Recipe Critique - Oat Brown Ale

[Thirsty Mallard]

This is one of the first recipes I've ever taken a stab at formulating myself (although still quite inspired by BCS). It's intended to be on the line between a Northern English Brown and a Brown Porter.

----------
Owen's Oat Brown Ale
Size: 6 Gal.
Boil Time: 60 Min.
Efficiency: 65%
Est OG: 1.052
Est IBU: 23.9

Grain:
9 lbs - Maris Otter
1 lb - Flaked Oats
0.75 lb - Brown Malt (65L)
0.75 lb - Special Roast (50L)
0.75 lb - Victory Malt (25L)
0.5 lb - Crystal 40
0.25 lb - Pale Chocolate Malt (200L)

Hops:
1.2 oz - East Kent Goldings (5%AA) - 60 Min.
0.5 oz - East Kent Goldings (5%AA) - 5 min.

Yeast: WLP013 London Ale - Ferment at 68F

Mash: Single Infusion at 152F for 60 min.

----------

Some notes:
-Thinking about Carastan (dark) instead of C40.
- Debating on whether to use London Ale Yeast or WLP002 English. London has more attenuation, and I'd like this beer to get down to the 1.012-13 range.
- Not sure if 0.75 lb of each will be too much for the Brown, Special and Victory.

Thoughts?

[Dirk McLargeHuge]

I have no input. I am just replying so that I will learn what you learn. I had a Cigar City Oat Brown Ale and it was amazing. I'd like to brew one myself. So ignore me standing over here in the corner. I'm not looking over your shoulder. No, I am looking. . .at that. . .thing. Over there.

[Thirsty Mallard]

I'm fine with that... just stop standing so close when I'm at the urinal.

[Dirk McLargeHuge]

I'm fine with that... just stop standing so close when I'm at the urinal.

[Thirsty Mallard]

Worthless... the whole lot of you!

Well, after some self introspection and whatnot, I think I am going to do away with the Special Malt (flavor descriptors call it "tangy" with a sourdough type bready flavor, which I'm not really going for) and up my Brown Malt and Victory Malt to 1 lb. each.

May take the oats up to 1.5 lbs also, but not 100% sure about that yet.

Here's hoping! I'll try and report back on how it comes out.

[Dirk McLargeHuge]

Worthless... the whole lot of you!

Well, after some self introspection and whatnot, I think I am going to do away with the Special Malt (flavor descriptors call it "tangy" with a sourdough type bready flavor, which I'm not really going for) and up my Brown Malt and Victory Malt to 1 lb. each.

May take the oats up to 1.5 lbs also, but not 100% sure about that yet.

Here's hoping! I'll try and report back on how it comes out.

Ok, I'll suggest toasting the oats for 15 minutes before using. Was that in your battle plan?

[Thirsty Mallard]

yeah, I'll definitely be toasting the oats... Forgot to mention that important detail!

[BDawg]

Thirsty-
I'd bump the Light Chocolate up to about 1/2 lb.
The Carastan is a little more "British-y", but I'm not really sure if it would stand out enough to make much difference here. Having the C40 adds a residual sweetness that will balance the toast/roast of the other specialty malts.

my .02