Falcon's Eye Blonde 2.0

First brew in the new house in California! Re-brew of one of my favorite recipes with a couple tweaks to the mash bill based on what I had available.

Recipe:

• 5.0 lb 2-row Malt
• 2.5 lb Optic Malt
• 0.5 lb Carmel 10L
• 0.5 oz Cascade 5.5% @ 60 ml
• 0.5 oz Falconers Flight 10.5% @ 15 min
• 0.5 oz Falconers Flight 10.5% @ 5 min
• 1 oz Falconers Flight 10.5% @ 1 min
• 0.5 tsp Yeast Nutrient (Wyeast) @ 10 min
• 0.5 tsp Irish Moss @ 10 min
• 10 drops FermcapS before boil
• 1.0 L yeast starter of Second generation Wyeast 1450

• OG: 1044 (Beersmith)
• 24.9  IBU
• 3.7 SRM

The new house has a gas stove so I can heat up the mash water inside in comfort. I can also mash inside as long as the wife doesn't give me too much grief.

Mashing at 148 for 75 minutes, preheating the MLT with 3.5 gallons of 175 degree water and grains are going in at 158. Mash was at 148 as planned.

First runnings, 17.6% Brix and 2.75 gallons, 12.7% and 5 gallons with the second runnings, 10.8% (1042) and 6.8 gallons pre-boil. We also have a sweet sun room where I can boil with all of the screened in windows open to keep the bugs and dust out. Makes brew day a lot more enjoyable to me.

Finished at 12.0% Brix (1046) and something close to 5 gallons in the new fermenter. It doesn't have graduation markings that I could see at night when I was transferring at least.

The fermentation chamber is going to be set at 55 F (15.5 C) for at least the first few days then I might bump it up to 60 F to finish off. The temperature sensor is not in the beer and not very well insulated to the new fermenter either so I am guessing 5-7 degrees warmer in the beer than the chamber.

Cane and Ebel Clone

I have been wanting to brew this beer for a while now. I found the recipe on HomeBrewTalk.com (http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/cane-ebel-clone-help-212740/) and I like the original beer a lot so I figured it was worth a shot.

Recipe:

• 9.5 lb 2-row
• 1.5 lb Rye Malt
• 1 lb Crystal 10
• 0.5 lb Aromatic
• 0.5 lb Crystal Rye
• 0.5 lb Munich
• 2 oz Roasted Barley
• 1 lb Thai Palm Sugar @ 75 min
• 0.25 oz Warrior 13.7% @ 60 min
• 0.25 oz Columbus 14 % @ 60 min
• 0.5 oz Warrior 13.7% @ 30 min
• 0.5 oz Columbus 14% @ 25 min
• 0.5 oz Simcoe 13% @ 20 min
• 0.5 tsp Irish Moss @ 15 min
• 0.5 tsp Yeast Nutrient (Wyeast) @ 10 min
• 10 drops FermcapS before boil
• 2 packets of Wyeast 1332 Northwest Ale in a 1.5L starter

• OG: 1071 (7.2% ABV est)
• 64.9 IBU
• 13.7 SRM 

Mashed at 153 F for 60 minutes, I was planning for 154 but was a bit low. Everything else went smoothly except for a few uninvited yellow jackets. Both yeast packets had inadvertently been left out at room temperature for a couple days at different times so that is the reason for the large over-pitch. The starter appeared to get going though so I think it will be ok.

1st Runnings: 2.5 gallons 21.7%

Sparge 1: 4.75 gallons 16.2%

Sparge 2 (pre-boil): 6.75 gallons 14%

Efficiency was ~75%, 75 minute boil and chilled it down before pouring it into the fermenter and pitching the yeast. 18.7%, 1074 OG. Fermenting at 12.5 C (54.5 F) on the temperature controller

American Stout

The smokey start stout turned out great so I am doing another one with some changes and without the benefit of happy yeast from a Rauchbier. To make up for it I added in a bit of smoked malt and I was out of chocolate but had some midnight wheat so we will see how it goes.

In fact the smokey start stout got a 36 at the Indiana state fair homebrew competition which is my best score so far. They recommended some more hop presence in the flavor so I am adding Cascade at 15 minutes and swapping out for warrior to bitter since my cascade supply is lower than usual.

Recipe:

• 8.5 lb 2-row
• 12 oz Roasted Barley (~400L ish)
• 8 oz Crystal 120L
• 4 oz Midnight Wheat (450L)
• 2 oz Smoked Malt (guessing cherry wood, smells like bacon)
• 0.75 oz Warrior 13.7% @ 60 min
• 1.0 oz Cascade 6.2% @ 15 min
• 0.5 tsp Irish Moss @ 15 min
• 0.5 tsp Yeast Nutrient (Wyeast) @ 10 min
• 10 drops FermcapS before boil
• 1 packet of Re-hydrated US-05

• OG: 1049 (5.2% ABV est)
• 45.4 IBU
• 34 SRM 

1st Runnings: 1.75 gallons 21%

Sparge 1: 4.25 gallons 15%

Sparge 2 (pre-boil): 6.4 gallons 10.9%

Efficiency was ~80% (1043 pre-boil). 60 minute boil and chilled it down before pouring it into the fermenter and pitching the yeast. 13.5%, 1054 OG. Fermenting at 12.5 C (54.5 F) on the temperature controller

PartE SB

Making an ESB that may be used for a group party in about a month. Similar recipe to the previous 2.5 gallon BIAB ESB I did but making a few changes and brewing this one in my normal all grain setup.

