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

[mattyg]

Brewed this yesterday. As this was our first 10G batch it may have suffered slightly from the strangeness of the new process. We ended up with a much higher OG than what is specified in the recipe (1.046 vs. 1.038) and I'm baffled to explain it. The only thing that we varied (not intentionally) was mashing at a slightly higher temp (154 vs. 150). Could that account for an extra 8 points?

It's humming away nicely in one of the two carboys this morning. As this was our first split carboy batch we didn't think through the process completely and ended up with one carboy of 4G and one with 5.5G and slightly different OG's between them. I'm sure it will be great beer regardless.

 

[Piratwolf]

Brewed this yesterday. As this was our first 10G batch it may have suffered slightly from the strangeness of the new process. We ended up with a much higher OG than what is specified in the recipe (1.046 vs. 1.038) and I'm baffled to explain it. The only thing that we varied (not intentionally) was mashing at a slightly higher temp (154 vs. 150). Could that account for an extra 8 points?

It's humming away nicely in one of the two carboys this morning. As this was our first split carboy batch we didn't think through the process completely and ended up with one carboy of 4G and one with 5.5G and slightly different OG's between them. I'm sure it will be great beer regardless.

Looks to me like you might have been a little low on water--that'd account for the higher OG.

 

[mattyg]

Looks to me like you might have been a little low on water--that'd account for the higher OG.

Hmm, we sparged to a pre boil volume of 12.7G, which we brought down to 11G in 60 min. Actually lost about 1/2G when we had a tubing fail to the chiller & I guess the hops absorbed the rest.

 

[B4brew]

Brewed this three weeks ago and fermented it in a sanke. Two weeks later, I chilled it and divided into corny kegs. By the third week it tastes great. Wonderful summer beer! Liked it so much, I brewed another batch on week three because i know it won't last long. Friends and family really enjoyed it.

I'm experimenting with second batch by reusing yeast cake...I kept the sanke with yeast at 40 degrees in converted chest freezer used for fermenting. It started to ferment within an hour after wort was added. Will be interesting to see how it turns out.

Thanks for the recipe!

 

[LabRatBrewer]

I brought 5 gallons of this to Southern California Homebrew Fest last weekend. It was loved. It kicked on Thursday. It never saw the fest, proper. Thanks for the recipe!

 

[Piratwolf]

Hmm, we sparged to a pre boil volume of 12.7G, which we brought down to 11G in 60 min. Actually lost about 1/2G when we had a tubing fail to the chiller & I guess the hops absorbed the rest.

My bad--losing the water that way shouldn't affect your OG. Interesting. Should be a tasty beer nonetheless

 

[HItransplant]

BM-what is your recommended fermentation temp for this brew w notty?

Just brewed it today. Thought I read fermentation times and temps when I printed the recipe, but now I can't find that info. Thought I read 68.

Thanks for the recipe!

 

[bigdongsr94]

Just built a hop back and I am anxious to try out some other changes to my system. I am planning on brewing BM's blonde pretty close to the way BM intended with the beer passing through 2 oz of cascade in the hopback before entering the chiller. I will keep the beer fairly balanced with a light malt schedule an low IBUs but it will be hop blasted with flavor and aroma from the lot hops addition. Any thoughts, suggestions, or opinions?

 

[Slyko]

I did the Centennial Blond but figured I'd try my hand at a Yeast Starter using a different liquid yeast. No biggie........ I thought. I used White Labs 1056 American Ale. :fro:

What a mistake.............. I thought later on.

Fermenting it didn't take off! The 3rd day in the primary it started and worked hard until day 5.

Kegged it on time & let it carb up. Gave it an extra week.

It tasted terrible. It tasted like soap suds. It didn't have any head either. I thought, oh sucks, I guess didn't rinse my keg good enough. Oh well, it was only my 3rd batch. My 1st all-grain. I was all bummed I'd have to trash it. Lesson learned.

But being the lazy guy I am..................... I just left it. 3 weeks later, it's FANTASTIC! It's the best beer I have in the Quad-Keezer. I love it! Variety is the spice of life! My son is drinking it like it's going out of style. :rockin:

Oh ****! Just kicked the keg tonight. And I didn't get a chance to bottle a few. ****. Guess I'll just have to brew some more!

Thanks BM!

 

[sendkyleanemail]

Gotta try this! I need a few quick turn around batches!

 

[Jukas]

I had my first glass of the batch I made a month ago. My god this is fantastic. Light refreshing and great citrus notes from the centennial. I haven't tried the strawberry batch I split off, but I already want to start a new 10g batch of this tonight.

 

[Charlieatthedisco]

Brewed this last week. Hit all gravities fine but when I pitched the Nottingham it went right to the bottom and has had zero activity and it's been 7 days... Temp is about 65... Any suggestions?

 

[Jukas]

Brewed this last week. Hit all gravities fine but when I pitched the Nottingham it went right to the bottom and has had zero activity and it's been 7 days... Temp is about 65... Any suggestions?

