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

[theveganbrewer]

In case anyone is ever looking for a Deschutes River Ale clone, just brew this, tastes very similar.

 

[Komocabo]

I did the 5 gallon batch. Used 1 yeast. 1 :1.2 ratio (grain:water). Had about 2.75 gals in mash, then fly sparged with 5.25 gals (8 total).

I was thinking about the yeast question and I guess it leads me to another question: I do a 5 gal batch with OG 1.075 and use 1 smackpack with no issues. Thats basically the same amt of yeast and sugar as a 10 gal batch of the Centennial Blonde, so why wouldn't 1 smackpack work for 10 gals? Perhaps I'm not thinking clearly?

 

[woknblues]

I mashed too high, didn't aerate, and left on yeast cake of SA-04 for 8 weeks. Verdict? GREAT BEER!!

I can't imagine what this would taste like if I could actually brew beer properly!!

This is an amazingly drinkable session beer. I detect a mild toastiness in the malt, along with a mild zesty/citrus hop note, with a clean, mildly dry finish. I got off work this morning and sucked one down with a breakfast burrito. T'was sublime. When the weather warms, these two kegs of it I have will be kicked in no time. My wife likes it too (she likes stouts/etc typically)

I have a 4 keg system right now, and so far, vow that this will always have a tap.

 

[woknblues]

Has anyone experienced a slight sour taste on the front end of this? I brewed this two weeks ago yesterday, sat in primary for 8 days, cold crashed, kegged and carbed. Started tasting after about 11 days and there was a distinct sour taste to it. I haven't ever tasted a homebrew that young before but with the comments about the quick turnaround, I thought what the hell. Hardly noticed after the first few sips and the rest of the pint is quite good. Also tasted it yesterday and it seemed that the sour taste has diminished but still fairly noticeable. It fermented well and at a stable 66-70. My sanitation stays superb and there were no signs of any infection. OG was 1.042. FG was 1.010. It was a BIAB batch that we did while waiting for the mash tun parts to come in. Think I should just RDWAHAHB and let it age some more? Also thinking of tossing in an oz or so of cascade leaf hops that I have lying around. Anyone try that?

Sounds green. Just wait a week. Also, the hop amount is small, but so is the grain bill. I found that I can easily pick out the hops in this beer (as well as the specialty grains for that matter) and the whole this is very balanced. This is a "session" beer if there ever was one. Save the hop explosions for the IPAs, etc., IMHO.

 

[dickproenneke]

I found that I can easily pick out the hops in this beer (as well as the specialty grains for that matter) and the whole this is very balanced. This is a "session" beer if there ever was one. Save the hop explosions for the IPAs, etc., IMHO.

I agree. I upped my grain bill to yield about 4.9% abv and didn't change the hop additions one bit. The beer came out very balanced, not bitter whatsoever.

 

[Chriso]

That's correct dickproenneke - by increasing the malt and by that, the ABV, you have wound up with less total IBU in the beer and less proportional Bitterness:Gravity Ratio. You have taken a slightly hoppy, mostly-balanced recipe and, in fact, made it maltier. That's fine, what is important is that it reaches the balance that you want to taste.

I wrote to great lengths about this earlier in the thread, see this link: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f66/ce...rain-5-10-gall-42841/index61.html#post4637367 - or if the link won't work for you, I am referring to posts #2439 and #2440 in this thread.

 

[carlk47]

How many people are planning to keep this permanently on tap this spring/summer?! Seems like a great all-around beer for everyone, and a great thirst quencher

 

[bellmtbbq]

I did the 5 gallon batch. Used 1 yeast. 1 :1.2 ratio (grain:water). Had about 2.75 gals in mash, then fly sparged with 5.25 gals (8 total).

I was thinking about the yeast question and I guess it leads me to another question: I do a 5 gal batch with OG 1.075 and use 1 smackpack with no issues. Thats basically the same amt of yeast and sugar as a 10 gal batch of the Centennial Blonde, so why wouldn't 1 smackpack work for 10 gals? Perhaps I'm not thinking clearly?

