Let's Brew Wednesday - 1912 Thomas Usher 100/-

It's almost New Year. And what shouts end of year more than a Strong Scottish beer? Or someone who’s been drinking it.

Strongish, really, for the date. Or for the OG. In terms of ABV, it’s not strong at all. By any standards, other than 1918.

As usual, I struggled to find an apt style in BeerSmith. So I just added one. It’s called “Scottish Shilling Ale medium strong”. Even with my own definition of the style, I couldn’t hit all the parameters. Because BeerSmith expects better attenuation than the Scots went for. Not a dig at BeerSmith. I probably just haven’t found the right parameter to tweak.

I really like that you can customise BeerSmith. I should have started earlier. Maybe I should put together an historic styles add-on and flog it. That should earn me enough to retire early, shouldn’t it? No, I don’t think so. If only.

On with the recipe. Onwards to oblivion and back. I finished that bastard jigsaw. Incidentally. Rather, me and the kids did. Infernal effing thing. One of the pieces was totally white, other than one short black line.

Excuse the flim-flam. Need some padding, as this is more of the same, just at a different strength. Which is pretty much what 20th-century Scottish brewing was about. Pale malt, sugar and shit, plus a decent amount of hops.

1912 Thomas Usher 100/-
pale malt	8.00 lb	65.31%
crystal malt	0.50 lb	4.08%
flaked maize	0.75 lb	6.12%
No. 2 invert sugar	0.75 lb	6.12%
cane sugar	2.25 lb	18.37%
Fuggles 120 min	1.00 oz
Fuggles 60 min	1.00 oz
Fuggles 30 min	1.00 oz
OG	1064
FG	1029
ABV	4.63
Apparent attenuation	54.69%
IBU	33
SRM	8
Mash at	148º F
Sparge at	170º F
Boil time	120 minutes
pitching temp	60º F
Yeast	WLP028 Edinburgh Ale