- Recipe Type
- All Grain
- Yeast
- Wyeast 3538 Leuven Pale Ale
- Yeast Starter
- 2 Packs this time
- Additional Yeast or Yeast Starter
- N/a
- Batch Size (Gallons)
- 5.5 Gallons
- Original Gravity
- 1.052
- Final Gravity
- 1.011
- Boiling Time (Minutes)
- 60
- IBU
- 24
- Color
- 12 (and RED)
- Primary Fermentation (# of Days & Temp)
- Pitched at 70, went to 76, two days.
- Secondary Fermentation (# of Days & Temp)
- N/a
- Additional Fermentation
- Kegged after roughly two weeks
- Tasting Notes
- See Detailed Notes Below.
7 lbs Weyermann Munich II Malt
2 lbs Weyermann Carahell
2 lbs American 6-Row
0.6 Ounces Perle 6.5% AAU @ 60
1 Ounces Hallertau 2.3% AAU @ 5
1 Tab Whirflock @ 15 minutes
0.6 TSP Wyeast Yeast Nutrient 10 Mins
Mashed 4 Gallons @ 150 for 60 mins
Batch Sparged 2 gallons @ 170 for 15 mins
Batch Sparged 2 gallons @ 170 for 15 mins
Sight: Beautiful deep set red color (This picture does not do it justice) with a large fluffy thick very off white to light tan head.
Aroma: Munich maltiness, delicate mild Belgian esters of apple and mild mild plumbs, all with the faintest noble, flowery, slightly earthy hop aroma.
Taste: Rich deliciousness malty taste is upfront and apparent. In the background are a complex myriad of flavors consisting of mild fruit esters (the same very faint apple and very mild light plumbs) and a very mild but still apparent earthy flowery hop flavor. The finish is dry with the spiciness that you'd find in a specialty ale, it's all from the yeast though. The spiciness that lingers in the finish starting at the lips and then finishing in your throat like a wave pulling back from the beach almost peppery like. The spicy finish from this yeast goes perfectly with the malt profile.
Mouthfeel: Moderately full to medium body, especially given it's 1.011 finish. It's nourishing and filling but doesn;t leave you feeling bloated and full. That's any good Belgian beer though! The dry crisp spicy finish is one you not only taste but feel as it goes down. Truly a drinking experience.
Drinkability: This is the fastest I've taken down a keg ever. I love this stuff, so do my friends. I will have to brew again for competition beause this batch is about gone! Again, it's a drinking experience.
As a side note, the carahell does not really give this beer any sweetness. If it does it is well hidden by the malty profile, but I feel like the carahell gave it a toastiness and helped saturate the color, alongside improving the mouthfeel and head, just as the standard description reads. It's a great malt to add some extra depth IMO.
As far as variety, I would love to brett this beer with like a Brett B strain or the the strain that infected Goose Island's Matilda, I think it would go very well...