Something with just a little clout

[jodami84]

So far the majority of my mates have been surprised by the quality of the kits and AG brews i have done, but some have been disappointed that none have packed much of a punch percentage wise. Now i appreciate you can go ridiculously high, but im just after brewing something around the 6% mark that i can call their bluff with.

Havn't got a specific style in mind and just want some suggestions. Don't want anything too complicated though as im a still a rookie on the dark side.

All help much appreciated

[dave-o]

Well you can either up the grain/extract or, if you want to keep it dry, add some sugar.

If you brew a 4.5 - 5% ale and add perhaps 300g of table sugar towards the end of the boil it'll up the alcohol a percent or so without noticably altering the taste.

[Deebee]

what about this. 3 malts and 2 hops.

4.7 kg Pale malt
200g torrified wheat ( or wheat malt)
200 g carapils..
Centennial to 46 ibu at 60 mins
cascade to 5,7 ibu at 10 minutes
Centennial to 5 ibu at 10 minutesthen a nice handful og cascade at flame out for a nice 20-30 minute bath.
ferment with nottingham

nam around 5.7% at 75 5 efficiency.

[Barley Water]

Well, if you want something that is easy to make and also has a bunch of flavor why not try an American IPA. The regular strenght versions are around 6% or so and you get the added bonus of being hop delivery vehicles (which your friends should enjoy). I personally like a Dogfish Head 60 clone I have done a couple of times but that does have quite a lot of hop additions which does complicate things. I'm sure there are other recipes that would work out for you however. Many of the American styles get into the 6% range, unfortunately, we seem to think 5% beers are session beers over here. I can also think of several lagers which might meet you requirements but they will be somewhat more difficult to brew well.

[Deebee]

Well, if you want something that is easy to make and also has a bunch of flavor why not try an American IPA. The regular strenght versions are around 6% or so and you get the added bonus of being hop delivery vehicles (which your friends should enjoy). I personally like a Dogfish Head 60 clone I have done a couple of times but that does have quite a lot of hop additions which does complicate things. I'm sure there are other recipes that would work out for you however. Many of the American styles get into the 6% range, unfortunately, we seem to think 5% beers are session beers over here. I can also think of several lagers which might meet you requirements but they will be somewhat more difficult to brew well.

The dogfish head 60 is great. do you have a recipe ish?

[Barley Water]

Well I'm at work so I don't have my notes but do a Google search and you'll find it. It's a very simple grist, American 2 row and 6 ounces of amber malt so that you end up with a 1.064-1.065 O.G. Hops are Warrior, Amarillo and Simcoe (very important to use the low cohumolone hops, it makes for a smooth bitterness). I got the recipe out of the book written by the founder of the brewery and converted it to all grain. If I remember correctly, I bumped the bitterness slightly from my first iteration, other than that, it is pretty much straight out of the book.

I am also screwing around with a dumbed down version (American Pale ale versus IPA), I would like a beer with an O.G. of about 1.050 that also has a big load of late hops, that way I can drink more of it at one sitting. Anhow, I'm still working on that one, I'll try it again this summer.