What the he11 to brew with 2lb. of rice solids?!

RoaringBrewer · 03-26-2008, 08:33 PM

So, I had a momentary lapse of judgement one time when I ordered from an online brew-shop. I had intended to brew up basically a fruity 'malt-beverage' (thinks mikes cranberry lemonade or something) by using 2-3lb of X-Light DME or grain and a couple lb. of rice solids (so it was very, very light), then fruiting it to hell, stopping fermentation while sweet, and force carbing it. Or letting it ferment, backsweeten, and force-carb. Whatever... like I said, lapse of judgement, I don't want to waste my time brewing something like that, I'd rather just buy a case for the ladies every now and then...

Soooo... I'm left with 2lb. of rice solids (basically powdered rice) that cost me about $10. I want to brew something with it or use it up eventually. The obvious thing to brew would be some kind of 'light american lager'. Anyone have a decent recipe? I'm sure I can find people to drink something along those lines. But, as with the malt beverage, I don't want to waste hours brewing something equivalent to Bud. Is there a "good" light american lager recipe. Maybe mostly malt with 1lb or rice or something?

Or, would it be permissable to use this in brewing something half-decent? Are there certain beers that use this that are still, 'good'. Doesn't Bass use a little corn or rice? Any others?

I love belgians. I know its almost sacrilegious to think about putting rice in a good belgian or farmhouse ale or something... but would it be OK to use this in place of a lb. of sucrose or sugar in a belgian. I mean, would I really notice that I added rice 'sugar' as opposed to cane or beet sugar if I used like 1lb. in an AG recipe with 12+lb of grain?! Will it give me any real 'flavor'?!

Looking for ideas...

**the_bird** · 03-26-2008, 08:35 PM

I think it would be perfectly fine in a Belgian beer, and I'm not sure that ANYTHING is sacrilegious when it comes to Belgian ales... but it's kinda sunny out right now, so I'd be voting "lawnmower." Maybe a little Pilsner malt... maybe a little domestic 2-row... maybe some nice German hops, not too much, a little late Saaz addition... kind of a hybrid American/German pils... 1.040 - 1.045ish... light, crisp...

**Yuri_Rage** · 03-26-2008, 08:56 PM

My first thought was lawnmower beer, like bird says. But using it in place of some light/clear candi sugar seems just fine. Just don't tell the "purists."

RoaringBrewer · 03-26-2008, 09:01 PM

I wouldn't mind trying the lawnmower beer actually... I have some 'friends' (more like acquaintances) that are still hard to convert to HB.

Anyone got a good recipe? I checked Light Hybrid beers in the recipe forum and didn't see much. Saw a lot of Kolsch and Cream Ale (with corn). Can I use a cream ale recipe and just replace corn with rice... I assume I'd want to ferment a beer like this with a very neutral strain and very low temp to reduce esters?

**the_bird** · 03-26-2008, 09:04 PM

I'm trying to remember - do you have lagering capabilities?

Rhoobarb · 03-26-2008, 09:07 PM

If you can lager, try something like this.

jdoiv · 03-26-2008, 09:30 PM

Brew a CAP (Classic American Pilsner). Do a google search for "Your Fathers Moustache" and you'll get a great recipe. Sub the rice solids for the corn and you'll be good to go.

I've got the same recipe in primary right now. It is the palest color beer I have ever brewed and I've brewed some pretty pale stuff. It should make a great lawnmower beer but still have good flavor.

SteveM · 03-26-2008, 11:03 PM

Check my recipe for a Raspberry Ale - rice solids are handy for this type of beer - or anything with some sort of extra flavor that you want to come through.

Aclay · 03-27-2008, 12:21 AM

I did an Americanized English Bitter with rice solids that turned out good. It was a basic American light pilsner done with an English ale yeast. I also used American Saaz for the bittering and English Kent Goldings for the aroma hops. However, I only used one pound of rice solids, but you could do a bigger beer and use more rice. My American Special Bitter came out at 4.8% ABV, but you could do an American Extra Special Bitter.

Really you could substitue the rice for any beer that uses Light or Extra Light DME. It would give it a lighter color while keeping the ABV. Pick something and run with it. As the President of the Brewers Association say's " No matter what you do, It'll still be beer."

RoaringBrewer · 03-27-2008, 12:45 PM

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll probably brew something nice and light up...

I've never lagered to this point, but I've really been considering building an ice-cooled lagerator (like a 50qt icecube cooler type with a hole in the lid for airlock). I have a 4912 kegerator as well so I may be able to do some 'lagering' in a corny in there and just pull from one of my taps for a few weeks.

Thanks again!