Carmen's Old Ale

Nice looking old ale recipe from an old friend. Tasting notes now included. This one is a keeper - good for sipping through the winter (if I can keep some til then).

Brewer:	Christo		Email:	-
Beer:	Carmen's Old Ale		Style:	English Old/Strong Ale
Type:	Extract w/grain		Size:	5 gallons
Color:	42 HCU (~19 SRM)		Bitterness:	30 IBU
OG:	1.075		FG:	1.018
Alcohol:	7.3% v/v (5.8% w/w)
Water:	Savannah GA tap
Grain:	1 lb. American 2-row 1 lb. American crystal 40L 4 oz. British chocolate
Steep:	1 hour steep of grains in grain bag @ 155°.
Boil:	60 minutes	SG 1.125	3 gallons
	8 lb. Light malt extract 1 lb. Honey 2 oz. Molasses
	Added irish moss at 15 minutes
Hops:	2 oz. Kent Goldings (5% AA, 60 min.) 2 oz. Fuggles (4.75% AA, 15 min.) 1 oz. Hallertauer (4.25% AA, 15 min.) 1 oz. Hallertauer (aroma)
Yeast:	Wyest London Ale
Log:	Brewed 1/7/05. O.G. 1.068. Since was running late, did not prepare yeast starter as usual for a fairly big beer. Took 30 hours to start up but went well from there. Racked on 1/18/05. Temperatures at 68 degF. F.G. 1.018.
Carbonation:	3/4 cup priming sugar and bottled 1/28/05. Leads to medium carbonation at 2 months.
Tasting:	At bottling had a very sweet malty, aroma with molassis coming thru. Slighly lighter color than projected. At 2 months old, it is perfect! Hops have come through to really balance out malt. Nice and chewy, medium-full bodied and mouthfeel. Great lace on the glass remains. Turned out very similar to a Rogue DeadGuy. Going to keep a few bottles around til winter time and try next to the fire. I'll definitely make this again but even bigger next time. Won our local beer "open" competition. Interestingly, sent it to another regional competition and only got a 29 as an Old Ale but a 39 as a English Pale Ale. Needs more oomph to score high in the Old Ale category - probably would add more molasses, additional chocolate, and at least a lb. more DME plus aging.

Recipe posted 03/22/06.