I have a favorite bourbon beer recipe that I use, and I’d like to take it a step further and expand the flavor profile of my favorite brew. Any insight is appreciated. Below is the recipe as I use it:
Grain Bill:
6 lb - 2-row
6 lb - Pilsen
8 oz - Biscuit
1 lb - Medium Crystal
8 oz - Honey malt
1 lb - Brown sugar
Hop list
.25 oz Centennial @ 60 min
.25 oz Chinook @ 45
.50 oz Amarillo @ 30
1.0 oz Liberty @ 15
.50 oz Nugget @ 15
.50 oz Cascade @ 2 (sometimes)
Yeast: California Lager WY 2112
Secondary fermenter addition:
French toasted oak chips that have soaked in 2 cups of bourbon for 2 months (bourbon also gets poured in)
What I’ve done so far: switched between dark, medium, and light toast oak chips soaked in the bourbon. I’ve also thrown in a vanilla bean with the chips and bourbon, and included the same bean in the secondary.
I’d love to hear further advice on how to best alter the taste on this. I love experimenting, so let’s hear your thoughts.
Consider replacing the brown sugar with an invert sugar.
The hop timings are missing, so I’m assuming Chinook / Nugget for bittering, Amarillo / Centennial for flavor, Liberty for aroma, and Cascasde for dry-hop. If I’m close, could you 1) drop nugget & liberty, and 2) use either Centennial or Cascade (but not both)?edit: after hop timings were added
You don’t mention yeast . You could try different yeast. Maybe age it with some Bret. Hey it’s your beer but I also question the hops kind of a lot going on there. You must not be happy or you wouldn’t have asked
All: OP has been edited to show times and yeast. I removed 1 oz of Cascade from the list as it was designated for dry hop, and I’ve never dry hopped this beer. @iahomebrew : The toast levels change the level of smokiness in the brew. I prefer the medium and dark toast, as it lends a noticeable, delicious, but not over powering smokey flavor to the beer.
@brew_cat : I never thought about that. I’m not extremely knowledgeable on the changes in the yeast