Cream Ale Cream of Three Crops (Cream Ale)

[msa8967]

This is a great, crisp beer. But I'm also a bit torn over the corn flavor.

Do you think I can sub carapils for some similar mouthfeel without the corn taste?

Cheers.

Is your beer kegged or in bottles? If I have a beer that lacks a little in the body/mouthfeel department I have used some maltodextrine powder added to a keg and shaken. Few days later I tested it and my wife liked it better. I dissolved 3-4 oz in boilled water and cooked for a few minutes prior to adding to the keg. Just a thought...

 

[DustjunkieScott]

I've made two batches of this and both came out very bitter. I looked at my recipe and I was using double the hops. Somehow I halved the ingredients for a 5 gallon batch.......... all but the hops. It was bitter and not tasty so I dry hopped with 2oz of cascade in the keg and it is fantastic.

 

[KeythL]

Just doughed in my second batch. I'm making a couple of changes this batch...I've added 1/2 tsp of AE to the Mash tun, and I'm thinking of changing the hops for this batch...I used Hersbrucker and Chech Saaz last time and it came out great. I can do that this time or I could substitute either NZ Rakau or Amarillo for a more fruity~citrusy finish. Any opinions on either of these for this beer?

Thanks,

Keyth

Update: went with Amarillo @ 15 IBU

 

[FloridaCracker]

I tested my beer one week after bottling (Wednesday) and I don't know if I like it all that much. In the defense of the OP, I DID add 2x the hops on accident. However, it had a pretty strong sulfer smell to it and it hasn't cleared a bit. It spent one week in primary and now has been two weeks in secondary. The entire ferment temperature has been between 72 and 76 degrees (White Labs says 70-75).

I entered this beer in a state comp and today starts the preliminary judging. If it is cloudy, sulfery, and too bitter- then I am either going to be "out of style" or just have a really bad example of a light hybrid.

I think had I used the correct amount of hops things would have been better. Also, I'm feeling a little uneasy about White Labs. Every beer I've made with Nottingham has 1) Had a quick, violent fermentation within 8 hours of pitching; 2) had no funny tastes; 3) Placed in comp.... Since switching to WL (per recommendation of the LHBS, probably because the huge price difference) every batch I've made has had a complete opposite to #s 1,2, & 3....

So.... We'll see how it goes. I'm going to try another one today (10 days bottle).

 

[edmanster]

I tested my beer one week after bottling (Wednesday) and I don't know if I like it all that much. In the defense of the OP, I DID add 2x the hops on accident. However, it had a pretty strong sulfer smell to it and it hasn't cleared a bit. It spent one week in primary and now has been two weeks in secondary. The entire ferment temperature has been between 72 and 76 degrees (White Labs says 70-75).

I entered this beer in a state comp and today starts the preliminary judging. If it is cloudy, sulfery, and too bitter- then I am either going to be "out of style" or just have a really bad example of a light hybrid.

I think had I used the correct amount of hops things would have been better. Also, I'm feeling a little uneasy about White Labs. Every beer I've made with Nottingham has 1) Had a quick, violent fermentation within 8 hours of pitching; 2) had no funny tastes; 3) Placed in comp.... Since switching to WL (per recommendation of the LHBS, probably because the huge price difference) every batch I've made has had a complete opposite to #s 1,2, & 3....

So.... We'll see how it goes. I'm going to try another one today (10 days bottle).

hey cracker.. i think your a little green still... give that puppy more time and and that sulfer will go away.. i brewed mine up that day i mentioned the hops and im just getting around to putting it in the keg tonight and carbing it up for a luau on the 21st.. i thought i was rushing it!! btw, us-05 all the way.. if you didnt make a starter with the liquid you prolly under pitched a little

 

[FloridaCracker]

Thanks Edmanster, I need to remember to practice patience! (I forget 3 weeks bottle minimum)

 

[WildGingerBrewing]

I have to disagree slightly with both of you. When i brew 3 crops its in my glass in 3 weeks and damn good. Now i didnt go through and read all of the posts leading up to these two and i may be talking about something completely different, but, typically 7-10 days primary, 3-4 days cold crash, in the bottle for a week and drinking. Thats one of the reasons i like it so much, its quick and easy. And i have tried numerous different yeasts and this beer is always better with good ole S-05!

 

[jsmcclure]

This is a wonderfully quick brew. I think 3 weeks is an easy turnaround. It is tasty, light, and crystal clear so remarkably fast. i added a half pound of rye to my current batch and it is just as delightful as always. Big smile here!

 

[dpruden]

This is my first all grain batch , Doing it as I speak .God I love my wife , around here all grain brewing just doesn't happen. Well she went visiting family for the weekend so I checked and sure enough there was a brew place that handles all grain. I gave her the list of what I need to brew a 5 gallon batch . I was happy to get that much. To my surprise when she got home .She had bought me 50 lb sack of pale malt, about 3 lbs of assorted hops. Enough yeast to do 10 batches. I was like holy crap I don't need that much. She said this should keep you busy for a while. Got to go ,mashing is almost done, holding 150 ish. This is so exciting.

