Beginner Extract Question

[b_rock4151]

Hello everyone,
I am attempting my first recipe with ingredients I will buy separately. I am attempting an American Cream Ale. If you all could let me know what you think about my bill. Obviously this is not my own recipe but I was not able to get everything exactly like the recipe said so a few things have changed.

7lbs Pilsen EXL - Liquid Extract
1lb Honey
1lb Flaked Maize
2lb rice
1oz Tettnanger
1oz Crystal
priming sugar for bottling.

Thanks in advance

 

[ChelisHubby]

I would sub Lme for the Pilsen, Add the honey when you turn the boil heat off and I don't know What 1 oz of crystal is, is this Hops or Grain! 1oz of grain won't do much but Hops can do a lot depending on what time of the boil they are added! Most cream ales are mildly hopped. I would just use the Tettnanger at 60 minutes of the boil. That means when the wort starts boiling you start a count and you add the hops at that time and you boil it with the wort for 60 minutes. Now if the crystal is Hops and you want something hoppyer then I would add it at 5 minutes! I hope I helped but I am under the influence at the moment!

 

[b_rock4151]

Ha yes this definitely helps me. Thank you. Yeah the crystal is hops and Unfortunately I don't have access to anything but Pilsner extract at the moment. I'm living overseas and trying to deal with what I have on hand before handing out a big shipping bill.

 

[bigdaddybrew]

Flaked maize and rice are starchy and must be mashed with about twice as much malted grain to convert the starch to sugar. About an hour at 150f. Or just skip the corn and rice. It won't really be a true cream ale but it will be easier.

 

[b_rock4151]

Ok thank you. Will it still be a decent tasting brew minus the creaminess from the corn?

 

[NaZdrowie]

I think so, I did NB's cream ale kit last summer and it was an excellent summer beer. I was for a while into bigger hoppier beers and this was refreshing and got me back to a balanced enjoyment of beer. Been meaning to do it again

 

[Imperator85]

Ok thank you. Will it still be a decent tasting brew minus the creaminess from the corn?

It should be. I think you'll find that there are different interpretations on what a cream ale is, - not everyone would say flaked maize/corn is a requirement. Some people even add corn sugar where others add no adjuncts. It can even be brewed with ale or lager yeast (some even use both).

 

[b_rock4151]

Awesome. Thanks for all the advice everyone! I decided to scratch the maize and rice. Just about to pour the wart into the primary. Smells great. I'll update the post when I try it. I plan on going straight from primary to bottling and allowing it to age for a few weeks. Thanks again