Fairly new to brewing, just did about my third batch, biggest to date at 5 gallons. The NB kit I just got came with Block Party Amber. I am not a fan of amber ales and was wondering if anyone had ever modified or tweaked the recipe at all. I left it on the shelf and did a Double IPA first as that is more in my wheelhouse for consuming.
However I don’t want the block party to go to waste.
I have not tasted the Block Party amber ale, but if it is at all like the American Amber Ale it is not an over the top malty beer. The American Amber is more hoppy than malty when using WY 1056.
If your an IPA fan just make it an amber IPA. Don’t know what hops came with the kit but use them to beef up the IPA to 60+ and get some C hops and American ale yeast. Post the recipe and we can help tweak it.
I’m not a fan of a few amber ales but prefer stronger, hoppy ales, and barleywines, and strong stouts, but can also dig a nice Pilsener or Lager. I can get down with a fat tire if I have too.
Recipe includes Maillard Malts grains.
.5 lb caramel
.125 special b
.125 light roasted barley
6 lbs gold malt extract syrup
1 oz. Willamette hops.
And to answer the burning question…I do also prefer a higher abv than I’ve generally seen in amber ales.
Me doing extract brewing. To add more abv do add more malt. As well be adding extra grains as well and doing late adition on the last 15 or 20 min the second lme been doing dry hops as well. I am try to tweak some simple beers . And i have been creating. My own recipy. Try to think out of the box.
edit: My initial thought was to see if part of the steeping grains could be reused. However, they may be the least useful part of the kit when modifying the recipe or when starting “from scratch” with the LME.
If one is willing to make a four gallon batch, the 6 lb of LME can be used as the base for an IPA, strong stout, …
The dme and cornsuggar will give you more alc abv.but not more hoppy flav. Look at a hop chart on what you gonna use. Flav wise. .but remember more malt or. Lme. Or corn suggar. Higher og abv .means rethink your Yeast. Pitch rate How much. What kind. Dry or vials of yeast.