Need help with a creamsicle ale recipe

[mjstewart629]

I'm trying to work on the recipe for a creamsicle ale that I'm going to be brewing soon, so I can have it ready to go for the 4th of July. I'm using a cream ale base and I definitely want it to taste like a creamsicle, but I want to make sure it's still a nice refreshing beer on a hot day. Here's the recipe I have so far, but I'm looking for some advice to help make the beer as great as it can be.

Estimated OG: 1.057
Estimated IBUs: 17

4 lbs: 2 Row
4 lbs: Pilsner malt
.5 lb: Flaked Corn
1 lb: Lactose @ 15 min
1 lb: Orange Blossom Honey @ flameout (to dry out beer and somewhat counteract the lactose)
1 lb: Flaked Oats (help with creamy mouthfeel)
1.5 oz: Black malt (to help give beer orange color)

2 oz tangerine zest @ 5 min

1.25 oz Liberty (4% alpha acid) @ 60 minutes

Yeast: US-05

I was also going to add a vanilla bean or two, but I wanted to know when would be best to add it.

Feel free to add any suggestions as far as getting the proper sweetness the beer needs, the orange color I'm trying to achieve, and anything that would make the beer better. The big question I have is since lactose is unfermentable, is the higher FG going to make the beer less drinkable and should I dry it out more, or will the beer be ok as it is? Thanks everyone!

[brewinhard]

Why not swap out the black malt for a
less astringent grain like dehusked carafa or even midnight wheat? You can still get the color without any roast.

Vanilla bean can be cut open and scraped out. This can be added either to the primary or secondary depending how much flavor impact and time you want the bean in for.

[BDawg]

Boost the honey to 2 lbs for it to come through a bit more.

[shiftynobrow]

Added 3 whole beans (for a 5 gallon batch) , split down the middle, in the secondary for about 3 days. Gave the beer a nice hint of vanilla that wasn't over powering.

[dmtaylor]

Recipe looks good. I would highly recommend adding a little coriander as well to improve the citrus aspect. Also you might want to add some more orange or tangerine zest at the very end on bottling/kegging day -- soak some in a shot or two of vodka overnight then add the infused liquid to the beer. This will add a ton of zippy citrus aroma and flavor.

[mjstewart629]

These are some very good suggestions! I'll get some debittered black malt instead of the regular black malt, I'll add 3 vanilla beans late in the primary for 3 days, and what citrus and vanilla character I'm lacking, I'll touch up with vanilla extract and maybe soak some tangerine zest in vodka. I think I'll do a quarter oz of coriander with 5 min left in the boil. Hopefully this will give me a good beer. I'll let you know how it turns out, and thanks again!