American Amber Ale Caramel Amber Ale

[Centexbear]

I brewed up the AG version yesterday and I too have very high hopes for this one! That candi syrup rocks and I can only imagine the wonderful taste it will impart into the beer.

KingBrian, do you keep it fermenting at 62-65 for the full 30 days and also during 2ndary?

Thanks!

Jeff

 

[KingBrianI]

I brewed up the AG version yesterday and I too have very high hopes for this one! That candi syrup rocks and I can only imagine the wonderful taste it will impart into the beer.

KingBrian, do you keep it fermenting at 62-65 for the full 30 days and also during 2ndary?

Thanks!

Jeff

I keep the primary at 62-65 but the secondary is more like 68. As long as you don't let the primary get over about 68 you should be fine.

 

[Centexbear]

Brian,

I put this in the fermenter at approx. 2pm Monday. Today there is still no airlock activity. I know it can take up to 72 hours but it's got me really thinking about it.

Thinking about opening the lid and giving it a good stir. I made a small starter per How To Brew and pitched at the appropriate temps (approx. wort temp 80), so I'm not sure why it's slow taking off.

 

[KingBrianI]

Did you oxygenate to wort well?

 

[Centexbear]

I don't have an oxygenator but have a plastic padle with slots or holes in it. I stirred the hell outta the wort before and after I put the yeast in. Got it all frothed up, put the yeast in, then stirred for another probably 2 minutes.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Should I open her up and give her a good stirring this morning? Was thinking about waiting till this evening which would be a solid 48 hours since I pitched.

 

[KingBrianI]

I'd say just leave it be. It will probably start up today if it hasn't already. Tomorrow, if it looks like it still isn't going take a hydro sample just to make sure. If it hasn't moved from the OG you can think about repitching and reoxygenating, though I'm sure it won't come to that. It will be going strong soon.

 

[Centexbear]

Sounds great bro, thanks for the advice! I'll sit tight and be patient!

Man, the sounds of this brew have me so excited. I love ambers and LOVE caramel flavor so this has the potential to be one of my all time favs and a regular at my home brewery!!!!

I'll cross my fingers and try not to think about it today.

Jeff

 

[Dave258]

Just kegged mine this morning after 3.5 weeks in primary. It finished at 1.010. The Hydro sample tasted great!
It's gonna be hard to wait another 1.5- 2 weeks to condition in the keg!

 

[Centexbear]

And we have liftoff! Sometime between 5pm and 8 pm tonight. She's bubbling pretty fast already!

 

[MaliciousMushrm]

ok, i made the AG version of this last night. I didn't check my pre-boil gravity cause swmbo was rushing me along. Anyhow, I ended up w/ a final grav into fermenter at 1.070 !? I am not sure what happened here. (puts my effeciency over 100%) I may have put in the wrong amounts of grain, but i doubt it... I double check everything. The candi sugar turned out a bit lighter, but oh well. I made some beer. I will check back in and let u guys know how it turns out in a bit.

 

[KingBrianI]

ok, i made the AG version of this last night. I didn't check my pre-boil gravity cause swmbo was rushing me along. Anyhow, I ended up w/ a final grav into fermenter at 1.070 !? I am not sure what happened here. (puts my effeciency over 100%) I may have put in the wrong amounts of grain, but i doubt it... I double check everything. The candi sugar turned out a bit lighter, but oh well. I made some beer. I will check back in and let u guys know how it turns out in a bit.

Whoa?! Broken hydrometer, maybe? I don't see how it could come out that high. Even if you made a whole 2 lb batch of candi syrup and added that, I don't think you could hit 1.070. You'll have to watch out for this one!

 

[carrotmalt]

ok, i made the AG version of this last night. I didn't check my pre-boil gravity cause swmbo was rushing me along. Anyhow, I ended up w/ a final grav into fermenter at 1.070 !? I am not sure what happened here. (puts my effeciency over 100%) I may have put in the wrong amounts of grain, but i doubt it... I double check everything. The candi sugar turned out a bit lighter, but oh well. I made some beer. I will check back in and let u guys know how it turns out in a bit.

Was your final volume right... too much boil off maybe?
Did you take the hydro reading at the proper temp, spin it to loosen air bubbles, etc.?
Did you have too much homebrew during the event, and not realize the hydro sample wasn't enough to float... j/k

Regardless, I bet it turns out great!

 

[MaliciousMushrm]

final volume was 5 gallons.. dead on... I used irish moss for the first time and didn't let it settle enough after cooling before it went into the carboy... maybe all the trub made the hydrometer mess up. Hydro is fine... I spun it, it was pretty clsoe to 60 degrees. I dunno, but I will keep you updated. We are bubbling awa y right now.

 

[frazier]

Yeasties pitched. After the rave reviews the ESB received, I'm looking forward to spreading a bit of this one around in 8 weeks or so.

Brian I gotta say, you write some mean ad copy to promote your recipes. After reading the description of this one, I felt like making up a sign and marching up and down the street.

If I had it do do over again - and I probably will - I would make up the sugar syrup ahead of time. I almost ran out of time in the boil before it was ready. But everything worked out OK.

 

[sergio_69]

ok, am I reading this correctly:
Primary Fermentation (# of Days & Temp): 30
Secondary Fermentation (# of Days & Temp): 7

Thirty days on the trub? then only 7 in the secondary, then how long in the bottle? at what temp do you suggest?

 

[KingBrianI]

Yep, you were reading it correctly. Wait at least 3 weeks after bottling before you start really going at it. Once bottled, 65-70 degrees is a good temp to store it.

