Looking for a quick turn-around beer

[slapnutz]

I just bottled a Sierra Nevada Clone, but I'm trading about half of it. I have about a case of Lemon-Lime Heffe left, but it is kind of weak. So I'm taking suggestions for a beer that I can quickly turn around (1-2 week primary then force carb) so that I can have something for summer picnics/post grass cutting.

I like the idea of a Kolsch, but I feel that would have to 'age'. Pilsner and all Lagers for that matter are out. I could do a steam, but I'm thinking an American Pale ale with less hops that the Sierra Clone would be good for a quick turnaround.

I also had a kit last year that was a lime summer ale that was pretty good. If I could find a recipe similar to that I could turn that around quickly.

Thanks for the suggestions,
~Mike

 

[scottland]

Blonde Ale, Cream Ale, Hefewizen, English Milds or Bitters would all be great choices. Kolsch yeast is slow to ferment, and slow to flocculate, not what you want.

To be honest with you, anything under 1.060, using an American or English yeast, can easily be done in 2-3 weeks, unless it has some roasty, smokey, or complex flavors that need to meld.

 

[cmybeer]

I just made a Cali Common and aged it cold for a month and a half before it turned out great. It would have been passable two weeks in but it's better to wait. I'd go with cream or blond ale.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/the-innkeeper-limited-edition-extract-kit.html
http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/cream-ale-extract-kit.html

Assuming extract either of these would be great! The innkeeper is always around our house.

 

[Bear419]

I second the innkeeper ale. I've also done turned around NB's honey blonde kit pretty quickly.

 

[slapnutz]

Honey blonde does sound good. It will actually be all-grain and probably won't happen until next weekend. This is really just the intersection of me needing a summer beer with more body than the lemon lime heffe (something was amiss) and me getting kegging equipment that looks sad sitting there just empty.

 

[daksin]

Yup, low gravity is the key. I love me an english ordinary bitter (OG ~1.036), and personally think a Cali Common takes too long to be considered quick- I like to give them extra time in primary to clean up and they really should be lagered. I totally dig the idea of a hoppy APA, they're great mid-low gravity beers. Tricky to get right- I'm picky about my pale ales.

 

[cmybeer]

Either of those Northern Brewer kits can be gotten for all grain. Just do a search on the website. If you haven't use them before they also have a function were you can sort by turn around time.