HELP!!! Noob trying to make a beer for his wife!

[brkemmerer]

Now that you're feeling the same distress that I am......I greatly appreciate any comment/input/tips/guidance on this recipe that I made up today. The Mrs. is having weight loss surgery in 3.5 weeks (20 MAY) and this will be the last beer she drinks for a LONG while. So I have to do it RIGHT and I have to make a GOOD beer!

She likes lighter, crisp beers that are sweet if not down right fruity. I'm more into the Pale Ale's and IPA's of the world (drinking a Ballast Point Sculpin right now as a matter of fact!) so I'm trying to strike a balance between her tastes and mine considering I'll be drinking the majority of the 5gal batch once she's had her surgery. So here we go:

Fermentables:
5lb LIGHT LME
1lb Crystal 20L
2lb Honey (clover) added at flame out

Hops:
1oz Australian Summer (60 min)
.5oz Pacifica (30 min)
.50z Citra (5 min)

Mash Guidelines:
Steep the Crystal 20L at 155F for 45 mins

Other Ingredients:
1oz Lemon Peel (5 mins)

Yeast:
White Labs San Diego Super WLP090

Elected to go with this yeast because it's reported that it will ferment quickly (3-4) days for lower gravity stuff like this (OG 1.057 Target FG 1.012, 5.81%ABV).


So let me know what you think. Going for citrusy and floral, crisp and clean. And gotta do it FAST LOL! :rockin: Thanks for looking and commenting!

 

[sudbuddy]

looks good to me, but you probably only need to steep for 20 minutes since you aren't mashing. This looks like a pretty low gravity beer so maybe change your yeast. Whatever you do will ferment pretty quick, but 090 might give you some off flavors. I hope your wife gets recovers from her surgery quickly and everything goes well for both of you

 

[rickyjphillips]

I would have to agree with sudbuddy... I'd prob just us Cal Ale yeast in this recipe. Let those hops and the lemon shine through.

 

[brkemmerer]

Ok so far I've changed to steep for 20 mins and WLP001 vice 090. About how long will the 001 take to complete fermentation? A week or so? Speed was the reason I had selected the 090 originally. If the 001 takes only a week, I can have it in the keg and she can have a good week to try it out!

Thank you both for your input!

 

[Bosh]

From what I`ve been told, not much point in a 30 minute hop boil as it doesn`t bitter as much as a 60 minute boil and 30 minutes are enough to boil off most flavor.

 

[crash568]

I think using summer for your 60 min addition is not a great idea. That hop truly shines as a late addition and dry hop and with its AA being so low you are just throwing it away basically. I would see if you can get a small amount of something neutral to bitter with and use that summer late in your boil it gives lots of fruity citrus flavor and aroma tons or orange and peach notes. It is one of my all time favorite hops when used right and I would hate to see it just passed over by using for bitter

 

[brkemmerer]

I think using summer for your 60 min addition is not a great idea. That hop truly shines as a late addition and dry hop and with its AA being so low you are just throwing it away basically. I would see if you can get a small amount of something neutral to bitter with and use that summer late in your boil it gives lots of fruity citrus flavor and aroma tons or orange and peach notes. It is one of my all time favorite hops when used right and I would hate to see it just passed over by using for bitter

So the recipe I used as a starting point to craft mine used Citra for the 60 min hop add. What if I flipped them around? Citra at 60 and Summer at 5?

Also considering simplifying the hop schedule: .5oz Citra @ 60min; .5oz Summer @ 20min and again @ 5min. BeerFriend has it at 38IBUs with this hop plan.

 

[crash568]

I dont see any problem with that at all! I think you will be much happier with that then what you were doing before.

 

[rickyjphillips]

Ok so far I've changed to steep for 20 mins and WLP001 vice 090. About how long will the 001 take to complete fermentation? A week or so? Speed was the reason I had selected the 090 originally. If the 001 takes only a week, I can have it in the keg and she can have a good week to try it out!



Thank you both for your input!

It depends on your starter size. If you make a healthy starter you should be done in a week with no ill affects. I'd still go standard fermentation temp of about 66 to start and if it's not done by day 6 and you are pushing it you maybe can turn it up a degree or to to increase activity. I still think you will be fine though.

 

[brkemmerer]

It depends on your starter size. If you make a healthy starter you should be done in a week with no ill affects. I'd still go standard fermentation temp of about 66 to start and if it's not done by day 6 and you are pushing it you maybe can turn it up a degree or to to increase activity. I still think you will be fine though.

I'm planning to pitch two vials of the WLP001. Is there any issue with doing it that way?

 

[rickyjphillips]

No issue with that. You should get a clean fermentation

 

[brkemmerer]

Ok so this guy has been in the kegerator for almost a week and the FLAVOR is incredible! Clarity is an issue obviously. No filtering, hop bags or anything other than cold crashing in a keg were used. I JUST pulled this off my tap so that could play into it some.

But here's the bottom line: the Mrs. Loves it and that was the point! It's not overly bitter or spicy (to be expected) and is fruity like I expected the Australian Summer to be! It has a definite ale nose thanks to the WLP001 and is quite sweet thanks to the 2gal honey. Overall a SUCCESS! So much so that she's bought off on me doubling my beer output to two kegs at once! What to brew next...[emoji41][emoji482][emoji106]🏻I have the answer! A Stone Cali-Belgique Clone! Cheers!!![emoji482]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1431122349.408188.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1431122361.287995.jpg

 

[Moose_MI]

Hi score from the most important BJCP of them all! Very well done!

 

[Yesfan]

I wished my wife liked beer. I envy you guys that have wives/GFs that enjoy beer as much as we do.

 

[Moose_MI]

Having wife's that like beer and having a wife that you can make beer for that she likes are 2 VERY different things...careful what you wish for [emoji3]

 

[brkemmerer]

Since she's having weight loss surgery in a week and a half, she's not allowed to have carb'd beverages EVER again. So I REALLY wanted the last one to be one I made her! She's happy! I'm happy that I still have 4gals of this. Everyone wins!

 

[eluterio]

Having wife's that like beer and having a wife that you can make beer for that she likes are 2 VERY different things...careful what you wish for [emoji3]

Agree ^^^^^^^

mine ats hops I love hops, now I make lagers to satisfy the hobby and finding appreciation for all lager styles.

 

[Yesfan]

Having wife's that like beer and having a wife that you can make beer for that she likes are 2 VERY different things...careful what you wish for [emoji3]

Neither one of those applies to my wife, so I guess I'm good? I don't see either of those as a bad thing. Worst case scenario, you have a wife that likes (hopefully) some of the same brands as you. At the other end of the spectrum, you have a brewing partner. To me, that would be awesome.


I'm not complaining. It's not like my wife complains to me about this hobby. She's more than tolerant, but she's just not a 'beer chic' that's all. There's a lot of things we do like, but beer is just not one of them.

 

[Moose_MI]

No offense intended...just my attempt at humor....brew on!

 

[Yesfan]

No offense intended...just my attempt at humor....brew on!

Haha, nah man, you're good. You didn't offend me at all. I just think it's cool some of us in this community have the wives (or hubbies) that enjoy the craft as we do. It's all good. Re-reading my post, it does come off a bit defensive. Sorry about that.

Prost to the SWMBOs out there!