Batch #4: Molasses Mild

This was an attempt to make a low-gravity ale to show off some different malt characteristics (chocolate and special B), and hopefully get some "Old Peculiar" character with a light addition of black treacle. It failed in that. The special B took over the brew, almost crowding out the chocolate, and the treacle disappeared.

Recipe

Grain Bill

5 lbs. Fawcett Optic
4 oz. DWC Special B
4 oz. Fawcett Chocolate

Sugars

8 oz. Lyle's Black Treacle

Hops

0.75 oz. East Kent Goldings (5.7% AA) @60 min.

Yeast

Wyeast 1084 washed from the primary of a previous batch and stepped up with a 2-qt starter.

Mash

Single infusion mash, 60 minutes at 154 F

Vitals

OG: 1.040
FG: 1.010
Calculated IBU: 18
Carbonation: Kegged, 5 psi @55F

Timeline

Brew day: September 22, 2002

11:15 am: Mash in, 152-154F.
12:15 pm: Begin batch sparging.
12:50 pm: Begin 3rd batch.
1:15 pm: (approx.) Finish sparging, begin heating to boil.
2:10 pm: Rolling boil underway.
2:30 pm: Add hops.
3:15 pm: Add treacle.
3:30 pm: End boil, begin chill.
4:20 pm: All done!

Kegged October 2, SG 1.010-1.011. There was about a half gallon left over that did not fit in the keg.

Bottled the dregs October 3, giving a 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles. Primed with 3 primetabs per bottle.

Tasting notes

10/02/2002

Carbonic and watery, with a little malt character.

10/19/2002

Pleasant, if schizophrenic beer. Without the special B, would be a good mild or brown porter. The special B adds out-of-place blueberry/grape soda notes. The chocolate, though, is enjoyable at this point, and makes its presence known. The treacle is MIA.

11/09/2002

Finished the keg. It was an OK beer, but not astounding. It was mild enough to be quaffable, but needed a lot more age to let the special B mellow out.

The next attempt at a mild will be from scratch.

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