Cream Ale Cream of Three Crops (Cream Ale)

[Schlenkerla]

it's easier to spell than biermuncher.

Yah, I know! Just giving you grief. Don't know him other than BM. Not bowl movement either!!

 

[kontreren]

This ale certainly is the crowd pleaser. It lives up to the reputation BM has given it. I served my slightly modified recipe at the HC Beerfest in Boone, NC High Country Beer Fest: Home Page yesterday and this keg was the first to empty at our homebrewer booth. It was great tasting, an awesome clear champaigne look, and everyone loved it. I was truly amazed and somewhat humbled at just how many people were talking about it and requesting it. My variation on the grain bill:

5# 6 row malt
5# flaked corn
1.75# minute rice (store brand)

Like a dummy I didn't think to get a picture of it but it looked just like ginger ale and hand the same kind of fizz that bubbled from the bottom up clearing in the glass to an unbelievably clear beverage. I've got two more in the bucket so I'll try to remember to get a pic of the next batch that goes with me to Oktoberfest in Charlotte, NC.

Truly a crowd pleaser .

 

[CharlosCarlies]

Overshot my target OG by quite a bit, but it still came out fantastic! Clarity isn't quite where I want it yet...but I did just keg it this afternoon and didn't use any clearing agent other than IM so it'll come along w/ some time.

Thanks again for another awesome recipe BM. I hope my dad enjoys this as much as I do.

 

[kontreren]

Because of the name "Cream of Three Crops" I've been promo'ing this beer as a Cream Ale, but is that the right style? If I were to serve this to my Brew Club and have to accompany it with a style sheet, what style would it be? By the way here is a great site to pull style sheets from:

BJCP 2008 Style Guidelines - Index

 

[android]

i would definitely serve it as a cream ale. i think technically it's not supposed to have more than about 20% corn adjunct, but who cares, it's close enough for beer drinkin'.

 

[BierMuncher]

Because of the name "Cream of Three Crops" I've been promo'ing this beer as a Cream Ale, but is that the right style? If I were to serve this to my Brew Club and have to accompany it with a style sheet, what style would it be? By the way here is a great site to pull style sheets from:

BJCP 2008 Style Guidelines - Index

This recipe was a variation from an earlier "true" cream ale I'd been brewing. Dropping the corn a bit and adding the rice just lightened up the flavor and diminished the hint of DMS. Hence the name cream of three crops.

My latest versions have even a lower grain bill with a pound of table sugar as a sub (for a 10-gallon batch) and it's even lighter.

 

[kontreren]

This recipe was a variation from an earlier "true" cream ale I'd been brewing. Dropping the corn a bit and adding the rice just lightened up the flavor and diminished the hint of DMS. Hence the name cream of three crops.

My latest versions have even a lower grain bill with a pound of table sugar as a sub (for a 10-gallon batch) and it's even lighter.

Awesome, my next batch I will lower the corn back down to your recipe standards to see what Cream of Three Crops really tastes like. I've been heavy on corn, thus the lite ginger ale look of my brewsky but the crowd at HC Beerfest LOVED it. I've got more in the bucket waiting for its turn in the keg. That one will accompany me to Oktoberfest in Charlotte, NC. I'm excited.

 

[Schlenkerla]

My latest versions have even a lower grain bill with a pound of table sugar as a sub (for a 10-gallon batch) and it's even lighter.

BierMuncher - What starting gravities have you targeted? My lightest has been 1.030. See my Miller Light Clone recipe.

 

[bmckee56]

I just kegged the basic recipe with a slight modification (Orange Blossom Honey - 1lb) and I am serving it, but it is still cloudy. I wanted to use gelatin prior to kegging, but I was out of homebrew, so I rushed it along.

I like the taste, body and color. I just wish I had waited for the gelatin to get it nice and clear, cause the overall appearance is close to a Belgian Wit, but a bit more clear..

In any case, I will make it again and will be more patient. I think I may drop the Orange Blossom Honey and go with BM's recipe with his most recent modifications to see how it turns out.

Salute!

 

[Schlenkerla]

I just kegged the basic recipe with a slight modification (Orange Blossom Honey - 1lb) and I am serving it, but it is still cloudy. I wanted to use gelatin prior to kegging, but I was out of homebrew, so I rushed it along......

.....In any case, I will make it again and will be more patient. I think I may drop the Orange Blossom Honey and go with BM's recipe with his most recent modifications to see how it turns out.
Salute!

I made a light beer with honey, 2 lbs. + 6lbs Pale Malt. Used Notty for yeast. I used no gelatin here!

Give it time, it will clear. This is after 4 days in the fridge on about 10 PSI. FYI - This the Taz beer in my pull down.

​

 

[bernerbrau]

Any reason not to do this with maybe MO or Vienna? And an added late hop addition?

I don't have many BMC drinkers in my family but they'd probably drink something light if it had some character.

 

[Schlenkerla]

Try it as it is, if you wanted more character I'd do the late or dry hop addition. The malt & adjuncts here are a good starting point for any light beer. Maybe toast about 1/4-1/2 pound of the pale malt for 10-15 minutes at 350F.

 

[BierMuncher]

BierMuncher - What starting gravities have you targeted? My lightest has been 1.030. See my Miller Light Clone recipe.

I shoot for 1033 and attenuate down to 1005-6. Gives me a nice dry 3.5%+ quaffer.

 

[kontreren]

What would happen to this brew if a pound of oatmeal were added to it?

