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

[AirRageous]

Brewed 10 gals. of the extract version on Sunday. The fermenters are bubbling nicely. I had to use Light DME instead of Extra Light DME. It still looked very light colored but we might have to call it a "Dirty Blonde". I can't wait to try the finished product.

 

[ajs349]

I started drinking my 5 gallon batch and this is a great beer! Very refreshing in the summer heat.

 

[Boodlemania]

just tried my first AG batch of this beer, bottled 4/23/09. All I can say is, WOW. I'd made several PM batches and this outshines them by far. It's a completely different beer.

 

[WenValley]

I made this beer as my first All Grain. The results are a little disappointing. The beer has great color, and nice carbonation. The flavor is weak and unremarkable with a funny twang thing at the end. Kind of like a sour paper taste. There is almost no hop flavors or aroma.

I used the 5 gallon all grain recipe, and followed as closely as possible. The wife picked up the recipe from the brew shop and all of the grain was in one bag.

7.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM)
0.75 lb Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM)
0.50 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 10L (10.0 SRM)
0.50 lb Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM)

Should I have steeped the Cara-Pils and Crystal separately? I assumed not as they were in one bag . I dumped the grain into the mash tun and hit the mash temps. Held it at 153 for the time. I sparged at 195 degrees. I had a problem with a stuck sparge too, but I got pretty good extraction.



I brewed this on July 28th, and I kegged it on August 9th. It's been cold crashed and carbed in a keezer. I know this beer is still green, and I'm going to give it some time to prime up, but of all the beers that I've brewed, this is my least favorite.

Part of learning is doing and I have the ingredients to make another batch, but I'd like to figure out what (if anything) went wrong with this batch.

I think I messed up the process after I pulled the first mash run, I dumped in 3 gallons of 198 degree water, would this screw up the taste?

Thanks

 

[BierMuncher]

198 degrees is awfully hot for sparging. Likely picked up some husk characteristics in the form of tannins.

 

[WenValley]

So... would that explain the lack of hop flavor and/or aroma? Will the general flavor of the beer improve with time? Would dry hopping get this brew back on track?

I thought that I had to get the TUN temp up to 178 or so for mash out, so the sparge temp was that high.

Thanks BM.... I'm going to take another run at this recipe in a week or so, guess I need to review my process.

 

[nutcase]

Ok. I brewed this (for the second time-1st time turned out awesome) but with pilsner malt instead of pale 2 row (LHBS out of 2 row entirely ). it has a very nopticable pilsner taste that is kind of nasty - like a budweiser with more of a nasty kick to it. I've let it age for 2 months but it still is undrinkably sharp tasting to me. FG is 1.008. I'm thinking about adding fruit juice to sweeten it up and hopefully make it drinkable. Any suggestions on what fruit would be best?

 

[carl_g]

I converted this into a partial mash:

Type: Partial Mash
Batch Size: 5.25 gal
Boil Size: 3.00 gal
Boil Time: 60 min
Equipment: Brew Pot (5 Gallon) + igloo cooler(2 Gallon)

Ingredients
3.00 lb AHS - Extra Pale Liquid Malt Extract (2.3 SRM) Extract 42.86 %
2.25 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 32.14 %
0.75 lb Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 10.71 %
0.50 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 10L (10.0 SRM) Grain 7.14 %
0.50 lb Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM) Grain 7.14 %
0.30 oz Centennial [10.00 %] (55 min) Hops 11.0 IBU
0.25 oz Centennial [10.00 %] (35 min) Hops 7.7 IBU
0.25 oz Cascade [5.50 %] (20 min) Hops 3.1 IBU
0.25 oz Cascade [5.50 %] (5 min) Hops 1.0 IBU
1 Pkgs Nottingham (Danstar #-) Yeast-Ale

Beer Profile
Est Original Gravity: 1.041 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.010 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 4.02 %
Bitterness: 22.8 IBU
Calories: 43 cal/pint
Est Color: 3.7 SRM

Mash
60 min
5.50 qt of water at 166.8 F
Mash temp 150.0 F

Sparge
10 Min
Sparge Water: 1.98 gal
Sparge Temperature: 168.0 F

*** add LME at flame out(15 min)

I'll let you know how it turns out!