Komo,

One smack pack in five gallons of 1.075 wort is severely under pitching! Sure it'll ferment, but you'll get tons of unwanted phenols. I don't even think two smack packs would be enough. It might appear that the ferment was fine with that little yeast, especially if it was an ester-y yeast, but it's good practice to pitch right. You shouldn't be allowed to brew 10 gallon batches without a starter system, unless you wan to pay $30 in yeast every batch.

 

[orion7144]

How many people are planning to keep this permanently on tap this spring/summer?! Seems like a great all-around beer for everyone, and a great thirst quencher

I keep at least 2 kegs in my keezer all the time (try too anyway).

 

[he-brews]

I've been keeping this on tap, too, lol. I have a question and I know I have seen it on this thread but I'm too lazy to look for it. I was wondering about putting some frozen apricot on the other 6 gallon of this I have that has just got done fermenting, any thoughts?

 

[Tarks]

I was looking for a nice, light session brew with a quick turn around to keg and this is it! Brewing this up tomorrow. I have brewed many of BM's recipes with great success. Thanks for the recipe BM! Cheers.

 

[dickproenneke]

That's correct dickproenneke - by increasing the malt and by that, the ABV, you have wound up with less total IBU in the beer and less proportional Bitterness:Gravity Ratio. You have taken a slightly hoppy, mostly-balanced recipe and, in fact, made it maltier. That's fine, what is important is that it reaches the balance that you want to taste.

Thanks for the link Chriso. Very helpful. I'm certainly keeping several gallons of this beer on hand at all times. It's real good stuff. I guess I should have been more specific in my other comment...I did a PM version of this brew. I didn't change the hop amounts but added 3lbs of DME at 10mins. The late extract addition helped to keep the IBUs close to BM's original recipe. Beer Calculus gave me 24IBU.

 

[mhurst111]

So here is my plan for a strawberry version for this

Same grain bill:
Ingredients,
7,Pale Malt - 2 row
0.75,Cara-Pils
0.5,Crystal - 10L
0.5,Vienna Malt

Mash at 154 (instead of 150) for 60 min - strawberries in the secondary will dry it out, so trying to add more malty goodness...

I'll up the last cascade hop addition to .5 oz instead of .25 to try to keep the hop aroma
0.25,Centennial -55min
0.25,Centennial -35min
0.25,Cascade -20min
0.5, Cascade -5min ( changed from .25)
1,Nottingham Yeast


Ferment until FG is stable.

Add 6lbs strawberries to a secondary ( Costco bags are 6 lbs, so that is set) for 8-14 days until a 'new' FG is stable.

Rack to final bucket for 2 to 3 weeks, cold crash, keg and enjoy.

Any really dumb ideas in this plan....
Thanks,
Mike

 

[sethlovex]

So here is my plan for a strawberry version for this

Same grain bill:
Ingredients,
7,Pale Malt - 2 row
0.75,Cara-Pils
0.5,Crystal - 10L
0.5,Vienna Malt

Mash at 154 (instead of 150) for 60 min - strawberries in the secondary will dry it out, so trying to add more malty goodness...

I'll up the last cascade hop addition to .5 oz instead of .25 to try to keep the hop aroma
0.25,Centennial -55min
0.25,Centennial -35min
0.25,Cascade -20min
0.5, Cascade -5min ( changed from .25)
1,Nottingham Yeast

Ferment until FG is stable.

Add 6lbs strawberries to a secondary ( Costco bags are 6 lbs, so that is set) for 8-14 days until a 'new' FG is stable.

Rack to final bucket for 2 to 3 weeks, cold crash, keg and enjoy.

Any really dumb ideas in this plan....
Thanks,
Mike

I think the concencus for strawberries is 1-2 # per gal, so the ratio looks good. You could always add some strawberry extract right before kegging if the taste isn't where you want it.
Your process looks the same as what I was thinking of doing (except the last hop addition which I think is a good idea). Maybe do a .25 oz dry hop too? Who wants to save .25 oz in the fridge?

