[flbrewer]

I may be making a home brew (5 gallon extract w/ spec. grains) for my sister's wedding in March. I would appreciate any input on recipe ideas as I will most likely be brewing for the BMC crowd. Ale ideas only please. 

[morticaixavier]

BMC crowd gah!

I brewed a California common for some friends wedding in hope of getting that crowd into it. Most of them felt it was too strong, too hoppy, just overall too flavourful.

I would try a mildly hopped Kolsch or a cream ale. Given that we are talking about extract with steeping Kolsch is probably a good bet. You don't even need any steeping grains.

90% pils extract
10% munich extract
German hops (I like hallertaur) to ~15 IBU for the whole boil and maybe a little shot towards the end. enough extract to get you to 1.048 and call it good.

You might even be able to get away with a 30 minute boil. In that case just the one hop addition.

[denny]

Here's a partial mash recipe I did with the same goals in mind....

#177 Cream Swill

A ProMash Recipe Report

Recipe Specifics
----------------

Batch Size (Gal):         5.00    Wort Size (Gal):    5.00
Total Grain (Lbs):        6.50
Anticipated OG:          1.050    Plato:             12.34
Anticipated SRM:           3.7
Anticipated IBU:          23.5
Brewhouse Efficiency:       60 %
Wort Boil Time:             60    Minutes

Pre-Boil Amounts
----------------

Evaporation Rate:       1.50    Gallons Per Hour
Pre-Boil Wort Size:    6.50    Gal
Pre-Boil Gravity:      1.038    SG          9.59  Plato


Grain/Extract/Sugar

   %     Amount     Name                          Origin        Potential SRM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 15.4     1.00 lbs. Pale Malt(6-row)              America        1.035      2
  7.7     0.50 lbs. Flaked Corn (Maize)           America        1.040      1
 30.8     2.00 lbs. Light Dry Malt Extract                       1.046      7
 46.2     3.00 lbs. Rice Solids Extract                          1.042      1

Potential represented as SG per pound per gallon.


Hops

   Amount     Name                              Form    Alpha  IBU  Boil Time
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  0.50 oz.    Horizon                           Whole   13.00  22.9  45 min.
  0.30 oz.    Horizon                           Whole   13.00   0.6  1 min.


Extras

  Amount      Name                           Type      Time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
  0.50 Tsp    Irish Moss                     Fining    15 Min.(boil)


Yeast
-----

WYeast 1056 Amercan Ale/Chico


Mash Schedule
-------------

Mash Name:

Total Grain Lbs:    1.50
Total Water Qts:    2.00 - Before Additional Infusions
Total Water Gal:    0.50 - Before Additional Infusions

Tun Thermal Mass:   0.00
Grain Temp:        65.00 F


                     Step   Rest   Start   Stop  Heat     Infuse   Infuse  Infuse
Step Name            Time   Time   Temp    Temp  Type     Temp     Amount  Ratio
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sacc                   0     60    155     155   Infuse   168        2.00   1.33


Total Water Qts:            2.00 - After Additional Infusions
Total Water Gal:            0.50 - After Additional Infusions
Total Mash Volume Gal:      0.62 - After Additional Infusions

All temperature measurements are degrees Fahrenheit.
All infusion amounts are in Quarts.
All infusion ratios are Quarts/Lbs.

[dkfick]

Cream Ale, Kolsch, American Wheat, Blonde... I didn't even realize they were all substyles of Light Hybrid Beer until after I typed them all out... But yeah other than making Light Lager for them... Those would be the best bets to get them to consider an ale...

[flbrewer]

Given that we are talking about extract with steeping Kolsch is probably a good bet.

Would the cream ale be more difficult?


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[fmader]

I don't have an extract recipe but I'll be brewing a golden ale as my "lighter" beer for my wedding. It is lightly hopped with even portions of citra and galaxy hops. That and a cherry wheat and two different IPAs.

[morticaixavier]

Given that we are talking about extract with steeping Kolsch is probably a good bet.

Would the cream ale be more difficult?


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it would because the maize requires mashing. not so say your not up to it. but check out Denny's posted recipe and decide if you feel like doing a partial mash. It's not hard and it's a great intro to all grain brewing. Cream ale exists to please light lager lovers so it's a good choice. Probably better than Kolsch honestly, Kolsch or Am Wheat are easier to do extract or extract with steeping though.

[denny]

Given that we are talking about extract with steeping Kolsch is probably a good bet.

Would the cream ale be more difficult?


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it would because the maize requires mashing. not so say your not up to it. but check out Denny's posted recipe and decide if you feel like doing a partial mash. It's not hard and it's a great intro to all grain brewing. Cream ale exists to please light lager lovers so it's a good choice. Probably better than Kolsch honestly, Kolsch or Am Wheat are easier to do extract or extract with steeping though.

In my recipe, all you do is "steep" at mash temps (around 150F) for an hour.  Dead easy.

[Jimmy K]

Given that we are talking about extract with steeping Kolsch is probably a good bet.

Would the cream ale be more difficult?


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it would because the maize requires mashing. not so say your not up to it. but check out Denny's posted recipe and decide if you feel like doing a partial mash. It's not hard and it's a great intro to all grain brewing. Cream ale exists to please light lager lovers so it's a good choice. Probably better than Kolsch honestly, Kolsch or Am Wheat are easier to do extract or extract with steeping though.

You could do cream ale and sub rice syrup for corn. I guarantee not one BMC drinker will ask about the missing corn sweetness.

[flbrewer]

Maybe I'll get wild and make a pale ale!

[AmandaK]

Maybe I'll get wild and make a pale ale!

If you make a killer pale ale, people will drink it. I've converted many a BMCer.

Anyway, the tap list for my own wedding is this: Kölsch, Munich Dunkel, Pale Ale and Saison. Toast beer: BGSA. We will be serving everyone from the BMC crowd, to grandparents, to our homebrew club members so we are trying to hit everybody. I don't know what I would pick if I was limited to just one!

[The Professor]

Maybe I'll get wild and make a pale ale!

I've done exactly that for some special occasions it went over great every time.

If you keep the hop level in check and don't overdo it (as many homebrewers and newbie commercial micro brewers often do) it almost can't miss. Balance is the key to any beer, but especially a lighter tasting one like this. My standard for occasions such as this is usually OG 1.040 and 10 IBUs.

Just remember that without a lot of hops to hide behind, your sanitation will be especially important.

[flbrewer]

Perhaps a brown ale?

[morticaixavier]

Perhaps a brown ale?

too much color. remember you drink first with your eyes

[HoosierBrew]

Maybe I'll get wild and make a pale ale!

If you make a killer pale ale, people will drink it. I've converted many a BMCer.

+1 to that!