 

[carrotmalt]

Well, it's been six weeks since I brewed this recipe. It went from primary to keg after 3 weeks (would've waited 4, but needed primary for another brew), and it's been on gas for 3 weeks (1 at 65, and 2 at serving temps). I had 2 or 3 of these over the weekend, and I really like the way it turned out. The caramelized sugar adds a nice faint prune taste that goes really well with Chinook's unique bitterness. I was afraid it might be too sweet for me, but it's not at all.

The thing that sold me on trying this recipe (other than the coolness factor of making the syrup) was the first pic posted in the tulip glass. I will say this is the prettiest beer I've brewed. The color came out just as advertised, and the lacing is nice and creamy. I'm anxious to serve it to some guests we're having over this Friday, and I think the wife's going to give me some huge props when she tries this.

Thanks King!:rockin:

 

[carrotmalt]

Well, as with several of my other brews, after the initial gallon or so, the hop contribution is severely diminished. I served this to some company over the weekend and it got good reviews. They agreed it had a faint raisin note and was really smooth, but didn't get much in the way of hops. I agreed that the hop flavor was really hard to pick up, whereas only a week ago it was the perfect combo.

I posted this problem in another thread (for a pale ale) and the recommendation was made that I dry hop. That made just the difference I was looking for. I'm wondering if some Chinook dry hops would bring this one back, or if that's overkill for this style. I know it's not particularly a hop forward recipe, but I'd like to get some of it back. I've never dry hopped with Chinook, but I think others do. Any thoughts?

 

[KingBrianI]

Well, as with several of my other brews, after the initial gallon or so, the hop contribution is severely diminished. I served this to some company over the weekend and it got good reviews. They agreed it had a faint raisin note and was really smooth, but didn't get much in the way of hops. I agreed that the hop flavor was really hard to pick up, whereas only a week ago it was the perfect combo.

I posted this problem in another thread (for a pale ale) and the recommendation was made that I dry hop. That made just the difference I was looking for. I'm wondering if some Chinook dry hops would bring this one back, or if that's overkill for this style. I know it's not particularly a hop forward recipe, but I'd like to get some of it back. I've never dry hopped with Chinook, but I think others do. Any thoughts?

I think some chinook would be really good dry-hopped in this recipe. Give it a shot and let me know how it works!

 

[barrog]

The thing that sold me on trying this recipe (other than the coolness factor of making the syrup) was the first pic posted in the tulip glass. I will say this is the prettiest beer I've brewed. The color came out just as advertised, and the lacing is nice and creamy.
Thanks King!:rockin:

^^^ this
Can't say enough good things about it. Going to be a sad day when the keg runs dry. Guess that means I need to make more.

 

[carrotmalt]

By the way, I did try dry hopping for a few days with Chinook, and it did bring a bit of citrus back into play. With or without it, I'm really pleased with the recipe.

 

[LaurieGator]

I am looking forward to trying this one...

I am going to be substituting some NZ Nelson Sauvin hops for the Chinook hops (the LHBS was out of Chinook) and I am looking forward to the play of the sugar syrup with these hops. No one in the area has tried them so I am looking forward to the adventure and thought this would be a great recipe for them

 

[MaliciousMushrm]

Well guys, I have been drinking my "high octane" version for a few days now... I am VERY pleased with how it turned out. There is a great balance between the sweetness and the hops, and it all shadows the high alcohol that I got (7.58%). I will be making this again for sure. I have let a few others taste this and they agree that I could sell it for at least $10 a six pack lol. Thanx alot

 

[Centexbear]

I'll be remaking this one Friday after my previous fiasco caused by a faulty thermometer (and me not checking it).

Looks like my ingredients are on a local FedEx truck to be delivered today so its coming together for a fun brew day tomorrow. Tonight, I'll be making the candi.

 

[frazier]

I bottled this today. This went from OG=1.052 to FG=1.008, so this tastes pretty dry at this point. I can see it as a great summer refresher with the pine and citrus notes. Obviously I'll have to brew it again in April.

 

[carrotmalt]

King, you should know that I got my first homebrew-hand-slap last night because of this ale. I had just poured me a glass and taken a sip when the wife asked what I was drinking. I hand it to her for a sample. She'd already tried it before, but it's changed a bit since then, so again I ask her what she thinks. Her response:

"It's really good. It's my favorite one you've made so far."

I acknowledge that I like it too and reach for another sip. That's when it came out of nowhere... my reach was interrupted with a HOMEBREW-HAND-SLAP!!! She picks up the glass, takes another sip and says

"Really. It's good. You should pour you one."

and walks away smiling.

 

[KingBrianI]

King, you should know that I got my first homebrew-hand-slap last night because of this ale. I had just poured me a glass and taken a sip when the wife asked what I was drinking. I hand it to her for a sample. She'd already tried it before, but it's changed a bit since then, so again I ask her what she thinks. Her response:

"It's really good. It's my favorite one you've made so far."

I acknowledge that I like it too and reach for another sip. That's when it came out of nowhere... my reach was interrupted with a HOMEBREW-HAND-SLAP!!! She picks up the glass, takes another sip and says

"Really. It's good. You should pour you one."

and walks away smiling.

Haha, sounds like a kind of bittersweet situation. I'm glad she likes it but there's gonna be less for you!

 

[brew_slore]

Definitely going to try this one tonight if my local brew store has all the ingredients. will report back and since I am new at this will likely have lots to report. this will also be my first batch with all grain. wish me luck.

 

[KingBrianI]

Definitely going to try this one tonight if my local brew store has all the ingredients. will report back and since I am new at this will likely have lots to report. this will also be my first batch with all grain. wish me luck.

First AG, nice. I'm sure it will be great.

Welcome to the site, btw!

 

[brew_slore]

thanks and for the record, my husband and I love amber ales...pretty much all we drink so you have a new fan for sure.