 

[evandena]

Finishing her up.

 

[dpruden]

First time brewing . After all said and done og. was at 1.039 but I burnt off a little too much water , came in at 4.5 gallons . Just kept it as is and called it a success. Now the waiting game.

 

[Vernacular]

Holy moley! There's alotta posts about this "Three Crops". I know why too. It's great brew. It is with out a doubt the one brew I've made (three times now) that recieves hands down the most positive comments of any other. I haven't read through oll the replies, still working on that. BUt this recipe sure has gotten a heap of attention. Thanks Muncher, this one is a house standard here.

 

[emjay]

Anybody brew this as a lager? I'm very tempted to do it with the Budweiser or Coors yeast.

 

[Matthewjscott]

Has anyone used a California lager on this?

 

[shadows69]

Use I have, comes out very clean. I only wish I would of used Alittle more hops. Very close to bud lite when lagered.

 

[WildGingerBrewing]

Anybody brew this as a lager? I'm very tempted to do it with the Budweiser or Coors yeast.

Emjay???? When did you start brewing? Hahaha if you do this let me know. I have been very tempted!

 

[wildwest450]

Anybody brew this as a lager? I'm very tempted to do it with the Budweiser or Coors yeast.

If your going to do a lager this one is hard to beat.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f58/schmipielschaerheingoldter-97553/


Not as sweet as this recipe is, a great summer beer, I use the wyeast 2305 and can be drinking it with a two week lager inside a month.


-

 

[christpuncher123]

BIAB 75% efficiency gets you this, thanks to Jason at Ontario Beer Grains! I used nothing to clarify this! And yes that is only chill haze, check out the bottom of the glass.

 

[msa8967]

BIAB 75% efficiency gets you this, thanks to Jason at Ontario Beer Grains! I used nothing to clarify this! And yes that is only chill haze, check out the bottom of the glass.

This looks very refreshing. What did you brew?

 

[christpuncher123]

This looks very refreshing. What did you brew?

This was a 5 gallon batch 6lbs 2row, 1.5lbs flaked corn, 1.5lbs minute rice, .5oz Williamette, .5oz crystal and nottingham yeast.

 

[makomachine]

This was a 5 gallon batch 6lbs 2row, 1.5lbs flaked corn, 1.5lbs minute rice, .5oz Williamette, .5oz crystal and nottingham yeast.

What do you think of the Nottingham yeast in this beer? I'm currently mashing in a very similar batch myself and planning on using the Kolsch yeast for my version. I find that Nottingham has a tart finish – and wanted to keep this beer on the sweeter side. Curious to see how it pairs with your mix of adjuncts in the brew. Looks delicious!

 

[makomachine]

Got to say this is one ugly mash! Looks like stagnant dishwater. I've got a lot of confidence in this beer however given the author of the recipe!

 

[christpuncher123]

I used the us-05 and the nottingham both and preferred the nottingham because with my ac on right now it's 65 in my basement. The nottingham seems more crisp than the us-05 which seems to have more of a sweet floral flavor.

 

[makomachine]

That's better, but never had wort this pale!

 

[msa8967]

This was a 5 gallon batch 6lbs 2row, 1.5lbs flaked corn, 1.5lbs minute rice, .5oz Williamette, .5oz crystal and nottingham yeast.

Do you mind telling me which brand of minute rice you used? I once tried using Walmart's house brand with poor results.

 

[christpuncher123]

Do you mind telling me which brand of minute rice you used? I once tried using Walmart's house brand with poor results.

The brand name one.

 

[makomachine]

Do you mind telling me which brand of minute rice you used? I once tried using Walmart's house brand with poor results.

That's not good! Just about to start my boil using that exact same rice! What was the character that didn't turn out right with this rice?

 

[msa8967]

That's not good! Just about to start my boil using that exact same rice! What was the character that didn't turn out right with this rice?

Now that I think back i made the mistake of running the rice through my grain crusher along with all of the other grain so I ended up with very small pieces of rice passing through my filter. It took a very long time to get to a clear voulaf (runnings).

 

[makomachine]

Mission accomplished. Left a little more in the kettle to keep the trub out - efficiency with a new process change was higher than what was planned at 1048 / 90% efficiency. (Yikes!). It will be beer!!!

 

[shadows69]

Now that I think back i made the mistake of running the rice through my grain crusher along with all of the other grain so I ended up with very small pieces of rice passing through my filter. It took a very long time to get to a clear voulaf (runnings).

That would be the problem. Don't put the Rice or the corn maze though the gain crusher. I use the instant rice from Walmart/Sam's club rice with no problems. I use about 8 oz of the instant rice.