Clamstalk Slimy Toad

I was experimenting with some hop types I'd never used before; while I was going for an IPA, the mildness of the hops and the amount of the honey charactistic that come through (at least at the initial tasting) make me hesitate to call it that.

Named Slimy Toad because my brewpartner and I both thought of toads when we smelled the Sterling hops for the first time.

Brewer:	S.K. Murphy		Email:	-
Beer:	Clamstalk Slimy Toad		Style:	Pale Ale
Type:	Extract w/grain		Size:	5 gallons
Color:	9 HCU (~7 SRM)		Bitterness:	68 IBU
OG:	1.069		FG:	1.016
Alcohol:	6.8% v/v (5.3% w/w)
Grain:	8 oz. American Munich 8 oz. American crystal 20L
Steep:	Steeped grains in a grain bag - put them with 2 gallons of cold water and slowly brought temp up. Removed them just before the boil, then emptied the bag into a pot of 170F water. Used bag to strain the sparge back into the brewpot.
Boil:	60 minutes	SG 1.114	3 gallons
	3 lb. Munton's Light dry malt extract 6 oz. Turbinado sugar 1 lb. Clover Honey 3 lb. Munton's Extra Light dry malt extract
	Added 1 tsp Irish Moss at 45 minutes. No big foam up, this time.
Hops:	1 oz. Magnum (14.4% AA, 60 min.) .5 oz. Sterling (6% AA, 45 min.) .5 oz. Sterling (6% AA, 30 min.) .5 oz. Cascade (6.3% AA, 15 min.) .5 oz. Cascade (aroma)
Yeast:	Safeale OS-05. 11.5g; no starter.
Log:	Primary only, 2 weeks.
Carbonation:	Primed 5 gallons with 3/4 cup corn sugar.
Tasting:	Got 44 12oz bottles and 2 22oz bottles, plus some left in the tubing/hydrometer cup (which I drank). Already has a bitter start, honeylike middle, mild hop aroma (expect that to change w/ carbonation). Next time, I will add a half ounce of Chinook hops - I think this needs a more fresh note in the aroma to balance out the honey and 'earthy' hops.

Recipe posted 04/08/09.