Pitch new yeast. 7 days is long enough that if it hasn't done anything it isn't likely to. Either te rot was to warm or you had an old/bum packet. I know people say they pitch dry without problems, but I'd rehydrate according to mfg directions and maybe add in a little nutrient.

 

[jcdouglas]

Brewed this last week. Hit all gravities fine but when I pitched the Nottingham it went right to the bottom and has had zero activity and it's been 7 days... Temp is about 65... Any suggestions?

Did you take a hydrometer reading?

 

[brewQC]

Made this 5 weeks ago with a small single nugget addition instead of centennial and it is excellent. It is a big hit with everyone who has tried it ~ 10 people. Thanks BM!

 

[rhamilton]

Kicked the keg yesterday

Guess I'll be making more

 

[Piratwolf]

Took my Amarillo Blonde to the homebrew club meeting last night & gave it to about 8 people, including 2 pro brewers. Everyone loved it! Thanks again, BM!

 

[CyberMonk]

Brewed up an extract batch of this on Wednesday and it's fermenting away happily (and vigorously!). Looking forward to it, and it should be ready just in time to replace the Franziskaner clone I currently have on tap.

 

[DirtyOldDuck]

I brewed this three weeks ago as my first AG BIAB and kegged it yesterday morning. Despite the rave reviews, I have been a little worried because it tasted a little too sweet in the middle and a little too dry at the finish when I checked the specific gravity. This is a good reminder to withhold judgment until a beer is cold and carbonated. I just had to try a little taste this afternoon (all in the interest of science of course) and wow, this is going to be good. It's going to go fast once fully carbonated so I am already thinking of getting another batch brewed up - maybe 10 gallons this time. Thanks BM for a great recipe and to everyone else on this site for sharing their knowledge.

 

[PitchnGrin]

Has anybody tasted this at 5% abv? Brewed this for the wife (hop wimp) last night with Willamette for the late additions. Brew day was smooth except I used my new mill and fresh grain for the first time..94% efficiency, oops. I have been hitting 80 to 84% I didn't want to knock her out, just get her buzzed a bit. But it may be fine, I don't know. The batch would last longer with more kick but I have some apa and ipa to get that job done.

I have room in the fermentor to add a hop tea to water it down but i've never tried that. So, relax or start meddling?

 

[rossi46]

My first and only attempt at this was 5.1%. It was ok. I need to do it again and scale it for 85% eff.

 

[HBrew71]

Doing BIAB this time. So far so good. Have to say it is much easier than using MLT.

 

[bucfanmike]

made this back in Jan and gotta say when i tapped it in Feb I wasnt impressed. For my taste it was too hoppy for a small beer. Lo and behold I had a kegerator issue and ended up storing this away in my fermentation freezer and kinda forgot about it. Threw it back on tap this week and holy cow it is awesome. Crystal clear, so very smooth drinking. Going to have to get 10 more gallons ready for the summer camping schedule as this is one i think all the women will drink as well.

 

[HBrew71]

made this back in Jan and gotta say when i tapped it in Feb I wasnt impressed. For my taste it was too hoppy for a small beer. Lo and behold I had a kegerator issue and ended up storing this away in my fermentation freezer and kinda forgot about it. Threw it back on tap this week and holy cow it is awesome. Crystal clear, so very smooth drinking. Going to have to get 10 more gallons ready for the summer camping schedule as this is one i think all the women will drink as well.

I had to wait about 4 weeks after I kegged it for my first batch. It was fantastic.Great summer beer. It is going on rotation.

 

[evandena]

I had to wait about 4 weeks after I kegged it for my first batch. It was fantastic.Great summer beer. It is going on rotation.

All this waiting, it's hard to keep something on tap. Feels like I have to brew the same beer every other week just to keep it on tap

 

[jtkratzer]

I just ordered the ingredients for my first all grain batch and inaugural brew on my new eHERMS system. I loved the partial mash version of this I brewed a few months ago.

 

[jtkratzer]

I have a Wyeast 1056 and Nottingham on hand. I think I've read 1056 is a good yeast for this beer as its pretty similar to Notty, right?

I bought the Wyeast for a beer that never came together and it needs to be used, getting close to 6 months in the fridge.

EDIT: MrMalty says I'm at 10% viability and that I need 10 packs of yeast for a 1.5L starter.

How about 1 pack on the stir plate for about 16-18 hours?

 

[HBrew71]

I used 1056 both times I brewed this beer. Came out fantastic.

 

[jtkratzer]

I used 1056 both times I brewed this beer. Came out fantastic.

I'm confident it will be fine....just need to get my starter going ASAP with this aged yeast for tomorrow's brew.

 

[HBrew71]

MrMalty says I'm at 10% viability and that I need 10 packs of yeast for a 1.5L starter.

How about 1 pack on the stir plate for about 16-18 hours?

I used months old washed yeast. First I made a 1L starter then from that a 2L starter. That produced more than enough cells.

24 hours on stir plate should do it. That's what I do. Never done less than that so couldn't tell you.