Blonde Ale Centennial Blonde (Simple 4% All Grain, 5 & 10 Gall)

[Reno_eNVy]

This finished up in the primary with just barely enough time to add a little POM juice to the keg and rack on top of it. Actually carbed it on the way from Reno to Nevada City (CA) by laying the keg down and hooking it up to ~35 PSI. I-80 and CA-20 are super bumpy and windy which really helped.

The Pomegranate Blonde ended up being quite excellent. The color was slightly disappointing as we were hoping for red or, at the very least, pink to aid in the Christmasiness of the whole thing. However, it tasted delicious; we kept the keg cold so the POM wouldn't ferment. The POM added something special to the hint of fruit flavors provided by S-04 and since the yeast were kept dormant there was a pleasant mild backsweetening. I highly recommend it for the Holidays or for when it starts to warm back up in the spring. The ladyfriend and I plan on experimenting further with larger POM sizes and maybe allowing it to ferment.

Thanks once again BM for provided the amazing recipe that was the base for our delicious Christmas concoction. It was a real hit!

 

[BierMuncher]

Thanks once again BM for provided the amazing recipe that was the base for our delicious Christmas concoction. It was a real hit!

Not a big Pomegranate fan myself...but glad it worked out well for you.

 

[Joeywhat]

I'm going to give this recipe a go ahead tonight. I'm using 6 pounds of plain light LME instead of dry exra light, though...not sure why, I guess I just can't leave well enough alone.

Hopefully this will make a good house beer, it'll be easy enough to brew and CHEAP too!

 

[JBrady]

I brewed 2.75 gallon batch of this one tonight. I altered it a little bit to get the abv and IBU's up. I probaly should have left your recipe alone but I've been having fun trying to learn to adjust the recipes on my own. Hopefully it will turn out alright. Heres what I brewed..

Amount Item Type % or IBU
4.25 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 77.13 %
0.50 lb Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 9.07 %
0.38 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 10L (10.0 SRM) Grain 6.90 %
0.38 lb Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM) Grain 6.90 %
0.33 oz Centennial [8.00 %] (60 min) Hops 17.7 IBU
0.19 oz Centennial [8.00 %] (35 min) Hops 8.4 IBU
0.17 oz Cascade [5.40 %] (20 min) Hops 3.7 IBU
0.16 oz Cascade [5.40 %] (5 min) Hops 1.2 IBU
0.55 tbsp PH 5.2 Stabilizer (Mash 60.0 min) Misc
0.55 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs Nottingham (Danstar #-) Yeast-Ale


Est Original Gravity: 1.054 SG
Measured Original Gravity: 1.055 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.013 SG Measured Final Gravity: 1.013 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 5.34 % Actual Alcohol by Vol: 5.48 %
Bitterness: 31.0 IBU Calories: 245 cal/pint
Est Color: 4.7 SRM

Hopefully it will turn out decent.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

I'm sure it will turn out delicious. However with your bitterness at 31 IBU that takes it out of the BJCP Blonde category (15-28 IBU.) The last batch we brewed was 18 IBU. You're looking at more of an American Pale Ale, which definitely is not a bad thing.

Enjoy that now. But in the future, do yourself a favor and follow the recipe completely. You'll be glad you did

 

[JBrady]

thanks for the info

 

[Joeywhat]

Just put it in the fermenter...but being the dope I am I through in twice as much centennial as I should have

I added 0.5 ounce instead of .25 on both additions. I ended up adding about .75 of the cascade byt the time everything was done as well, mostly so it wasn't JUST bitter...if it's gonna be hoppy, might as well do it right.

OG was 1.043...also added the extract at the 20 min part of the boil with the second centennial addition.

I think this'll be a good beer, even with the extra bitterness.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Been drinking the all Simcoe Blonde the last couple days. You know, research for the new years party tomorrow night. 10G - 5-6 pints on tap beside Orfy's Mild.
This is my clearest beer to date. Should go over well with the general public. I'm really getting a sense of what these simcoes are in this. Nice light, somewhat fruity, basic beer. Should be a hit tomorrow night. This may be one to keep on tap for the general public. May try your hop schedule out next time though.

 

[msa8967]

Yepper...

Decided to go to the trouble of freezing the bottles this time around when bottling and made a huge difference.

Can anyone explain what freezing the bottles prior to bottling will do for the beer? Should the bottles be clear of any wet starsan treatment?

 

[IrregularPulse]

Freezing them brings the bottle temp close to that of the beer going in. This is only for bottling from a Counter pressure filler froma keg. This prevents co2 from coming out of solution when hitting a warm bottle, giving you less loss of carbonation going into the bottle. Left over starsan will be fine.


Here's a shot finally of mine. Clearer even in real life, but I'm no photographer. Honoring such a nice clean beer in one of my Furnace Room Brewery Glasses . You're looking at the Logo Through the beer. Hell yes to gelatin.

 

[bbone66]

Hell yes to gelatin

Did you just put the Gelatin in your keg when you racked? I would assume the first couple of glasses were cloudy tell everything that settled to the bottom of the keg came out first.

P.S. Thanks again Biermuncher for another great recipe. 641 posts strong

 

[sethga]

Thanks again Biermuncher for the recipe. Currently making a 5 gallon batch right now, my first all grain

 

[IrregularPulse]

Did you just put the Gelatin in your keg when you racked? I would assume the first couple of glasses were cloudy tell everything that settled to the bottom of the keg came out first.

