Our club just had a strange brewing competition.  We had our LHBS come up with a kit for a 1.050ish ale.  Using that kit as a base we could add and/or subtract up to 1 pound of grain and add and/or substract up to 1 ounce of hops.  We also had almost no limitation on other adjuncts (spices, etc.).  The judging was then based on the "Best Damn Beer" criteria rather than BJCP guidelines.  Details of the base kit and rules are here: http://www.lincolnlagers.com:8880/forum ... sp?TID=240
I won this competition with my Carrot Cake Ale.  Some folks asked for the recipe to be posted somewhere, so here it is:
Bugeater's Carrot Cake Ale
BJCP 21-A  Spice/Herb/Vegetable, Spice, Herb or Vegetable Beer
Recipe Specifics
----------------
Batch Size (Gal):         5.50    Wort Size (Gal):    5.50
Total Grain (Lbs):       14.00
Anticipated OG:          1.058    Plato:             14.37
Anticipated SRM:           7.3
Anticipated IBU:          25.7
Brewhouse Efficiency:       75 %
Wort Boil Time:             60    Minutes
Grain/Extract/Sugar
   %     Amount      Name                           Potential -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 57.1     8.00 lbs.   Pale Malt(2-row)           1.036      
  3.6     0.50 lbs.    Crystal 40L                  1.034      28.6        4.00 lbs.    Carrots Shredded      1.015      0
  3.6     0.50 lbs. Special Roast Malt            1.033     40
  3.6     0.50 lbs. Wheat Malt                      1.038      2
  3.6     0.50 lbs. Maltodextrine                   1.042      0
Potential represented as SG per pound per gallon.
Hops
   Amount     Name                     Form    Alpha  IBU  Boil Time
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.50 oz.    Argentine Cascade    Pellet     3.50   7.5 60min.     0.50 oz.    Spalter Select           Pellet     2.00   1.4  20 min.
0.25 oz.    Glacier                     Pellet     6.00   6.4  60 min.
 0.50 oz.    Glacier                     Pellet     6.00  10.3  First WH
  
Extras
  Amount      Name                             Time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 vanilla bean                                     0 Days(fermenter) 
1 Cinnamon Stick                                0 Days(fermenter) 
1.00 Oz     CandiedGinger Root            5 Min.(boil) 
 0.50 Tsp    Nutmeg, fresh grated         0 Days(fermenter) 
Yeast
-----
WYeast 3056 Bavarian Wheat
Mash Schedule
-------------
Mash Type: Single Step
Grain Lbs:   13.50
Qts Water Per Lbs Grain: 1.50 - Before Additional Infusions
Saccharification Rest Temp : 154  Time:  90
Mash-out Rest Temp :           0  Time:   0
Sparge Temp :                180  Time:   5
Notes
-----
Shredded carrots were boiled for 10 minutes with 1 pound of 2 row to gelatinize starches prior to adding to mash.
Grated cinnamon, vanilla bean and nutmeg soaked in 6 oz. bourbon for two weeks.  
Strain and add to taste at kegging.  Candied ginger root added to boil with 15 minutes left. 
Planned changes:  Cut bitterness to 16-18 IBU to let flavor of carrots come through better.  I will probably simplify the hop schedule. Ferment with Wyeast 3068 instead of 3056 (I screwed up and bought the wrong yeast for this batch).
Even though this did not come out exactly as planned, I did win the ugly trophy and a $50 gift certificate from our LHBS.
Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company
				


 
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