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

[JasontheBeaver]

Has anyone tried to make this a dark ale? I have made about 40 gallons of this brew and it's absolutely excellent. All my friends love it.

I just added 1lb of chocolate to the recipe and turned it VERY dark. It's been in the fermenter for 8 days. Starting Gravity was about 1.040 and it's only down to 1.012 so it's got some more to go. Color is pretty. Can't wait to see how it comes out.

Please keep us updated on this darker version... I had been thinking of doing something similar but since you offered to be the guinea pig....

 

[TheWiz]

Centennial Brunette?

Centennial Brewnette?

 

[cryhav0c]

Got my first "taste" of the Centennial Brunette during a gravity check yesterday after 13 days in the fermenter. Gravity was down to 1.012. Flavor was somewhat on the "nutty" side. Color is looking good. I would have preferred not to alter the flavor but only the color. Can anyone recommend a grain that you wouldn't need much of to change the color but not affect the flavor? The beer is going to taste VERY good, (I think it's going to make a great holiday beer) but it's still not what I was trying to do.

 

[tdogg]

you could use sinamar

 

[Clifton]

I just read in BYO that Smuttynose adds Carafa to the top of the grain bed when they start to sparge their "Noonan" Black IPA. This helps them get the color without the roast flavors. You could try that.

 

[midfielder5]

cap the mash with 2- 4 oz of dehusked carafa "special" I.

I am just guessing on the amounts (but it doesn't take a lot to change the color); I would play around with the recipe in beersmith or whatever with the amounts, to get the color you want.

 

[cryhav0c]

That's very interesting. I'm checking into it. Thanks

 

[nostalgia]

My most recent version - a 17 gallon batch! C'est bon, non?




-Joe

 

[Clifton]

17 gallons!! I'm green with jealous rage.

 

[cryhav0c]

Just finished reading up on those color suggestions. Both are great. I won't be satisified until I've tried all options. While I was looking into these a friend asked me about doing a "Red". Any suggestions on what to do for that? I just brewed an Irish Red. Completely different beer though. I'd like to have this particular centennial beer in Dark, Blonde & Red and have a taste test with my friends to "witness" how vision affects perceived flavor. We all know it does but it would be fun to watch and record.

 

[HokieBrewer]

I'd use varying amounts of sinamar if you really want to avoid altering the taste.

 

[Clifton]

I agree with Hokie. If you really want the same flavor in each I think that's the only way.

 

[JOHN51277]

Just ordered the grains for a 10 gallon batch. Will be a nice addition to the pipeline!

 

[kosmokramer]

Making this for my first all grain today. Wish me luck

 

[idigg]

I think I messed up on my grain order. I just got .5lb of belgian Caramel Pils, I thought it was the same as CaraPils. Am I screwed???

 

[alestateyall]

I think I messed up on my grain order. I just got .5lb of belgian Caramel Pils, I thought it was the same as CaraPils. Am I screwed???

Just my 2 cents; should be fine. The caramel pils will still have good head retention characteristics of carapils. It will add a slight caramel flavor(probably not enough to notice since there is already caramel malt in the recipe) while carapils is supposed to be tasteless. Caramel pils is also 8 srm which will darken the beer ever so slightly.

 

[kosmokramer]

Okay about to start mashing but i dont have cascade hops. here is a list of what i have, how should i hop this to try and maintin the desired flavor/bitterness

magnum
centennial
simcoe
citra
amarillo
sirachi ace
chinook


any quick responses would be great. Thanks guys

 

[hawgwild81]

Okay about to start mashing but i dont have cascade hops. here is a list of what i have, how should i hop this to try and maintin the desired flavor/bitterness

magnum
centennial
simcoe
citra
amarillo
sirachi ace
chinook

any quick responses would be great. Thanks guys

I would say the centennial would keep it close to the original, but I think the citra or sirachi ace would give it a nice twist as well. Let us know what you used and how it turned out.

 

[smagee]

I've used some citra in the late stages on this one to good effect, but yes, centennial will be closer to what is intended.

 

[kosmokramer]

all centenial? or should i bitter with magnum and late addition centennial? i have a lb of citra so its not a prob to use that. im just trying to keep it easy drinking for the bmc people

 

[Gear101]

citra had to make that a good beer.

 

[Clifton]

all centenial? or should i bitter with magnum and late addition centennial? i have a lb of citra so its not a prob to use that. im just trying to keep it easy drinking for the bmc people

I made mine all Centennial. It was awesome!

 

[kosmokramer]

i ended up playing it safe and using centenniel and amarillo

 

[jmf143]

Kegging an all amarillo this afternoon.

 

[cryhav0c]

Just wanted to say thanks for the coloring info. I found what I think is a pretty good price on it after shopping around and wanted to share it. It's just under 4 bucks for 4oz on Williams Brewing website. William's Brewing, fine homebrewing since 1979. @ Williams Brewing First time I've done business with them but they had some good prices from what I can see. Thanks & I'll post pics as I test this.

Found an interesting tidbit while doing the research. A statement that said "if you drink beer then you've drank Sinamar."

 

[mountainman13]

Just weighed out the grain bill for ten gallons. Gonna crush and mash first thing in the morning. A buddy wanted something for his new years party and I think this should go over good. The last time I made it I think the keg lasted a week. And it was a work week.

 

[Sudz]

I've been making this brew since it hit the forum. It's my all time favorite and most of my friends as well. Always the first to be opened and the first to go down.

Basically, I've stayed true to the recipe and I've always hit my numbers. Easy brew to make. But...

Every batch has been slightly cloudy. It hasn't been an issue but I'm curious as to why.

This is the only brew I've ever made that has been cloudy or hazy other than my wheat based beers. I use Whirlfloc and have a killer chiller. I've never had any type of infection so I believe my operation is fairly clean. Plus it always taste great. There's nothing in the grain bill or with the yeast that would explain this from my limited understanding. So why is it hazy?

 

[BierMuncher]

I've been making this brew since it hit the forum. It's my all time favorite and most of my friends as well. Always the first to be opened and the first to go down.

Basically, I've stayed true to the recipe and I've always hit my numbers. Easy brew to make. But...

Every batch has been slightly cloudy. It hasn't been an issue but I'm curious as to why.

This is the only brew I've ever made that has been cloudy or hazy other than my wheat based beers. I use Whirlfloc and have a killer chiller. I've never had any type of infection so I believe my operation is fairly clean. Plus it always taste great. There's nothing in the grain bill or with the yeast that would explain this from my limited understanding. So why is it hazy?

Not sure why some recipes have a longer chill haze phase than others. I use gelatin in the secondary and even my dry hopped pale ales are crystal clear. Maybe give that a go.

 

[barhoc11]

Not sure why some recipes have a longer chill haze phase than others. I use gelatin in the secondary and even my dry hopped pale ales are crystal clear. Maybe give that a go.

BM- I am making this now and I plan to keg it with gelatin and get it on gas. Have you ever gassed a keg while using gelatin? Will it still clear fine? I understand my first pint will have the gelatin in it.

Thanks

 

[brettwasbtd]

Always the first to be opened and the first to go down.

... So why is it hazy?

Mine was crystal clear after 2-3 weeks in the fridge. Maybe you just drink it too fast