Crystal Cream Ale

[MarcusKillion]

Well I must say between the two beers I made that day , this one and hopped up three crops , I really like the hopped up one best I think although both are good . The hoped up one does not really have a lot of hop flavor that I can tell but tastes like the cream of three crops without the flavor from corn since it has less and just a different flavor I guess from the hops . Very good .

So this weekend I am making the hopped up version and will be adding in 5 ounces of carapils to get in a little mouth feel without changing flavor in honor of Bob because he loves mouth feel in his cream ale .

 

[Bob]

Vollmundigkeit is a word I learned researching Brooklyn lagers from the early 20th century. The brewmasters of those breweries - all German, of course - would manipulate their mashes to enhance mouthfeel. Like many foreign-language terms, there's no direct, literal English translation. The closest I can get is "the feeling you get in your mouth".

When you get down to brass tacks, there's not a lot of difference between a well-crafted Cream Ale and a well-crafted Classic American Pilsner. Same ingredients, same techniques, except for the yeast and how the primary ferment is managed. They didn't use CaraPils, so there's no reason why we should, especially if we're brewing a beer with grist ingredients which are specifically put in the recipe to lighten the flavor, color, and body. I highly suggest you add temperature-controlled mashing to your repertoire. It's not hard, doesn't require any extra equipment, and adds yet another weapon to your brewing arsenal.

In your hopped-up version, I think CaraPils might add an extra bit of "oomph". However, before I added CaraPils I'd start subbing malt for the adjuncts.

I'm glad you're having fun!

Bob

 

[MarcusKillion]

I thought you made that word up for sure .
I do not know a whole lot about what adds what when you add it in I just try something and see how it tastes . I figured the carapils would not change the flavor and add in a bit of mouth feel which I would like for a cold weather beer . How ever if I find something that also will do the same thing I would use it .

So from your post I guess adding in more 2 row would accomplish the same thing ? Would that not make it more malty tasting than carapils would ?

I actually bought equal parts 2 row and marris otter for this weekend batch . thought that might give it a nice flavor and some more mouth feel . Never used MO before as it is 2.25 Lb as opposed to 1.50 for 2 row. I was just joking with you about putting in 5 oz carapils .

 

[Bob]

If you're looking for more body/mouthfeel, you're better off ditching the adjuncts and swapping in malt. Of course, that's my opinion.

Bob

 

[MarcusKillion]

So what do think about an extra pound of 2 row with a 50/50 marris otter , 2 row which I guess would be about 5 Lb 2 row and 4 MO ?

Might also drop in a little cascade hops I have sitting there just to bump up the hop flavor a little to blend with the extra malt .

just want to mix it up a bit for winter but not change it too much

I do like malt . Big fan of old English 800 and Colt 45 double malt

 

[Bob]

I'd go with a simple grist consisting of 100% pale malt (your 2-row/MO blend). I wouldn't add Cascades, as Cascades are much more strongly flavored than the other varieties. I'd up those amounts instead for more flavor/aroma.

Bob

 

[MarcusKillion]

sounds like a good idea . I am going to brew today i think . also got a muntons Best Bitter no boil kit . thought I might try it out for a quick to drink beer . Probably will not like it but it is worth a try I guess

I never made a beer my sink did not like

 

[MarcusKillion]

Here is another idea for this and the hopped up and cream of three crops and perhaps other blondes.
I put a fresh off my plant Columbus hop in a glass of cream of three crops and stirred it up and let it set for a few minutes . It was great . then tried Crystal cream and hopped up . Really tasty .
I plan on making some next time with columbus in as a flavoring hop .
also got some fresh columbus on the way to make a SMaSH