://www.wyeastlab.com/hb_yeaststrain_detail.cfm?ID=11
Ferment 1 week ~65F followed by 1 week ~72F
Batch prime with 2.25 oz table sugar boiled in 1 cup water.

Date Note
10/21/2009 Thur Designed beer based on my Phat & Tyred Ale adding some chocolate and black patent malts along with magnum hops.
11/16/2009 Mon "Finalized' brewing schedule for this beer.  Unless something comes up, I will mix this up on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
11/21/2009 Sat Redid recipe in BeerSmith
11/26/2009 Thur Early morning:  made my starter with 2 cups water and 1/2 cup extra light DME
11/27/2009 Fri Mixed batch.  My OG was 1.060 at about 74.  Call it 1.061 which means my mash efficiency was about 70 instead of the expected 67.  Put all the starter in since it had not really finished.
12/01/2009 Tues Hot and heavy fermentation is finished (probably has been for the last couple days) and the keg temp is down to 62.  Filled up the conditioning cooler a bit with WWW around Rutt.
12/03/2009 Thur Moved out of conditioning cooler to make room for Tuke's Wetta Blonde. 
12/12/2009 Sat Bottled with 2.25oz sugar in 2 cups water.  Got 2 liter bottles and 20 12 oz bottles plus the LB which was only about 2/3 full.  Did not get very big samples, and it might be different once I actually taste side by side, but I thought the beer was very close to 1554.  Of course who knows what it will taste like in a month or two?   FG was 1.020.
12/29/2009 Tues Put some in conditioning cooler and some in the beer fridge.  Twisted one the the Blue Moon bottle caps and it popped open, so I had to taste it.  What a great beer.  Going to let it condition some before tasting side by side with 1554, but it is really close and really good.
01/02/2010 Sat Had the LB which was not included in the inventory.  WOW.  I think I might have a new favorite right here.  Of course, it was the LB and it was not conditioned and I had 2 other beers before this one.  But, it really was great.  Stay tuned for when I can taste this after conditioning with a clear head.
01/09/2010 Sat Put 5 into beer fridge.  Targeting a taste at the end of the month.  May save these for my birthday.
01/24/2010 Sun Tried one of these.  Loved it.  Also tried a 1554.  The 1554 is less hoppy than mine.  Probably a different hop as well, but I think I'm going to leave this recipe exactly how it is.  Might cut down or cut out the black patent, because mine is just a bit darker than 1554, but then again, might not.
01/29/2010 Fri Compared another with a 1554.  1554 has a little quality I cannot quite place.  I think the taste profiles of the grains are really close.  Perhaps a bit more dark crystal and maybe a bit less chocolate.  Mine is significantly darker.  1554 has a red hint to it where mine is black.  I do not think I'm going to worry about the color.  I think a slightly less cirtusy hop and perhaps just a bit less bitterness would make it closer.  I could also try a lager yeast, as that is what New Belgium does according to their web site.
Now, here is the thing though:  I'm not 100% sure a match of 1554 should be my goal.  I REALLY like how this turned out, so I do not want to monkey with it too much.
01/30/2010 Sat Had one while brewing up some Fools Gold Ale.  Took its picture for this page.  Notice the think yummy head?  Really a great beer.  Most of the rest (all but 2 12ers) went into the beer fridge.
02/14/2010 Sun Had a liter last night.  Still great, although the head on this one was not as good as earlier ones.  I have had a few of these without reporting, but they have all been just as fantastic as the early ones, so I would not be saying much more.
 
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