Recipe:

• 8.5 lb 2-row Malt
• 0.5 lb Crystal 40L
• 4 oz pale chocolate (200L)
• 1.0 oz US Goldings 5.0% FWH
• 1.0 oz US Goldings 5.0% @ 60 min
• 1.0 oz US Goldings 5.0% @ 5 min
• 0.5 tsp Yeast Nutrient (Wyeast) @ 10 min
• 0.5 tsp Irish Moss @ 10 min
• 10 drops FermcapS before boil
• 1 packet of Danstar Nottingham rehydrated

• OG: 12.4% (1050) (Beersmith)
• 39.9  IBU
• 9.6 SRM

Mashing at 152 for 60 minutes, preheating the MLT with 3 gallons of 175 degree water and grains are going in at 166.

First: 1.5 gal 21%.
Second: 4.2 gal 13.5%
Pre-boil: 6.5 gal 11%

Boil went fine, and ended up at 12.3% (1048) before pitching the yeast. Fermenting at 14.5 C until it is done.

Cascade/Citra IPA Update

Dry hopped the Cascade/Citra IPA and transferred it to a keg 6/10/14. Tasted pretty darn good to me despite the low IBU's and it finished on the Beersmith prediction of ~1014. I will update this once it is carbonated and pouring.

Ellie kicked cancer's ass again (again) Cascade/Citra IPA

Clare's (our) friend Ellie just passed her 2 year scan after beating cancer for the third time so this beer is in honor of her! Clare will have to come up with a good name for it so I will update it with that when it is ready to drink.

I was intending to re-brewing an old favorite with some additions but it ended up being a totally different beer since I screwed up a few things. It was a cascade and citra pale ale. I am adding some crystal 30 for more depth (it is old crushed grain so I am going with a bit more than usual) as well as a dry hop for 5 days with citra and cascade. I also bumped up the base malt by 3 lb on accident so it is a bigger beer than intended.

Recipe:

• 10 lb 2-row Malt
• 2 lb Vienna Malt
• 1 lb Crystal 30L
• 0.9 oz Cascade 6.2% @ 60 min
• 1.0 oz Citra 14.1%  @ 15 min (supposed to be 10 min but I screwed up)
• 1.0 oz Citra 14.1% @ 1 min
• 0.5 oz Citra 14.1% Dry hop for 5 days
• 0.5 oz Cascade 6.2% Dry hop for 5 days
• 0.5 tsp Yeast Nutrient (Wyeast) @ 10 min
• 0.5 tsp Irish Moss @ 10 min
• 10 drops FermcapS before boil
• 1000 ml yeast starter of third generation Wyeast 1450

• OG: 10.0% (1066) (Beersmith)
• 40.4  IBU
• 7.2 SRM

Mashing at 150 for 60 minutes, preheating the MLT with 3.125 gallons of 175 degree water and grains are going in at 164. Mash was at 149-150 and was really thick which is unusual. I added just a bit more water and got it moving more fluid but we will see how it ends up.

First: 1.25 gal 24.3%.
Second: 3.5 gal 18.2%
Pre-boil: 6.5 gal 14.2%

Boiled for 60 minutes, messed up the 10 minute citra addition (added it at 15 minutes instead, but whatever), ate some delicious dinner from the wife

and pitched the yeast. Fermenting in the fermentation chamber at 12.5 C and will dry hop in the primary when it slows down in a week or so. Original gravity was 15.9% Brix (1069) so the numbers were close on the efficiency. I had to update this since apparently I didn't pay any attention to how much base malt I was supposed to use in my recipe. The recipe actually called for 7 lb of 2-row and I used 10 soooo, it is more of a low bitterness IPA than pale ale but I am sure it will still be good.

Smokey Start Stout

Never done a stout and from what I read they can be done with lager yeast. I just happen to have a lot of happy lager yeast from the rauchbeir that is tasting awesome and lagering now. I am going to pull it off the yeast cake and pitch some of the cake for this stout.

Also we are FINALLY getting some spring weather here in Indiana and just in time too since Clare and I are getting married in less than a month. Unfortunately Barack and Michelle can't make it but they sent a nice card at least;

 

Recipe:

• 9 lb 2-row
• 12 oz Roasted Barley (~400L ish)
• 8 oz Crystal 120L
• 8 oz Chocolate malt (pale 200L)
• 2.0 oz Cascade 13.7% @ 60 min
• 0.5 tsp Irish Moss @ 15 min
• 0.5 tsp Yeast Nutrient (Wyeast) @ 10 min
• 10 drops FermcapS before boil
• Yeast cake of wyeast 2633 octoberfest

• OG: 1056 (5.3% ABV est)
• 41.1 IBU
• 33 SRM (probably low)

1st Runnings: 1.5 gallons 23.4%
Sparge 1: 4.0 gallons 16.2%

Sparge 2 (pre-boil): 6.4 gallons 12.5%

Clare wanted to take a picture of me taking the gravity reading with the refractometer, so here it is...

Efficiency is back to 75% (1050 pre-boil), it seems like a good long stir and rest for a few minutes really helps. Getting ready to boil and looking awesome, the color is a nice deep black. 60 minute booil and chil it down before pouring it onto the yeast cake. I would be worried about over-pitching if this wasnt lager yeast but I still may take a bit out of the fermenter.

Ended up not taking any yeast out of the fermenter because I was lazy. The OG ended up at 1060 so the efficiency overall was around 82%. I am going to try to keep consistent and see if I can keep that number or at least settle to something repeatable. Not a big deal here but it is a 6% ABV stout rather than a 5%, I can deal with that.