 

[IXVolt]

BierMuncher... Thanks for this recipe! I just made my first 10 gallons almost 2 weeks ago. I altered it a bit and added lemon and kept the flaked rice in the bill. Turned out fantastic so far.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f36/centennial-lemon-w-pics-132855/

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Just brewed up another batch of this last weekend. Used S-04 instead of #1099 (whitbread.) Close to a week in the bucket and it tastes delicious, already down to 1.008! Last batch finished around there too. In celebration of the new batch, here's some beer pr0n from the last batch I should have posted already. It's a bit over-carbed

 

[BierMuncher]

Just brewed up another batch of this last weekend. Used S-04 instead of #1099 (whitbread.) Close to a week in the bucket and it tastes delicious, already down to 1.008! Last batch finished around there too. In celebration of the new batch, here's some beer pr0n from the last batch I should have posted already. It's a bit over-carbed

That there is purty.

 

[AirRageous]

My SWMBO has discovered a Blueberry Lager called Blue Dog. She wants me to make something like that. I have 10 gals of this Centennial Blonde ready to bottle this weekend. What do you think about taking part of this batch, maybe 2-3 gallons, and just adding some blueberry extract flavoring to the bottling bucket? If that will work, then how much extract per gallon would be the recommendation?

 

[bkov]

This should get you a very similar beer:

Batch Size: 5.50 gal
Boil Size: 6.57 gal
Estimated OG: 1.044 SG
Estimated Color: 3.2 SRM
Estimated IBU: 16.8 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.0 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

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

just curious and wondering, is there a reason you left the crystal malt and vienna out of the extract version? also, is the pound of cara-pils/dextrine grain or the malto-dextrine powder? if its the grain, does it make a difference if you use the malto-dextrine instead? how much of the powder shoudl you use instead? thanks

 

[newrbrewer]

When I picked up the specialty grains for this the other day and realized (too late) that I doubled the amounts for a 10 gallon batch (2.5 # Vienna, 2 # Cara-pils, 2 # C-10). The grains are uncruhsed but are all mixed in 1 bag. So...I was thinking of reducing the base malt (MO) by 2# to make up for it. I know this will now be a different beer but will it be significantly different with all those specialty grains? Any other suggestions? Thanks.

 

[C4PNJ4ZZ]

I did an extract version of this a while ago and loved it. I brought some out last night and my brother and his wife loved it. This is after I brewed my first undrinkable batch...a wit.... for their wedding...oof. The wit tasted like an albuterol inhaler.

I want to try a PM version of this.

Here is what I got with some quick hand calculations

3lb extra light LME (wanted 2.75lb but AHS only goes down to 3)
2.5lb 2 Row
.75lb Carapils
.5lb crystal 10
.5lb vienna

Looks good to me, Do I need to make any adjustments?

Edit *I'm blind

 

[troutrvr32208]

I'm brewing this tomorrow, my HBS didn’t have Centennial pellets, but they had whole hops. I have never used whole leaf before. Do I just throw them in following the recipe?

 

[AirRageous]

Last weekend, we bottled 10 gallons of the extract version of this. We added blueberry extract to 2 gallons and got about 20 bottles for my SWMBO. I hope we did not ruin 2 gallons of great beer.

Last weekend, we also brewed our first batch of all grain with this recipe. We started with 12 gallons pre-boil and the pre-boil SG was low at 1.033 or so. So we boiled for an extra 30 minutes and delayed the last hop additions. We boiled down to 8 gallons and had a OG of 1.042. So that should work.

Yesterday we racked it to secondaries and the SG was down to 1.005. Nice! We took half the batch (4 gal.) and racked it onto some nice roasted Hatch (New Mexico) green chiles. That will sit for 2 more weeks and then into bottles. Esta cerveza llame "El Diablito Verde" https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/green-chile-beer-134940/

 

[troutrvr32208]

I'm brewing this tomorrow, my HBS didn’t have Centennial pellets, but they had whole hops. I have never used whole leaf before. Do I just throw them in following the recipe?

update: Add 5 more gallons...

 

[Sudz]

I've been brewing all grain for about a year now. All the brews I've made have been good but this is the one that stands way above the rest.

I just wanted to go on record and say thanks for the work on this BierMuncher. Simply outstanding....

If you were standing here, I'd buy you a brew!

