Blonde Ale Help

[Threetall]

Been lurking on the forums for a couple of weeks, and am planning an all extract blonde ale.
I was interested in using BierMunchers suggestion for the extract from his centennial-blonde recipe:

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
5.00 lb Extra Light Dry Extract (3.0 SRM) Dry Extract 83.3 %
1.00 lb Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 16.7 %

But was also wondering what other malts could be a possibility? Will this give enough flavor?

The hops I was interested in using were Pacific Gem, Cascade, and Motueka (I read that cascade and motueka work well together).

Pacific gem would be for bittering only, but not sure the best way of working with the cascade and motueka. Use some cascade for bitttering, and some for aroma?
I'm looking for a crisp light beer with a noticeable hop character, and a little bit of the lemon-lime citrus from the motueka.

Thanks!

 

[TarheelBrew13]

The malt bill here is pretty minimal. I haven't brewed this recipe but I know a lot of people really like it. If you want to add a little malt flavor, you could steep some Victory or Biscuit malt.

As far as the hops, because blonde ales have such low IBU's, I would recommend hopbursting. For example, use equal parts Cascade and Motueka for 20 min and then equal parts for 5 min. If you want to dry hop you could do that too. Hope this helps and good luck with the brew.

 

[frankstoneline]

I'd ditch the cara-pils, I think it will probably leave you with a f.g. higher than is desired. You could fill out the grain profile a bit with some honey malt or, as mentioned above, some biscuit or victory. I'd hit the thing with a 60 minute bittering addition and then a 5 minute hop addition and a hop addition as you start chilling (flame out/whirlpool esque).

 

[greatschmaltez]

I second the recommendation on ditching the carapils... Or at least cutting it in half. When I think of a blond ale, I think of a really clean refreshing drink. So I'd try to minimize crystal/cara malts to maybe .5 pounds or less, ferment on the colder side if you have that option, and keep your ibu's in balance. Nothing wrong with a simple grain bill on this one, although I probably would go ahead with 3 hop additions, just keep your ibu's around 20.

More hops and specialty grains turns the beer into a pale ale real quick... Which in most cases isn't a bad thing. Just depends on what you want to drink.

 

[TimTrone]

I made a friggin great imperial blonde a few months ago. Grain bill is:
14lb pale malt
1lb honey malt
1/2lb light wheat

 

[Threetall]

Wouldn't biscuit and victory malt be too dark in color?
And If I use honey malt and extra light, should I go with 1/2 a lb of honey malt?

 

[TimTrone]

Honey malt is great in blondes. I'd recommend you just go with a half pound of it because of the gravity of your beer

 

[H-ost]

Wouldn't biscuit and victory malt be too dark in color?
And If I use honey malt and extra light, should I go with 1/2 a lb of honey malt?

Yes. I just designed a blonde recipe (first attempt) I used both Victory and Biscuit. It was darker than I wanted but other than the SRM it is withing the guidlines of a blonde I think. I will find out on Saturday how it turned out.

 

[Threetall]

I think I'll go with 5 lbs of extra light, and .5 lb of honey malt.
Hop additions at 60, 20, and 5 minutes?

 

[TimTrone]

I'd do 60, 5, and flameout

You'll have a good beer. Blondes really benefit from simple recipes. What yeast are you using?

 

[Threetall]

Uhh, hadn't decided that yet haha. Maybe american ale yeast?
Also how much to add during flame out? I haven't done that before.

 

[TimTrone]

Any of the clean ale yeasts will work fine. Ferment cool.

As far as the hops go, it's personal preference. I like a decent hop aroma so I add a couple ounces of hops within the last 10 minutes.

 

[Threetall]

How cool should I ferment? Is there an issue with fermenting higher?

 

[TimTrone]

How cool should I ferment? Is there an issue with fermenting higher?

Personally, I like that strain around 62-63. However, as long as you have it under 70 it will be fine.

 

[Threetall]

So I think I will go with:
5 lb. extra light
.5 lb. Honey Malt
.75 ounces of Pacific Gem @ 60 min
1 ounce of Motueka @ 5 min
1 ounce of Cascade @ 5 min
1 ounce of Motueka @ flame out
1 ounce of Cascade @ flame out

 

[TimTrone]

So I think I will go with:
5 lb. extra light
.5 lb. Honey Malt
.75 ounces of Pacific Gem @ 60 min
1 ounce of Motueka @ 5 min
1 ounce of Cascade @ 5 min
1 ounce of Motueka @ flame out
1 ounce of Cascade @ flame out

That will be really hoppy. If you're going for a balanced beer add 1/2oz of each hop for your 5 minute and flameout additions.

My suggestion is:
5lbs extra light
1/2lb honey malt

.75oz pacific gem
.5oz motueka @5 min
.5oz cascade @5 min
.5oz motueka @ flameout
.5oz cascade @ flameout

Like I said, if you want it to have a big hoppy nose stick with your hopping schedule. If you want something a little more on the balanced side go with mine. Either way you'll have a great beer.

Cheers

 

[Threetall]

Yea I want something more balanced. I will see how this ends up.
Think I'm going to drop pacific gem down to .5 oz as well.