Redbeard Scottish Pirate Ale

For my 40th birthday, I decided to have a blowout "Pirate Looks at 40" bash and provide my own homebrew recipe for the beer (along with an open liquor bar). This Scottish Red Ale was a huge hit with pirates and wenches alike... we finished off 20 gallons (4 corny kegs) in just a few hours. I should've made more...
I also bottled two batches and gave the bottles away as party favors. Check out the labels here: http://www.eaglesongs.com/pirateale.html

Brewer:	Hickory Bluff Brewing Co.		Email:	brewers@eaglesongs.com
URL:	http://www.eaglesongs.com
Beer:	Redbeard Scottish Pirate Ale		Style:	Scottish Light Ale
Type:	Extract w/grain		Size:	5 gallons
Color:	24 HCU (~13 SRM)		Bitterness:	12 IBU
OG:	1.052		FG:	1.010
Alcohol:	5.4% v/v (4.3% w/w)
Grain:	.5 lb. Wyermann CaraRed .25 lb. Simpson's crystal medium 2 oz. Simpson's chocolate .25 lb. Golden Naked Oats
Steep:	The grain mixture was steeped from room temp until about 160° then removed.
Boil:	60 minutes	SG 1.104	2.5 gallons
	3.15 lb. Light malt extract 1 lb. Amber dry malt extract 1 lb. Honey 1 lb. Honey
	2nd addition of Honey at 15 min remaining
Hops:	1 oz. Kent Goldings (5% AA, 60 min.)
Yeast:	Wyeast Scottish Ale #1728
Log:	To date, I have brewed 8 batches of this recipe. Six were kegged, two bottled. Primary fermentation at approx 70° for 2 weeks, secondary also at 70° for two weeks. Times in the keg (and bottles) vary greatly (min of 2 weeks).
Carbonation:	Kegs were force-carbonated with CO2, bottles were carbonated with corn sugar - standard mixture (.75 cup/5 gal.). I experimented with carbonating the bottles using tropical fruit liqueurs, but I didn't like the result - way too sweet.
Tasting:	The initial batch was darker and not quite as red as I expected, so I backed off on the chocolate and added more Wyermann CaraRed (reflected in recipe posted). I will continue to brew this recipe without changes. I love the flavor and aroma of the Kent Goldings hops (also used in a couple other recipes). The beer has a slightly sweeter taste than the other Scottish Ale we brew, but not overwhelming. I love the color, flavor, and aroma. I have received countless compliments from beer snobs and laymen (and women) alike. Not too harsh, not too sweet, definitely not a wussy beer, it's a good beer to please a crowd with diverse tastes.

Recipe posted 08/04/10.