Code Name: One

My local homebrew supply store, Mr. Steve's Homebrew Supply, is great at many things, but they are lacking in liquid malt extract selection. Their bulk liquid extract can only be bought in seven pound increments, and they didn't have any extra light liquid extract at all. These issues left me with an interesting opportunity to experiment away from one of my regular IPA recipes.

Here are the ingredients for the 5 gallon experimental recipe:

Crushed Grain
1lb of Crystal 20L

Extract
7lbs of Light Liquid Extract
2lbs of Plain Extra Light Dry Extract

Hops in the Boil
1oz Nugget for 60 Minutes
0.5oz of Perle for 30 Minutes
2oz of Centennial for 15 Minutes

Yeast
Safale S-04

Dry Hopping 
1oz Centennial
0.5oz Chinook

Additional Ingredients
Whirlfloc

Initial Specific Gravity
1.062 taken at  70ºF

The boil went well, resulting in an expectedly darker wort than my normal recipe that replaces the 9lbs of extracts with 9lbs of extra light liquid extract. I am planning on ordering my normal recipe from Austin Homebrew Supply to have a comparison, and see how these recipe tweaks affect the finished product.

It is experiences like this that really add a fun element to homebrewing, and turns "my beer" into "my baby". Never be afraid to experiment. What is the worst that can happen? You might just have to invite some friends over to destroy the evidence. Trust me, as bad as you think your experimental beer turned out, if your friends are anything like mine they will drink any free beer with smiles on their faces.