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Author Topic: Summer Ale?  (Read 1573 times)

Offline breweite

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Summer Ale?
« on: April 08, 2015, 07:23:43 am »
87% US Pale
10% Munich
3% Red Wheat

18 IBUs Glacier @ 60 (.5oz for 3 gallon)
2 IBUs Halleratu @ 10 (.25oz for 3 gallon)
0 IBU Hallertau @ flameout (.25oz for 3 gallon)

OG - 1.042
IBU - 20
Color - 3.7
ABV - 4.3%

Any recommendations to make this an awesome blonde/summer drinker?

I was aiming for a blonde ale with a bit of floral flavor from the hallertau.  1. should I keep those hop additions? (I don't care much about guidelines, but if they are useless or overpowering I'd like to know..)  2. I also have Mt. Hood hops, does anyone prefer Mt. Hood over Hallertau in their summer/easy drinking beers?

My plan is to use US 05 and ferment at 60 for clean flavor.

Cheers from Austin, Tejas!

Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: Summer Ale?
« Reply #1 on: April 08, 2015, 07:29:40 am »
Looks like a nice summer beer to me. Depending on how much hop flavor you want, you could bump the 10 min and FO hops to 1/2 oz, or just leave as is. It'll be good either way. As for Mt Hood, I really like it but standard Hallertau is obviously nice, too. Good luck !
Jon H.

Offline troybinso

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Re: Summer Ale?
« Reply #2 on: April 08, 2015, 07:46:02 am »
What yeast will you be using? With a low gravity and a small hop charge, if you use a neutral yeast, it is going to be easy drinking, for sure, but maybe a little boring. I'd be tempted to use a lager yeast if you are going to keep the recipe as is, or maybe an English ale yeast and up the hops a bit. You could even use an expressive Belgian yeast to coax some complexity out of a simple recipe.

Offline Iliff Ave

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Re: Summer Ale?
« Reply #3 on: April 08, 2015, 08:51:31 am »
I am curious about the yeast as well. I would be tempted to mash high and use an english ale yeast. I did something similar a couple of years ago that turned out great.

I would maybe bump up the late hops as Hoosier suggests.
On Tap/Bottled: IPL, Adjunct Vienna, Golden Stout, Honey Lager
Fermenting: IPA
Up Next: mexi lager, Germerican pale ale

S. cerevisiae

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Re: Summer Ale?
« Reply #4 on: April 08, 2015, 09:01:42 am »
What color Munich are you using?  I usually do not use malts with lovibond ratings more than 4 in my blondes. However, then again, I use pils as my base malt for blondes.

Offline breweite

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Re: Summer Ale?
« Reply #5 on: April 08, 2015, 09:12:44 am »
I am curious about the yeast as well. I would be tempted to mash high and use an english ale yeast. I did something similar a couple of years ago that turned out great.

I would maybe bump up the late hops as Hoosier suggests.

Thanks for feedback.  I never thought of this.  My only contradicting thought would be; an english or belgian yeast adding those "heavy/stone" fruit flavors and esters? which I wouldn't really consider a "light summer ale", at least thats my preference...  I plan on using Dry US05. A lager yeast as mentioned could be a good idea too.
Cheers from Austin, Tejas!

Offline Iliff Ave

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Re: Summer Ale?
« Reply #6 on: April 08, 2015, 09:18:04 am »
I am curious about the yeast as well. I would be tempted to mash high and use an english ale yeast. I did something similar a couple of years ago that turned out great.

I would maybe bump up the late hops as Hoosier suggests.

Thanks for feedback.  I never thought of this.  My only contradicting thought would be; an english or belgian yeast adding those "heavy/stone" fruit flavors and esters? which I wouldn't really consider a "light summer ale", at least thats my preference...  I plan on using Dry US05. A lager yeast as mentioned could be a good idea too.

I use US-05 or S-04 for 80% of my beers. I use S-04 in a lot of American styles and find it to actually be quite clean when kept in the mid 60s. It adds just a little more character than 05. The key will be leaving enough body in it to where it doesn't taste too thin. I looks like it will be a good beer regardless of which route you choose.
« Last Edit: April 08, 2015, 09:20:54 am by goschman »
On Tap/Bottled: IPL, Adjunct Vienna, Golden Stout, Honey Lager
Fermenting: IPA
Up Next: mexi lager, Germerican pale ale

Offline curtism1234

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Re: Summer Ale?
« Reply #7 on: April 09, 2015, 02:22:57 pm »
Thanks for feedback.  I never thought of this.  My only contradicting thought would be; an english or belgian yeast adding those "heavy/stone" fruit flavors and esters? which I wouldn't really consider a "light summer ale", at least thats my preference... 

I think stone fruit says summer - afterall that's when peaches, plums, cherries, etc come into season. Perhaps late summer is better than early summer.

I'm thinking of making a summer beer soon as well. I have not used El Dorado or Hull Melon hops and think showcasing one of those would be mighty tasty.