P.S. Thanks again Biermuncher for another great recipe. 641 posts strong

There is a large gelatin thread around the kegging forum, but I add my bloomed gelatin to my Primary (I don't use secondaries) for a couple days, then rack to keg. That way the crap that drops out doesn't make it to the keg. I just poured it in.

 

[humann_brewing]

There is a large gelatin thread around the kegging forum, but I add my bloomed gelatin to my Primary (I don't use secondaries) for a couple days, then rack to keg. That way the crap that drops out doesn't make it to the keg. I just poured it in.

I will be giving that a try tonight for the first time. I had to dry hop in the primary so I knew I was going to extra help.

 

[bbone66]

There is a large gelatin thread around the kegging forum, but I add my bloomed gelatin to my Primary (I don't use secondaries) for a couple days, then rack to keg. That way the crap that drops out doesn't make it to the keg. I just poured it in.

Thanks tons, just looking for the way that requires the least amount of transfering..

 

[BierMuncher]

You sure do got a purty beer.

 

[IrregularPulse]

That means a lot coming from you BM! Thanks again for several amazing recipes and a way to get them so clear. PM me your address, I'd love to know what you think of the all Simcoe Version. Least I can do for what you've done for my brewing

 

[Joeywhat]

Looks like mine is done, surprised it got down to 1.010 FG. First batch ever I've gotten that low :rockin:

First thing I noticed: adding twice as many bittering hops was not a good mistake. Hopefully a time out for a month or so will fix that. I'm going to be kegging today/tomorrow, naturally carbonating so it should be ready to rock and roll by the end of the month.

Having used light extract instead of extra light I thought it would come out much darker - it didn't. Just a little darker then the pics I've seen so far but still pretty light.

 

[Gritsak]

just finished brewing this...my first attempt at AG. Hit the gravity (1.041 post boil), but boiled off about .5g more than i anticipated (ended up with a little under 5 gallons).

My LHBS was out of both Vienna and American 2-row pale, so i had to subsitute Munich for the Vienna and British 2-row for the American. Hopefully it turns out OK.

 

[phatuna]

I just looked at my 2009 brew log, somehow I brewed / drank 45 gallons of this last year.
Cheers BM

 

[89OctaneStang]

Well.... That surely didn't last long. Brewed 11 gallons of the partial mash recipe a few weeks ago and it is all gone now Wish I would have brewed another batch right behind it but I didn't expect it to go that fast. It was the first 10+ gallon batch that I have brewed that went dry in less than 2 weeks.

Other than that, Everyone Loved It!! Thanks BM for the outstanding recipe!

 

[BierMuncher]

I just looked at my 2009 brew log, somehow I brewed / drank 45 gallons of this last year.
Cheers BM

Holy CRAP!!!:cross:

Well.... That surely didn't last long. Brewed 11 gallons of the partial mash recipe a few weeks ago and it is all gone now Wish I would have brewed another batch right behind it but I didn't expect it to go that fast. It was the first 10+ gallon batch that I have brewed that went dry in less than 2 weeks.

Other than that, Everyone Loved It!! Thanks BM for the outstanding recipe!

Keep the pipeline full and your friends smiling.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Went to a surprise party fora friend this weekend and then about 10 people came back to our house afterwards. My Strict Coor's Light buddy kept telling me how, even though he only drinks Coor's Light, He could definitely drink this stuff all night after a couple Coor's. he said it's very good but a little too much flavor to start out with. He then expressed great interest in brewing in general and I had a great drunken time explaining the process and different yeasts (I have a lot of Trappist/Belgian bottles on the bar that he started asking about.) We kicked the original keg from New Years and switched over to number 2. I need to hurry up and get s few bottled for you before everyone kicks this one too.

 

[Gritsak]

my batch is fermenting nicely and has amazing smells coming from the airlock.

Anyone tried dryhopping this? I know i should just leave it alone, but i have a hard time doing that.

 

[IrregularPulse]

I was going to dry hop the second keg, but the first disappeared to fast and I tapped the second one mid party.

 

[midfielder5]

I added more hops- my version has 34 IBU & a higher starting gravity. (what can i say, i like hops!). oG 1.050

bottled it this weekend after 2 weeks in primary and some time in a bright tank (secondary). it is tasty but a bit too bitter right now. next time i won't increase the hops... as much

 

[Diablo]

Really enjoyed this and it was a great crowd pleaser over Christmas.

 

[IrregularPulse]

More good reviews last night. Another comment of "oh my, this is dangerous. You could drink this all night". Taking some to my strictly Busch Light FIL this weekend.

 

[Gritsak]

Started at 1.041 and after 6 days i'm down to 1.004..so, it's going to be a little stronger than expected at around 4.8%.

I also decided to dry hop with .65oz of simcoe pellets i had in the freezer. Should turn out nice.

 

[sethga]

On to secondary for me.. my first all grain batch ever. Boiled off too much, rookie me diluted it a little to get up to 5gal.. FG 1.009.


Tastes freakin great warm and flat, can't wait to get to the final product and enjoy the fruits of my (and BM's) labor.

Thanks again,