I wanted to make a malt-forward, yet pleasantly hopped, beer to enjoy on tap this coming winter, so I did! I took some inspiration from Sinister Kitty, because the depth of the malt flavors in that beer are freakin' awesome! The major change was the primary base malt, and I opted to use Munich in order to really ram the "malty" point home. FWIW, when assistant brew master Jewels came home from work during the brew day, her comment was "wow, it smells like fresh beer bread in here!"
- Munich malt: 5 pounds - Pale malt: 2 pounds - Crystal 40: 4 oz - Crystal 120: 4 oz - Victory: 4 oz - Pale Chocolate: 2 oz - Apollo pellets: 1/3 oz @ 60, 1/4 oz @ 7 - Cascade pellets: 3/4 oz @ 20, 1/4 oz @ 10 - US-05
OG:1.062 - IBU: ~40 - ABV: 6.3%
This was kegged and subsequently tapped on Christmas day because my family was crushing LBBP beer and the taps needed beer flowing through them! From memory: this beer is quite a dark shade of brown with a thin wispy head (due to not being fully carbonated yet I think!). The aroma is of strong malt with a hint of the Cascades, and the taste follows suit. Very rich and malt-complex (bready, toasted nuts and some caramel) with just enough hoppy-grapefruit at the end to remind you that you're drinking beer. I think, in the future, I can easily keep the malt bill the same and use a bit more water to make a very satisfying mid 5% ABV beer.
update 1/8/2014: the (now) fluffy off-white head persists the entire way down the glass, leaving some sticky lacing in its wake. the aroma is coming across as strong grapefruit with a hint of pine and bready malt. the taste is of the Cascade hops, followed by rich toasted bread, and dark caramel (is that a thing? it is almost like near-burned caramel). not too bad, but I think the Munich is a bit too much. Sinister Kitty DEFINITELY is going to be my malty APA base going forward.