 

[Ravenhead]

I made 10 gallons of this for a buddy's 30th Birthday and served this last Sunday night. It was a hit with all involved. I only made two mistakes:

1. Tried to force carb over to short a period of time (4 days)... Yes Bobby_M, poor planning on my part of course. This did however give us an opportunity to enjoy the great head retention of this beer.

2. I didn't make 20 gallons . This went quick even though I had to man the kegerator to adjust pressure and pour.

Great beer! Just used the recipe yesterday to teach someone I met at the party about AG brewing. Again 10 gallons, this time for personal consumption and the odd small gathering. And to do the carb thing over. I think set it and forget it Bobby_M. Now does anyone have a gas manifold lying around they want to sell cheap?

Thanks BierMuncher... great beer.

Cheers,
Todd

 

[BierMuncher]

Thanks BierMuncher... great beer.

Cheers,
Todd

I've been brewing all grain for about a year now. All the brews I've made have been good but this is the one that stands way above the rest.

I just wanted to go on record and say thanks for the work on this BierMuncher. Simply outstanding....

If you were standing here, I'd buy you a brew!

Thanks all. Like I say though...the recipe is the easy part. Execution is where it all happens. Nice going on a well brewed beer.

 

[Prickle]

I did the extract version of this about 6 weeks ago. Felt like everything went well, but boy I must have screwed something up. Checked my bottles after 2 weeks, and it tasted green and yeasty, but I figured it would mellow out. 4 weeks after bottling now, and the flavor hasn't changed much. Sour, and a bad tangy aftertaste. It's drinkable, but I was really hoping to have the beer than everyone in this thread raves about. I'll have to try it again.

 

[serum67]

Just kegged this beer. Only thing changed was honey malt subbed for the carapils (i didn't have any on hand). The sample I just took tastes great. Can't wait till the bad boy is carb'd for this weekends party.

Everything went great, except for a minor equipment FAIL. My newly purchased refractometer was giving me an FG of 1.018, while my hydrometer was reading 1.008. I recalibrated, but I think it's busted. Need to return it. I knew my $30 eBay find would be a bust. oh well

 

[fredGSX]

I have 5 gallons of the extract version fermenting right now and this weekend I am going to split it into secondaries. One of them will be the original and the other will be strawberry. I am going to add 3lbs of strawberries to approx just over 2.5 gallons. I have substatuted California Yeast though since I really wanted a liquid yeast and HBS did not have Nottingham. I have tasted it from the fementor during my readings and I am very happy with how it has turned out.

 

[carl_g]

BierMuncher,
My partial mash version came out awesome.. It seems that it might be a bit darker then the all grain pictures but I think its color is within the style and it tastes great! I can't see it lasting too long.
Here is a picture of the final result(a tiny bit of chill haze still..)

Thanks for the great recipe!!!!

 

[AirRageous]

We brewed the extract version of this on 8/9. It is a 10 gal. batch with 5 gal. in primary for 1 week and 2 weeks in secondary. The other 5 gal. had 3 weeks in primary only. Bottled 2 weeks ago and thought we would see how it was coming along. Both halves have a distinct camphor taste. Very unpleasant. I know this is still green but I also have read here that this beer is supposed to be drinkable in a shorter time.

So, what did we do wrong and will it clear up with more time?

 

[serum67]

This was a huge hit @ the birthday party. 20 guests killed the 5gal in under 3 hours... Everyone loved it. Thanks for a great recipe!

 

[BierMuncher]

This was a huge hit @ the birthday party. 20 guests killed the 5gal in under 3 hours... Everyone loved it. Thanks for a great recipe!

Wow. Time to step up to 10 gallon brews.

 

[cercueil]

I just brought BM's blond in to my homebrew club last night as part of the flight and got some great comments. One fellow brewer said it was a great balance between malt and hops and I have to agree. This was my first all grain and it came out great. My next goal is to covert my BMC fans at the next tailgate! Thanks for posting.

 

[Sudz]

Once you rack to a keg (keep it 10 days in primary and 3 days in secondary with gelatin

Excellent brew. My best yet and preparing to make another run.

I'm considering the gelatin add in the secondary for this batch. Since I'm still a bottle baby, will I need to add yeast prior to bottling after using gelatin?

Some folks think the gelatin removes too much yeast for the bottle carbonation to be effective and I simply don't know if this is a real issue or not.

Thanks BierMuncher