FedoraDave's American Ale recipe

[FedoraDave]

Since our beloved alb has returned to the fold, and since she asked me for this recipe, and since I can't resist a pretty face, here it is.

I don't really have an extract recipe that would approximate what I've developed, so I'm only posting the AG recipe. This is for 5 gallons.

9 pounds 2-row
1 pound Carapils
1 pound rye malt
2 ounces Melanoidin

1/4 oz Simcoe -- 45 minutes
3/4 oz Simcoe -- 22 minutes
1/2 oz Simcoe -- 7 minutes

1 tsp crushed coriander seed -- 15 minutes
1 Whirlfloc tab -- 7 minutes

Yeast -- WLP001 -- pitched mid-60s

Dry hop 1/2 oz Simcoe 2-4 days before bottling

This is a good, refreshing, summer ale. About 5.5% ABV, and goes with just about any food you'd like to pair it with.

Looks like Bud; tastes like beer.

[Gymrat]

alb is back?

[FedoraDave]

She is, indeed. She popped in and hijacked my barbecue thread in the Brewhouse, where she asked for this recipe.

Commence the celebration.

[Inkleg]

This is a good, refreshing, summer ale. About 5.5% ABV, and goes with just about any food you'd like to pair it with.

Looks like Bud; tastes like beer.

If my memory serves me right the above is very true, as Dave has been kind enough to share one with me.

alb is back?

And this.

[FedoraDave]

Jeff, I wouldn't put my name on it if I didn't think it was a good beer. I'm glad you liked the sample I sent you.

Basically, I wasn't looking for anything other than a good drinking beer, and this grew out of my desire to learn more about what different hop strains delivered. So I started with Light DME and Carapils, making batch after batch, but using different hops every time. With more experience came more savvy in the hops department, and when I made a batch with Simcoe, I felt I'd found my signature hops. When I converted it to AG, I added the rye for a little bite, and the melanoidin for some added aroma, but I always kind of considered this a SMaSH beer, since that's what I pretty much started with.

And I like the fact that it's simple, tasty, refreshing, and just a doggone good drinking beer. Great for a session, a barbecue, a hot summer night watching the baseball game, or when you get home, tired and hot from a long day's work.

Sometimes simpler is better.

[BigPapaG]

Dave, ALB and all,

Ran Fedora Dave's American Ale up in Beersmith Mobile and then changed it out to Extract w/ Steep...

This should be a very close Extract / Steep version...

The 2-Row becomes 6 pounds of Extra Light DME (Pilsen is my preference)...

(You will see TWO 3 pound references because I use a 4 gallon pot with the steep and half the DME, adding the other three pounds and the rye near the end of the boil, ultimately topping off my carboy with water to make five gallons)

The Rye Malt becomes Briess Rye LME.

The CaraPils remains as is and should be steeped along with the 2oz. of Melanoidin Malt.
(I like a lighter body so I would drop the CaraPils to 8 ounces for my taste, YMMV)

For the Corriander, your recipe calls for a Teaspoon... Beersmith Mobile measures in Ounces so I chose a quarter ounce... Adjust per your preference.

How's it look Dave?




Extract w/ Steeping Grains

Beer Style Comparison
American Pale Ale

Gravity      1.055 SG
 
Bitterness      42.6 IBUs
 
Color      6.1 SRM
 
Ingredients

5.00 gal WNY (2013) Water

1 lb - CaraPils, Belgian Steep prior to boil (12.2%) - 10.0 SRM

2.0 oz - Melanoiden Malt Steep prior to boil (1.5%) - 20.0 SRM

3 lb - Extra Light Dry Extract Boil (36.5%) - 3.0 SRM
 
0.25 oz - Simcoe Boil 45 min (11.5 IBUs)

0.75 oz - Simcoe Boil 22 min (24.3 IBUs)

3 lb - Extra Light Dry Extract Add late to boil (36.5%) - 3.0 SRM

1 lb 1.6 oz - Rye Liquid Malt Extract Added Late to boil (13.4%) - 8.0 SRM

0.25 oz - Coriander Seed Boil 15 min

0.50 oz - Simcoe Boil 7 min (6.8 IBUs)


1 pkg - California Ale White Labs #WLP001

 
Profiles for Recipe

Pot ( 4 Gal/15.1 L) - Extract

Ale, Single Stage

Carbonation Volumes:  2.3 vols

[FedoraDave]

I imagine that would work pretty well. Thanks for going to the trouble of crunching that up, George. Since going AG, I don't really make extract brews, except for the quick knock-off just to get something in the pipeline, but four pounds total DME seems pretty close to the mark, and should produce a nice beer.

[Gymrat]

Well that is good news

[BigPapaG]

I imagine that would work pretty well. Thanks for going to the trouble of crunching that up, George. Since going AG, I don't really make extract brews, except for the quick knock-off just to get something in the pipeline, but four pounds total DME seems pretty close to the mark, and should produce a nice beer.

No problem Dave...

And it's 6 pounds in place of the 9 pounds of two row...

I've got three of them going in as a late addition as I use a 4 gallon pot for my stovetop extract brews.

[alb]

Here it is! I got a little lost looking for this thread again the past week. Grazie mille Dave, and also to BigPapaG for the extract conversion. I do mostly BIAB in the winter but in the summer I like to use extracts for easy brewing, and get back to playing outside.

[John Sand]

I'm thinking the same Alb. I started with HMEs in January 2013, then BIAB, then 5 gallon batches. But when it gets warm again, I don't think I want to spend 5-6 hours in a steaming kitchen. I am considering buying a 33lb bottle of LME, as I bought 50lbs of pale malt last fall.

[mashani]

You'll add a bit of crystal sweetness from that Briess Rye LME, it's 10 crystal. But it should not change the outcome dramatically, it's only going to be the equivalent of a few ounces.

[Banjo-guy]

Thanks Dave. I'll put this on my to do list!

[FedoraDave]

I'm thinking the same Alb. I started with HMEs in January 2013, then BIAB, then 5 gallon batches. But when it gets warm again, I don't think I want to spend 5-6 hours in a steaming kitchen. I am considering buying a 33lb bottle of LME, as I bought 50lbs of pale malt last fall.

It's always tough in the summer, I agree. My brewing slows way down when it gets really hot, and I even stop production completely for a month or two.

But my pipeline took such a hit last summer, I still haven't recovered, so I'm determined to slow down but not stop brewing this summer.

My plan is to only do 2.5 gallon batches, either extract or BIAB, and I'm going to concentrate on saisons and lagers, since I have a lager fridge, and the ambient temp in the basement can get into the mid-high 70s during the summer.

So maybe every other week or so, instead of every week, like I'm doing now.

[John Sand]

I may also go back to smaller batches. They heat and cool quicker, and fit in the 52qt cooler. This is a busy year for Jane and I. She turns 50, her Dad 80, we want to cruise the boat. I may be filling in with craft beer. Oh, the humanity. Well, someone has to do it!