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

[comj49]

I started drinking my attempt at this beer over a week ago, and despite my many concerns with the process, it turned out fantastic. I had to change a few things though. My LHBS was out of Notty so they gave me windsor instead. I converted to an extract recipe w/ steeping grains, and i believe i steeped too hot. It fermented too hot (close to 78 degrees), and after a week in primary it tasted a little like band-aids, so i decided to experiment and dry hopped with 1/2 ounce cascade in the secondary for 2 weeks. I bottled and started drinking after only 1 week and it tasted great. I learned alot about patience with this one. Next time i will make it without dry-hopping so i can get the original flavor. Great beer either way though!

 

[BierMuncher]

...It fermented too hot (close to 78 degrees)...

Give this a try next time...

 

[comj49]

Give this a try next time...

thanks for the idea, i actually have 2 similiar containers that i use just like that, but for some reason i got cocky and decided i didn't need to use it. Also, i scored a chest freezer from a relative, so the swamp baths will be needed no more!

 

[Iechyd Da]

I've brewed this twice so far and both times the kegs didn't even last a week before they were sucked dry. I can't seem to brew this one fast enough. Everyone from craft beer snobs to Coor's light drinkers like this beer. This is going to be my first 10g batch next weekend. Big thanks to BierMuncher.

 

[FEARDIZ]

So here is 2 weeks in primary

Secondary

Empty Primary

 

[SC_Ryan]

QUOTE]

How do you get your fermenters to stick to the wall like that?!?!?!?!?!

 

[BierMuncher]

QUOTE]

How do you get your fermenters to stick to the wall like that?!?!?!?!?!

This ain't no ordinary beer...

 

[gresc]

BierMuncher, just kegged this baby yesterday morning. Had to try a sample today and damn this is a good recipe. You gotta love cascade and cent hops!
Thanks, this will be a summer staple.

 

[FEARDIZ]

I brewed on the space station :rockin:
No Shlitz can comments? Boy you people are really slacking

 

[jfrizzell]

Damn! I have got to get me a Better Bottle! Who knew!?

 

[FEARDIZ]

Damn! I have got to get me a Better Bottle! Who knew!?

they are not better just because they are plastic ya know..

 

[dp69_2001]

Third week in bottles today. This has got to be one of the best beers I've ever tasted. Though, my last citrus hef was extremely good at about 4 weeks in the bottles. But, now it's starting to loose it's aroma at about 2 months... Centennial blonde is extremely tasty I based my last recipe off this and ended up bumping the gravity up a little and switched the centennials for chinooks. Pretty excited.

 

[FEARDIZ]

what is the BJCP Style for this? ( best guess )

 

[BierMuncher]

All of the parameters fit a Blonde Ale, but the slight hop aroma from the later additions makes this kind of an Americanized Blonde Ale.

 

[FEARDIZ]

so we'll call it a Blonde Ale

 

[Boar Beer]

Ok BM you've got me hooked on this one. I have a family get together in 4 weeks and was looking at my current keg inventory. I'll be putting up 15 gallons as a test batch.

 

[FEARDIZ]

do we need to start a how many gallons thread ?

 

[dp69_2001]

10 gallons for me! (w/ hop substitutions)

 

[FEARDIZ]

see https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=73501 for the count thread

 

[ExpertBrewers]

Thanks for the recipe, made a batch yesterday. Was looking for something light and crisp and ready quickly and this fit the bill perfectly.

 

[discgolfin]

I might have to make this next. I just did a wheat for a party in a month and maybe crank this one out as well..Blond ales are good quick. I would love to use my home grow hops that I am about to pick but man the IBUs could be anything..(heavy handed cent blond)


might be a nice combo of kegs for the party..American wheat, lake walk pale(my version ), and blond ale..hits all types of beer drinkers..a good triple threat keg party..

Jay

 

[Baron ken]

11 gal. extract batch planned for this weekend:
BeerAlchemy recipe sheet

Will be using Willamette instead of Cascade (because that's what I have on hand )

Just got a keggle to use as my BK, so I'm anxious to try it out.

 

[Baron ken]

Steeped grains in 2 gal at ~153 for 45 minutes, got 1.5 gal wort from that. Added it to 12 gal in BK for 13.5 gal total (here was my mistake). When that came to a boil, I added DME which brought total to almost 14.5 gal! After one minor boilover, the rest of the boil went smooth. Had 12 gal after cooling (was shooting for 11g).

I siphoned 3 gal into first carboy (on right), then 6 gal into second carboy (on left), then remaining 3 gal (including cold break, no hops - used a hop bag) into first carboy.

Within a couple hours in the ferment box the cold break carboy was as clear as the second one (it just had a thick layer of cold break on the bottom).
I used US-05 on the first carboy and Nottingham on the second (just to see what difference it made).
(Note this picture was after siphoning and before yeast was added after carboys cooled to pitching temp. They DO have blow-off tubes now!)

OG was 1.039 and the sample was exceptionally clear.


Click any image for a full size version.

 

[shoebag22]

What liquid yeast would you recommend for this? Think a Cali would work?

 

[truckmann]

I would use the Wyeast 1272 - American Ale II™
I'm getting ready to make some of this myself and I'm debating if I want to use that yeast or just go ahead and use the 1056 that I already have. I guess if I go and buy the 1272 it gives me an excuse to find something else to make with the 1056

 

[dp69_2001]

I used the Cali wlp001. It was delicious. I'm brewing another batch of it sometime this weekend. The only problem is that My HBS is out of centennials for the year. So I've been using Chinooks. Which are also very delicious.

 

[Damonic]

Once I go AG, I think this should be my first brew.

 

[ohiodad]

What liquid yeast would you recommend for this? Think a Cali would work?

I just started drinking a 11 gallon batch of this that I made back in June and bottle conditioned. I split it into 2 5.5 gallon batches and threw notty on one and wlp001 on the other. Both finished at exactly the same FG and the only difference I could detect is just a touch more malty flavor in the notty batch.. but not enough to make much difference.. I'd say wlp001 will work just fine in this...

 

[cushdan]

In the extract version you posted the IBU's are 16.8 as opposed to 21.5 in the AG recipe. Should I bump up the hops to get closer to 21.5 or do you think it will be fine with the amounts you specified? I'm also not doing a full 5 gallon boil so I may need to account for that too.

Thanks

 

[BierMuncher]

In the extract version you posted the IBU's are 16.8 as opposed to 21.5 in the AG recipe. Should I bump up the hops to get closer to 21.5 or do you think it will be fine with the amounts you specified? I'm also not doing a full 5 gallon boil so I may need to account for that too.

Thanks

Either IBU level will be very drinkable...but adjust for yourself or your audience. At around 16, it will still be balanced...but closer to a BMC flavor. It depends on your audience.