Blonde Ale suggestions, I think.

[mahilly]

Hi all,
I would love some suggestions for my next batch. I want to end up with a pilsner style beer (such as Pilsner Urkel or Amstel or similar lightly hopped libation). I am not set up for lagering, so was thinking of doing a Blonde Ale crafted to end up like a pilsner (am I even on the right track here?). It also should be extract based since I am not set up for all grain. Can anyone suggest a recipe or kit that might work here? Thanks!

 

[llazy_llama]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f66/bee-cave-brewery-haus-pale-ale-31793/

 

[KerryD]

If your looking for something closer to a pilsner i'd go with the Centennial Blonde

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f66/centennial-blonde-simple-4-all-grain-5-10-gall-42841/

 

[emgesp1]

Just make sure you keep it pure pale, or pilsner extract. Though, you can add a little bit of light crystal malt if you want a little more malt complexity in your beer.

The next important ingredient is only using noble hops.

 

[defenestrate]

maybe look into a cream ale, too.

 

[mahilly]

Thanks for the responses, both of these look great!!! - now I have some decision making to do!

KerryD, I read in your link a statement about freezing bottles before bottling. What is the benefit to this?

 

[KerryD]

Sorry mahilly, no idea... it wasn't one of my observations.

 

[jmlabeck]

For what it's worth, here's my version,straight out of my recipe program.

Dotted Line Ale
---------------
Brewer: Joe Labeck
Style: Blonde Ale
Batch: 4.00 galExtract

Characteristics
---------------
Recipe Gravity: 1.039 OG
Recipe Bitterness: 27 IBU
Recipe Color: 6° SRM
Estimated FG: 1.010
Alcohol by Volume: 3.8%
Alcohol by Weight: 3.0%

Ingredients
-----------
Light D.M.E. 1.00 lb, Extract, Extract
Light malt extract 3.00 lb, Extract, Extract

Crystal 1.00 oz, Pellet, 5 minutes
Generic 1.00 oz, Pellet, 60 minutes

American Ale yeast 1.00 unit, Yeast,

Notes
-----
Recipe Notes:
Trying for a clone of Ballantine Ale...not too bad, bit more hop character than the original.

Batch Notes:



I liked it,

Joe

 

[mahilly]

If your looking for something closer to a pilsner i'd go with the Centennial Blonde

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f66/centennial-blonde-simple-4-all-grain-5-10-gall-42841/

I decided to go with BierMuncher's extract version of KerryD's AG Centennial Blonde:

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 %
0.25 oz Centennial [9.50%] (45 min) Hops 7.8 IBU
0.25 oz Centennial [9.50%] (20 min) Hops 5.1 IBU
0.25 oz Cascade [7.80%] (10 min) Hops 2.5 IBU
0.25 oz Cascade [7.80%] (5 min) Hops 1.4 IBU
1 Pkgs Nottingham (Danstar #-) Yeast-Ale

I already got the ingredient at my LHBS. Two questions:

1. Both BierMuncher's and KerryD's recipe's use Cara-Pils grains, but KerryD's AG version also included Crystal 10L. I went ahead and bought 1 Lb. of each. What effect will adding 1 Lb. Crystal 10L to the above extract recipe have on the end result?

2. I got both Centennial and Cascade hops, but both only came in 2 oz. packs, where the recipe calls for 1 oz. of each. I'm reluctant to open both packs and only use half of each. What effect will using just Centennial or just Cascade have on the end result?

Thanks!!!!!!!

 

[user 29674]

Centennial and Cascade are pretty similar hops, so it probably wouldn't make a huge difference. However, hops are quite storable, so just use what the recipe suggests and store the other half of the hops in an airtight bag/container and stick it in the freezer. If you have a food vacuum sealer, use that.

The crystal 10 will darken the color a bit, and up the OG lending a bit more maltiness to the final product, and a slight bump in the abv.

I would download the 21 day trial of beersmith and plug in the recipe and you can adjust the original recipe with your changes and see what it does to it.