Scotch Cask Ale (Pale Ale)

Scotch Cask Ale

Pale Ale

After my first use of a 5 gallon gallon keg used for single malt scotch, I'm using the water stored in this barrel to make this beer and then use this barrel to ask age this beer for 2 to 3 months. High amounts of Rauch malt are being used here along with a higher mash temp. I want smokyness. I'm expecting this to be about 6% ABV and dark golden in appearance. Magnum is used to create a smooth bitterness and Golding is used for a nice flavour typical of England bitters. Yeast will be repitched from a porter.

Water from Cask

Malts
1 lb Malt - Rauch (Smoke)
0.5 lb British Crystal 50/60L
0.5 lb Malt - Crystal 40L
8 lbs 2-Row


Yeast
Re-pitched

No active fermentation after 2 days 

Added Saf lager (yellow) set temp at 68F
Fermenting rapidly after 12 hr after 2nd pitch. Temp set to 66F.

Hops
Magnum (1 oz) Bittering 60 mins
East Kent Golding (2oz) 20 mins

Mash 153F

Ferment for 2 weeks then move to cask for 5 to 6 months.

Aug 2- refraction enter says 7.5 Brix. 1.03?  Tastes great and is dry. Moved to barrel. Next time make 6.5 gals. This did not completely full the barrel. But no worries, it's still fermenting. The head space should be CO2. 

Sep 20- Moved from barrel to keg. Tasted very oaky. Need to let this age for a month or two. Brix 5.1

Oct 26 - This has turned into a beer that is mild in flavours and could best be described as pleasant yet nothing special. The Oak barrel and the smoke malts have added little flavour. Recommendations to make this better: 155F Mash temp. More Rauch and Smoke Malts.Use a funky hop at FO.