Strawberry shortcake delight ale

This is my first All grain brew, I was trying to get the flavor and aroma of a freshly baked strawberry shortcake. The color is a real nice red with small amout of honey taste and a hint of strawberry flavor and smell.

Brewer:	ken (ALABAMA)		Email:	kwatters116649@wmconnect.com
Beer:	Strawberry shortcake delight ale		Style:	Barley Wine
Type:	All grain		Size:	5 gallons
Color:	15 HCU (~10 SRM)		Bitterness:	36 IBU
OG:	1.069		FG:	1.009
Alcohol:	7.8% v/v (6.1% w/w)
Water:	out of tap water no treatment to it
Grain:	7 lb. American 2-row 1 lb. Belgian biscuit 2 lb. HONEY MALT CANADA
Mash:	80% efficiency
	First I blended all the grains in a grain bag (paint strainer bag) and shift out the flour residue. Added grains to brew pot (no bag) @ cold start. slowly broght waters to 150° it took 20 min. Then removed from burner at 150° for 15 min. Then raised to 160° for 15 minutes. finaly raised to 180° for 15 min. Did Iodine test need another 5 minutes @ 180°. Sparged with 5 gal of 170° water (reduce the amount of water needed)I had 2 gal I didn't need (wasted).
Boil:	55 minutes	SG 1.053	6.5 gallons
	22 oz. Honey
	2 vanilla bean 22 oz of wildflower honey 5 lbs of fresh strawberries (halfed and marinted in 1/4 c of honey and 1/2 a vanilla beam overnight)
Hops:	1 oz. Fuggles (5.4% AA, 55 min.) .5 oz. Cascade (5.4% AA, 45 min.) .5 oz. Cascade (5.4% AA, 30 min.)
Yeast:	1 vial of WLP023 (burton ale) pitched @ 75° My fermentation took 30+/- hours to start due to temp problem. fermented average @ 76°.
Log:	Added 1 cup of honey @ 56 minute mark of boil. I added 1 vanilla bean @ 56 min mark of boil. added remaing honey & 1/2 a vanilla beam @ 30 minute mark. added 1/4 oz of irish moss @ 15 minutes removed brew pot from stove and steeped The strawberry marinated for 15 minutes. cooled wort to 75° (4.5 hours later) pitched yeast. strained wort to fermenting bucket, removing strawberries and vanilla and adding to fermentor. placed in cool area for 6 days. (recommed longer fermenting time) I had a high volume of CO2 residue (skimmed foam and spent strawberries from top). Did a secondary fermentation adding 1 lb of fresh strawberries for 7 days. F.g. seems to be about a 1.010.
Carbonation:	2.9 volumes	Corn Sugar: 5.02 oz. for 4.5 gallons @ 72°F
	added 2/3 cup of corn sugar to 4.5 gal of beer.
Tasting:	As I was brewing it, it tasted sweet like honey with a great aroma of strawberries (like strawberry shortcake). over two weeks before bottling I have tried it, it is semisweet like honey and has a real light hint of strawberry aroma and very mild biscuit taste. the addition of strawberiies is a must. you can definently smell and taste the hops (might cut back next time). At time of bottling, the hops taste had mellowed nice red hue flavors are blending. I will update this recipe when it has set for 3 months.

Recipe posted 09/11/04.