Amber/Pale Ale Recipe Question - Munich Malt?

[Wutz]

I hate to do this to you all, but I'm putting in an order for some brewing supplies and I'm going to make a beer out of the left-over grains (and some additional hops). How does this recipe sound and what (if any) is the effect of the half pound of Munich 20? Would it benefit me much to go to a whole pound of Munich or more? I was going to use it mostly just so I don't have half a pound of Munich 20 (and a half-ounce of Saaz) layin' around (it'll serve as a bit of a lesson in what Munich malt will give me in an amber/pale ale).

4# Maris Otter
3# Light DME
.5# Munich 20
1# Crystal 60

.5 - 1 oz. Nugget 60mins
.5 oz. US Saaz 20mins
.5 oz. Amarillo 10mins
.5 oz. Simcoe 10mins
.5 oz. Amarillo 0mins
.5 oz. Simcoe 0mins

Wyeast 1056

Should be about 1.055 down to 1.014-ish. I'm hoping, if nothing else, this will give me a good yeast-cake to get goin' for the next beer (an effort in the direction of an higher-gravity Rogue Hazelnut Brown). Is this too much hop-action to be putting in a yeast-building brew? I'm a little out of my depth on the recipe formulation side of brew-land.

Cut out the Simcoe, maybe? Would a half-ounce of Nugget at 60mins and a half-ounce at 30mins smooth out the bitterness some? Half the crystal? Ditch the Saaz? Quit as a brewer because I'm an ass-face?

Meow?

[uncle_bad_touches]

you'll get a little toasted bread crust flavor from the munich which should be nice in a pale ale. 1/2 lb will keep it pretty mellow, but that should be enough to be noticeable.

you also might want to switch the hops around a bit. if you're trying to get rid of the saaz I'd put them in early and use them for bittering and use 1/2 oz of the nugget at 20 mins. not that saaz aren't nice hops, but I think the herbal spicy nature might clash with the amarillo and simcoe. the nugget will give you some of the spicy flavor without the herbal.

as for the 30 minute addition, it won't necessarily smooth out the bitterness as layer it and provide a little extra subtle flavor. if you're looking for smoother bitterness try a lower cohumulone hop for bitterness such as magnum or warrior. nugget also fits into the low cohumulone category so you should be good.