Another Experiment

Um, yeah...I am just going to completely ignore the fact that I haven't posted in months, and pretend it never happened.

After successfully completing an American IPA with which I am very happy, I figure it will be just as much fun to try the same process with another beer style.  As I mentioned last time, Porters, more specifically Robust Porters, are a close second to American Style IPA's on my favorite beer list.  Some of the best out there (in my humble opinion of course) are Anchor, Bells, Great Lakes, and Williamsburg.  All of them are deep, dark, malty, flavorful beers with varying degrees of chocolate, toffee, and coffee flavors.  This is what I'll be going for.  If it takes as long as the last experiment, I'll have a perfect Porter in time for the bitter cold of Winter.

I'm starting with a recipe based on the descriptions I found on the Beer Judge Certification Program website combined with a modified version of the my IPA.  I'm switching the American 2-row to Crisp Maris Otter, an English base malt which will add a good malty base to the beer.  I will then replace the Crystal 40 with a combination of Black Patent and Chocolate malts, and the CaraPils with Flaked Barley.  Fuggle hops are some of my favorite, so I'll start with those.  I'm also going with a dry yeast for this one.  I have a feeling I'll have to go through a few of these as I find the right yeast profile.  I'm starting with Safale US-04.

Brewday is tomorrow, and I'm trying a new technique without the bag.