 

[HossTheGreat]

Kegged this this weekend and tried it tonight. Not fully carbed yet, but man this is a tasty brew!

 

[JesseRC]

I just tasted mine tonight too. this is my second 10gallon batch. The first time I added a bit sugar and more rice. It was ok. This time I made it exactly as per recipe. Man what a difference. This stuff is pretty darn good.

 

[Lilahblossom]

I joined this forum specifically to thank Biermuncher for this wonderful recipe.

I made it for July Fourth party and it was cold and light and just right.

And what a fantastic way to get new homebrew converts!

 

[CharlosCarlies]

FWIW I brought this brew by a local brewery (Southern Star here in Texas) and their brewmaster seemed legitimately impressed. They couldn't get over how light in color it was while still being really flavorful.

 

[BierMuncher]

I joined this forum specifically to thank Biermuncher for this wonderful recipe.

I made it for July Fourth party and it was cold and light and just right.

And what a fantastic way to get new homebrew converts!

Wow.

I'm humbled.

I seem to be on the hook to keep this recipe (or slight variations) on tap full time now.

 

[jmp138]

I have to have a keg ready for the big tailgate on the 28th, which my dad just informed me of yesterday and this just looked like the perfect recipe. It hurt to pay $20 bucks to get the ingredient at the lhbs, but when dad throws his credit card at something I jump (would have cost $12 bucks from brewmasterswarehouse).

So I'm thinking 2 week primary, secondary with gelatin for 2 days, and then hit it at about 30 psi for 2 days. Then I can kick it back to serving pressure and be ready to role the next day.

I was wondering though, I have hallertau, chinook, cascade and centennial on hand, would my best bet for hopping be to just hit it with an ounce of hallertau at 60 minutes. Couldn't do 4 dollars for an ounce for willamette, just would have hurt my constitution.

Thanks

 

[bendavanza]

I got a bunch of US Saaz recently and was considering this recipe with a czech beer hop profile. I like it with the willamette (brewed it twice) but thought since it's a ale disguised as a lager it might be quite tasty. Opinions?

 

[Pappers_]

I got a bunch of US Saaz recently and was considering this recipe with a czech beer hop profile. I like it with the willamette (brewed it twice) but thought since it's a ale disguised as a lager it might be quite tasty. Opinions?

Great minds think alike . . . .

I'm brewing a cream ale this weekend (if I can get over this damn flu) and am planning on using some Spalter organic hops that I have in the freezer. My thought process was similar to yours - a lagerish beer with a German style hop. Both Saaz and Spalter are "clean" and "mild", I think, with similar AA's and uses.

 

[Schlenkerla]

I got a bunch of US Saaz recently and was considering this recipe with a czech beer hop profile. I like it with the willamette (brewed it twice) but thought since it's a ale disguised as a lager it might be quite tasty. Opinions?

Saaz would be good in this beer.

This is the cool thing about homebrewing. Make the same basic beer over and over with just a change in hops. Brew this with saaz, hallertauer, tetnanger, liberty, perle. Then change gears in spring to english styles, like golding, fuggle, target and willamette. Summer pull out the citrus, cascade, centennial, summit, sorachi ace.

The hop flavor doesn't need to be big, just subtle enough to interesting from batch to batch.

BTW - Sorachi Ace and this beer during the summer would be kick-a$$. I have made several light hybrids with this hop and its awesome on a hot day.

 

[Pappers_]

Saaz would be good in this beer.

This is the cool thing about homebrewing. Make the same basic beer over and over with just a change in hops. Brew this with saaz, hallertauer, tetnanger, liberty, perle. Then change gears in spring to english styles, like golding, fuggle, target and willamette. Summer pull out the citrus, cascade, centennial, summit, sorachi ace.

The hop flavor doesn't need to be big, just subtle enough to interesting from batch to batch.

BTW - Sorachi Ace and this beer during the summer would be kick-a$$. I have made several light hybrids with this hop and its awesome on a hot day.

Exactly! In July, I brewed up a cream ale similar to this with Crystal hops.

 

[Schlenkerla]

Exactly! In July, I brewed up a cream ale similar to this with Crystal hops.

The key thing here is to keep the IBU on target, so the variation in AA doesn't really change the bitterness too much. Using a good scale and software helps in this arena.

 

[Pappers_]

The key thing here is to keep the IBU on target, so the variation in AA doesn't really change the bitterness too much. Using a good scale and software helps in this arena.

I'm aiming for 15 - 16 IBUs for an OG of 1.037. 1/2 ounce of Spalter (5.2% AA) at 60, 20 and 5 minutes gives me 15.8 IBU, according to BeerSmith.

 

[CanadianNorth]

Just finished up a batch of this beer, using corn meal w/ a cereal mash instead of the flaked corn. A++!!

 

[jmp138]

Just finished up the brew day, didn't do a good job accounting for boil off and ended up at 1.054! Going to be a bit strong, but we'll see how it goes. Might have a tough time turning this around in three weeks like I was hoping.

 

[joejaz]

Me and my son brewed 11 gallons last year.It was Okay. He had a case left since last year and brought some over , it was GREAT! I'm going to brew a batch and let it sit for the beginning of the summer. At least, that's my intention but I'm pretty impatient.

 

[bigred]

This looks like a really tasty brew. I would like to try it just wondering about the flaked corn..... Is that special for brewing or can you buy it somewhere else? Also I am thinking of maybe only using fuggles because of how many I have on hand right now. How do you think it would be with 2oz at 60 mins?