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

[ayupbrewing]

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

Is the reason the extract version doesn't use caramel and vienna just because they are only there for colour in the AG version and that the extract provides enough colour?

Thanks
Ayup!

 

[BigPicture]

First Wort Hopping your Beer

Brewing beer with first wort hops (FWH) is a method I have used extensively for beer brewing over the last few years to improve the character of many recipes. First wort hopping produces complex bitterness and aroma that is both smooth and pleasing to the pallet. The method has become quite popular with homebrewers and microbreweries over the last 10 years due to the pleasant and complex flavor produced.

FWH involves adding a portion of the hops to the boiler at the very beginning of the sparging process, allowing these hops to steep as the sparging completes and remaining in the kettle throughout the boil. Add the hops to the boiler as soon as you have finished recirculating the first runnings

I received Brad's email & thought about doing this recipe with adding Citra hops to the First Hop schedule. Would there be another more beneficial hop addition? I've heard that Magnum goes well with Centennial & Cascade.

What do you guys think? :rockin:

 

[Clifton]

I would brew the recipe as written, but move the bittering addition to first wort hop.

 

[CGVT]

I would brew the recipe as written, but move the bittering addition to first wort hop.

Agree. It is pretty tasty as written. I FWH most everything I brew. I don't really know if it makes a difference or not, it's just what I do...

 

[Clifton]

Brew one regular and one fwh. Then you'll know.

 

[jasert39]

Had the party that I brewed this for last night... People were trying to find containers to bring it home in after they took all four of my growlers! Delicious and fast! A definite crowd pleaser!!

Glad to hear it worked out for you ...I'm.brewing up another 10 gallons tomorrow.

 

[BigPicture]

I agree the recipe is excellent. I've brewed it like 8 or 9 times already..................... but I like to change things up a little. Experiment. Brew magazine says Magnum is a great compliment to Cascade & Centennial. I've never had Citra.

The Wyeast 1056 is a nice change, raspberries were fantastic, the additional dry hop of Cascade from Sloose is up tomorrow.

I like to keep 1 blond on tap while I try some others. BM's Black Pearl Porter w/ Vanilla Coffee is fermenting right now! :cross:

 

[SwivelHips]

I FWH most everything I brew. I don't really know if it makes a difference or not, it's just what I do...

Me too, I like this technique.

 

[Pkrd]

Brewed this last month and it is fantastic after two weeks in the bottle.
Thanks BierMuncher!

 

[carlk47]

Just kegged this one yesterday after a 2 week primary. Racked it onto some gelatin so hopefully it'll clear up while its carbing up. Taste was great right out of the primary!

 

[Effingb]

I realize that this is an old thread, but I brewed the extract version this afternoon. OG was 1.043. Excited to get this in a bottle.
Thanks for the recipe, sounds excellent.

 

[cblack85]

Brewed a 5 gallon batch of this yesterday, excited to see how it comes out. If it's as good as everyone says it is, I may brew another 10 gallon batch to have around for when summer comes...

 

[mlinc]

Just picked up the grains etc to do a 5 gallon batch. I use BIAB process so I am anxious to see how it turns out.

 

[carlk47]

Wow, just pulled my first sample from the keg after carbing at 30psi for 2 days.. love it! great light citrus flavor.. This is absolutely a great quick turnaround brew. This was also my first partial mash so very happy with how it turned out. Can't wait to brew this again and give it more time to age!

Thanks biermuncher!

 

[BigPicture]

Well sure,

I brewed a few extracts, a few all grains, goofed a few times, experimented, but this recipe REALLY turned me on to brewing my own!

I've taken the next step with this as a base and realized ANYTHING is possible! I feel most complete when at least THIS is on tap in my kegerator.

P.S. I've got 3 other taps to expand my taste buds.

 

[ibrewedit]

Big thanks to those who have contributed to this thread.

Split batch blonde and strawberry blonde

 

[ibrewedit]

Big thanks to those who have contributed to this thread.

Split batch blonde and strawberry blonde

Ugh. Sorry. Raspberry blonde.

 

[ButcherBrew]

Ibrewdit... Which one did you prefer if you don't mind me asking and how did you add raspberries? Thanks

 

[brevity]

Mine has been in the keg for a week. It tastes pretty good but does anyone get a slight sourness with this beer? I'm wondering where it's coming from.

 

[jflongo]

Mine doesn't have a sourness, but a slight slight salty taste, maybe that's from my well water not sure. But it's still pretty good. I may brew this again with filtered water to see if it's different.

 

[ibrewedit]

Ibrewdit... Which one did you prefer if you don't mind me asking and how did you add raspberries? Thanks

Not sure which I prefer. Raspberry just became nice and tart. Really made the blonde for my wife, not my favorite style. She loves both but esp raspberry.

Headed them to ~180 held for a few mins and then dropped them in secondary siphoned from primary on to them. In secondary for a week.

 

[dddppp]

I've got a few questions about the yeast and fermentation periods of this recipe. Re: yeast, I had to use Fleishmann's instead of Nottinghams. (I know, I know.) Would that affect the the temperature or length of primary fermentation? Re: fermentation, I've been reading that for ales some people lengthen primary and skip secondary before bottling. Any experiences with that? Right now I've got the 5-gallon extract version in primary.

This is my third beer and first post to HBT. (Total noob.) Thanks for the help!

 

[he-brews]

I was wondering if anyone could help me. I'm gonna brew 10 gallon of this tomorrow and I'm gonna use RO water. Can anyone tell me exactly how much gypsum or calcium to add to my water? Also should I try and use a yeast protein?

 

[orion7144]

I was wondering if anyone could help me. I'm gonna brew 10 gallon of this tomorrow and I'm gonna use RO water. Can anyone tell me exactly how much gypsum or calcium to add to my water? Also should I try and use a yeast protein?

I only use RO water and do not add anything.

 

[allenH]

I also use 100% RO water, in addition to 2% acidulated malt added to the mash, I add 1tsp calcium chloride and 1tsp gypsum to the mash water, nothing to the sparge water.

 

[he-brews]

Really! I thought that there had to be nutrients in the water for the yeast to feed on, I have a tester and my water goes from 160 ppm down to about 10 when I check my RO water?

 

[he-brews]

Ok Allen, ill try that, that sounds like a pretty good start for me thanks guys

 

[allenH]

Ok Allen, ill try that, that sounds like a pretty good start for me thanks guys

If you haven't already, check out the water chemistry primer in the brew science forum (I would link it, but I'm on my phone). It has a lot of useful information dealing with this topic.

 

[he-brews]

I'll do it thanks a lot man!!

 

[ayupbrewing]

Is the reason the extract version doesn't use caramel and vienna just because they are only there for colour in the AG version and that the extract provides enough colour?

Thanks
Ayup!

Never got an answer on this. Was wondering if my theory about the lack of specialty grains in the extract recipe is correct. Thanks.

Ayup