Banana Cream Ale

**Schlenkerla** · 04-08-2008, 03:38 AM

I made my first really half-wacked brew. Banana Cream Ale.

I've been eyeballing this one for awhile. Now with warm weather on the way I got the urge to do it, so Saturday I went and got the ingredients.

I did a steeped extract, not quite a PM. I boiled some banana in the partial boil. I tasted the banana left over in the kettle. It was really hopped-out banana. Oh so bitter....

.... comments welcome!!

Banana Cream Ale - Extract w/ Steeped Grains

A ProMash Recipe Report

BJCP Style and Style Guidelines
-------------------------------

20-A Fruit Beer, Fruit Beer

Min OG: 1.030 Max OG: 1.120
Min IBU: 12 Max IBU: 50
Min Clr: 2 Max Clr: 70 Color in SRM, Lovibond

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

Batch Size (Gal): 5.50 Wort Size (Gal): 3.00
Total Grain (Lbs): 9.50
Anticipated OG: 1.040 Plato: 9.88
Anticipated SRM: 5.2
Anticipated IBU: 18.0
Brewhouse Efficiency: 30 %
Wort Boil Time: 60 Minutes

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

Evaporation Rate: 15.00 Percent Per Hour
Pre-Boil Wort Size: 3.53 Gal
Pre-Boil Gravity: 1.062 SG 15.10 Plato

Grain/Extract/Sugar

% Amount Name Origin Potential SRM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
26.3 2.50 lbs. Cara-Pils Dextrine Malt 1.033 2
5.3 0.50 lbs. Pilsener Belgium 1.037 2
26.3 2.50 lbs. Pale Malt(2-row) America 1.036 2
42.1 4.00 lbs. Edme Original Draft - Hopped Great Britan 1.040 6

Potential represented as SG per pound per gallon.

Extras

Amount Name Type Time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.00 Lbs Banana Fruit 20 Days(fermenter)
0.25 Oz Irish Moss Fining 15 Min.(boil)
4.00 Oz Banana Flakes Fruit 10 Min.(boil)
1.00 Tsp Nutmeg Spice 10 Min.(boil)

Yeast
-----

WYeast 2565 Kolsch

Notes
-----

Add grains to 3 gal of water, heat to 150F and mash/steep 45 minutes.

Sparge grains, then boil.

Turn off heat add; extract, bananna flakes, irish moss, & nutmeg.

Boil 10 Minutes, then chill, top off to 5.5 gal of cold water pitch yeast

Ferment 1 week, rack to 2ndary that has 5lbs of bananas. Make sure the 2ndary is large enough to hold a active fermentation. (Banana's have lots of sugar.)

Ferment in 2ndary 20 days. Prime w/ cornsugar or Muntons Kreamy X

landhoney · 04-08-2008, 03:59 AM

I've heard of banana's being used in brewing, but haven't really payed attention because its not something I see myself doing. But in passing I don't remember hearing of anyone using this many bananas before, probably wrong though.

My questions are:
1. Have you tried/tasted a beer like this before(this amount of banana)?
2. What do you expect from this one? (maybe obviously, just a banana taste

)

Sounds interesting though, good luck.

**Denny's Evil Concoctions** · 04-08-2008, 04:03 AM

I wonder if a hefe yeast or windsor would have been better? They both can impart banana flavors.

**BigKahuna** · 04-08-2008, 04:49 AM

This may be my next brew.

This sounds great.

I sure look forward to what you write as you sip your way through the first pint.

**Schlenkerla** · 04-08-2008, 11:46 AM

Let me first say this. The recipe is from, "More Homebrew Favorites" by Karl F Lutzen & Mark Stevens.

Its not my own creation. I just found the Banana flavor an interresting idea. I really like Banana. I love the smell for sure, I don't know how I will like it when its abundent in beer. I like it well enough that I made a heffe just recently.

I have never tried this beer and I'm mainly expecting significant banana flavor. I want this beer to have a stiff head after the pour.

As for yeast, I used the Kolsch 2565 because that what they call out in the recipe. Not to mention temp-wise its perfect for my cool basement.

Subsitutions;
1) I used Edme Original Draught Extract 4lbs - Recipe called for 3.3lbs Munton & Fison Hopped lager extract

2) I will use Muntons Kreamy-X to prime and get a moussey head

3) I will probably add some vanilla ~ 2 oz and a little lactose.

I like how cheeses VCCA turned out, so I'm thinking this will be similar. The VCCA has a really thick head on it after the pour. So, so good!!!

I'm not sure I like the idea of using a pilsner malt w/o a long boil. I wonder how the DMS we be? The amount is very small though.

I'll keep you posted!!

**Schlenkerla** · 04-11-2008, 12:48 AM

Any wagers on how many bananas it will take to get 5lbs? Assume Skin Removed.

**Wade E** · 04-11-2008, 01:32 AM

9? I bet thats gonna be good!

**Schlenkerla** · 04-11-2008, 01:34 AM

I think thats a bit low, but I'll know tomorrow!!

**Schlenkerla** · 04-14-2008, 06:13 PM

The magic number was 20 bananas.

**WortMonger** · 04-14-2008, 06:34 PM

"Jr., remind me to punch your Momma in the mouth when we get home." -Sheriff Buford T. Justice from Smokey and the Bandit-

Just kidding, sounds like it might be pretty interesting. I am going to keep reading.