Ginger Pale Ale ALMOST Done!

[mrphillips]

So after tinkering with my first APA recipe, I'm VERY pleased with the results. I had it in the primary for a week, switched to secondary for another week, and just for sh!ts and giggles, I transferred it into a 3rd carboy in an attempt to get as much suspension out of it as possible (since I lack the ability to cold condition). After pulling out a glass for myself, the ginger was juuuuuuust right, and added a very nice, subtle bite to the end - almost like a hop flavor, but with fewer bitter notes. If I were to change one thing, it would be to dry hop a full ounce of citra hops instead of just a 1/2 ounce. It was a beautiful golden color and a very light body.

I want to let it sit in the carboy for 2 more weeks and let it get even smoother, but I might be too impatient to wait that long

Here's the recipe. 5 Gallon Batch, 150 degree steep, 60 min. boil.

MALTS
½ lbs. Cara Pills
½ lbs. pilsner malt
½ lbs. Honey Malt
1 lb. flacked Wheat
6 lbs. Extra Light Dry Malt Extract

HOPS
1 oz. Cascade (60 min.)
1 oz. Cascade (20 min.)
1 oz. Citra (5 min.)
½ oz. Citra (dry hop in secondary)

ADJUNCTS
½ oz. Diced Fresh Ginger Root (add 3 days after dry hop)

YEAST
Safale U.S. 05 (S-05)

Many of my decisions were based on suggestions made on this forum, so thank you for your input. Viva La Homebrew!

 

[daksin]

Sounds tasty- if it's a tried and true recipe, I would post it in the recipe forum!

 

[DonLiguori]

That does sound good. Did you do anything to sterilize the ginger root, or just throw it in the carboy fresh? The only spoiled batch I've ever had was from a carboy adjunct that we forgot to sterilize in our excited anticipation.

 

[mrphillips]

It's funny you mention the sterilizing of the ginger. I just made a Witbier with a 1/4 oz fresh ginger, and I didn't sterilize it. The batch came out quite tasty (beyond a little too much coriander for my taste). For the APA, I DID sterilize the ginger in an 1/8 cup of vodka for an hour, and added all of it to the secondary. I decided that in the future, I will always sterilize my adjuncts in vodka.

And I don't think I'll chalk this up as a "Tried and True" until I crack my 1st bottle