Assuming your primary takes 7-10 days it looks like 6 weeks until kegging.
I want this to go quicker!! I wonder if the third (tertiary?) fermentation will require that long.
i was going to keg half original recipe and bottle half (2.5 gal) strawberry.

 

[grv]

Got this tee'd up to brew this weekend. Looking forward to it!

 

[carlk47]

Heading to the LHBS this weekend to pickup supplies to brew this on Saturday.. Hmm.. should I get enough for one 5 gal batch or two batches?...

 

[Tarks]

Brewed this up today. Hit an OG of 1.041. My LHBS was out of US-05 and Nottingham so I went with Wyeast 1056. I didn't make a starter even though BS recommended I did. I figure I should be ok as this is a low gravity beer. Hopefully it all works out.

 

[HBrew71]

Brewed this up today. Hit an OG of 1.041. My LHBS was out of US-05 and Nottingham so I went with Wyeast 1056. I didn't make a starter even though BS recommended I did. I figure I should be ok as this is a low gravity beer. Hopefully it all works out.

I always use 1056 .. Fantastic every time.

 

[DHdriver]

I'm looking at brewing this but I can't get 10L or Vienna locally, but have everything else on hand so shipping isn't worth it. I have some crystal 80L I'd like to use up (it's already milled), any comments if I can use a small quantity of it (about 4oz), to 'replace' the 10L and Vienna, I know it won't be the same flavour but I'm trying to work with what I have.
What do you think?

 

[sethlovex]

I'm looking at brewing this but I can't get 10L or Vienna locally, but have everything else on hand so shipping isn't worth it. I have some crystal 80L I'd like to use up (it's already milled), any comments if I can use a small quantity of it (about 4oz), to 'replace' the 10L and Vienna, I know it won't be the same flavour but I'm trying to work with what I have.
What do you think?

May be a little darker, but id think it would still be good. I'd go for it. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Catfish1320]

Throwing a few more of these back right now. This is a really good beer. Brewing it again Monday afternoon. This one will always be in stock.

 

[midfielder5]

I have some crystal 80L I'd like to use up (it's already milled), any comments if I can use a small quantity of it (about 4oz), to 'replace' the 10L and Vienna, I know it won't be the same flavour but I'm trying to work with what I have.
What do you think?

I would use only an ounce or two myself.

 

[RickBrewski]

Best Beer I have ever brewed! Thanks Bier Muncher! If you on the fence on brewing this.. DONT BE.. it is an Extremely Great Beer! Did this as my first All Grain batch and brewed this again yesterday along with EdWorts Haus Ale! Two New Staples in my Kegerator!

 

[Euphist]

I made this once before, subbing Columbus for the Centennial as that's what I had on hand and it turned out really good. I recently got a good price on a pound of Centennial and figured it was time to brew this one as written. My efficiency must have been pretty good... 1.046

 

[vogtenstein222]

Still a bit new to the hobby so not sure if it makes a huge difference but should I use pellets, leaf, or whole hops?

 

[HBrew71]

Still a bit new to the hobby so not sure if it makes a huge difference but should I use pellets, leaf, or whole hops?

Does not matter. Make sure weigh in the different AA factor. I find pellets are the easiest to manage BTW.

 

[dddppp]

Just took my first sip after a week in bottles. I kinda effed up this recipe (had to use Fleischmann's bread yeast instead of Notty; left it in primary for two weeks with no secondary) and still produced highly drinkable results. Based on this and what others in this thread have said, this recipe seems pretty bulletproof and an amazing value to boot. Will definitely be keeping it in my back pocket.

 

[Spinrathen]

This one is on my horizon.

 

[fizgig]

I have this ordered except for the hops, I have 16oz of Simcoe and 4oz Citra, should I go all Simcoe, all Citra, or some combination? I can figure out the IBUs, but how much is too much flavor/aroma hops for this?

 

[idrinkstuffnthings]

Any problem using Pilsen malt instead of 2 row?