Gotta take it a little easy, here

[FedoraDave]

I'm getting kind of bummed. My pipeline just hasn't been able to get built up this season. I've done too many batches that required more time to mature, and had a couple of gusher batches that I had to discard. It's been making me a little crazy.

But I think next week, I'm going to just take it easy and find a simple recipe that I can put together easily and know that in a short time, I'll have an enjoyable beer. Maybe a cream ale or a simple blonde with a little dark specialty grain and some unusual hops for intrigue. Then I can start to plan my summer recipes, so the pipeline will be robust and full of good beer for the grilling/BBQ season.

I've been putting too much pressure on myself.

[Gymrat]

I find a 60 or 70 shilling Scottish ale nice and refreshing and they are easy to brew. 8 or 9 pounds of either Marris Otter, or Golden Promise, toss in a couple ounces of roasted barley for color, and maybe a half a pound of crystal/caramel malt for a little added sweetness and wala, a nice smooth very drinkable session beer. I like to use an ounce of goldings or fuggles. I generally FWH and do a one hour boil.

[FedoraDave]

I ran some stuff through QBrew, and I think I'm going to do a cream ale. I'll probably have good low-60s temps in the basement by the time I'm ready to ferment it, and this will be a quick, easy, 2.5 AG batch. Nothing spectacular, but a crisp, easy drinking beer.

[Kealia]

Dave,

If you want/need a quick and easy brew day that will turn around a good session pale ale, check out the 15-minute recipe.

[FedoraDave]

Thanks, Ron, but I've got a couple of highly-hopped beers working already, so I think a cream ale will provide a nice contrast. But I'll be sure to check out that recipe.