Looking for a recipe for the wife....

[myndphaser]

t1master, I don't want to deflate your ego or anything, but all that research you're doing on the internet or wherever is really just comparison shopping.

On the significant others note, however, I've got one of the coolest chicks around. Black & Tans are her favorite and she only knows to mix a stout and an ale, so why would I complain about getting to make ten gallons of beer without hearing an ill turned comment. Plus, that means I get ten more gallons before she even gets to make a suggestion as to what the next beer should be.

To avoid being a complete threadjacker; in response to the original question, girls are weird and completely impossible to figure out. I'd go with the plan posted earlier of a sampler at the local pub and find something she likes.

 

[uglygoat]

mate my ego was crushed long ago... i answer to the less liked of our two dogs, the it goes up the chain of command, the other dog, my daughter, then my wife...

 

[BitterRat]

My wife is fond of Classic American Pilsner, and Cream ale, here's the Cream Ale recipe:


A ProMash Recipe Report

BJCP Style and Style Guidelines
-------------------------------

03-C Light Ale, Cream Ale

Min OG: 1.044 Max OG: 1.055
Min IBU: 10 Max IBU: 22
Min Clr: 2 Max Clr: 4 Color in SRM, Lovibond

Recipe Specifics
----------------

Batch Size (Gal): 5.00 Wort Size (Gal): 5.00
Total Grain (Lbs): 9.75
Anticipated OG: 1.052 Plato: 12.77
Anticipated SRM: 4.7
Anticipated IBU: 21.1
Brewhouse Efficiency: 80 %
Wort Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Pre-Boil Amounts
----------------

Evaporation Rate: 15.00 Percent Per Hour
Pre-Boil Wort Size: 5.88 Gal
Pre-Boil Gravity: 1.044 SG 10.92 Plato

Formulas Used
-------------


Color Formula Used: Morey
Hop IBU Formula Used: Tinseth
Tinseth Concentration Factor: 1.30

Additional Utilization Used For First Wort Hops: -10 %


Grain/Extract/Sugar

% Amount Name Origin Potential SRM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
66.7 6.50 lbs. Lager Malt(6-row) Canada 1.031 1
20.5 2.00 lbs. Flaked Corn (Maize) America 1.040 1
7.7 0.75 lbs. Honey Malt Canada 1.030 18
5.1 0.50 lbs. Munich Malt Germany 1.037 8

Potential represented as SG per pound per gallon.


Hops

Amount Name Form Alpha IBU Boil Time
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.40 oz. Crystal Whole 3.25 4.4 First WH
0.40 oz. Cluster Whole 7.50 11.4 60 min.
0.40 oz. Cascade Whole 7.10 5.3 15 min.
0.25 oz. Czech Saaz Whole 3.10 0.0 0 min.

 

[zprime]

Just to follow up Janx's Bitter recipe got my wife's best rating to date "not bad for beer". Mean while my friends and I absolutely loved the stuff, it was far to easy to drink . At this point though I realize I need a far larger setup to keep myself in beer. As soon as we're done moving though it's back into hyper brew mode (well at least a 5 gallon batch a week for a month or two).

 

[patrck17]

Awsome work zprime. Since you have had such good results I think I may sway from my plan to make an Oatmeal stout and try a Brown Ale. It will be my first beer and my friends have a lot of doubts, so I want to make something they won't turn their noses up to.

 

[Cheesefood]

My wife loves her some Miller Lite, and that's about it. She's a bit upset that I chose to get into this "hobby" (obsession, lifestyle choice, preferred thing to do) while she's preggo. No chance for her to taste the results.

If your wife doesn't like beer by now, there's probably not a great chance she'll get into it. You can make her some candy beers that she may tolerate, but a liking for beer is something you have or you don't have. Maybe you should try wine or mixed drinks. Does she drink at all?

I'd say keep the beer for yourself and your friends. Let her be your DD when you go out.

 

[Sir Sudster]

If your wife doesn't like beer by now, there's probably not a great chance she'll get into it. You can make her some candy beers that she may tolerate, but a liking for beer is something you have or you don't have.

Amen Brother, this guy knows what he's talking about.

 

[Dark_Ale]

Strangely enough, I'd suggest an English Bitter, which isn't very Bitter at all and is very accessible. My dad, who only drinks cheap crappy beer polished off darn near a keg of our Bitter and liked it much more than the crappy canned beer. A nice light Bitter is light, has a creamy body with a bit of richness to it and a refreshing, but unobtrusive hoppiness.

A *really* simple recipe is something like (10 gallons):
18 lbs 2-row
2 lbs flaked barley (this stuff is great for the creamy body)
4 oz Fuggles (3.1% alpha) - 60 minutes boil

Add some 20L or 40L crystal if you want it a bit darker and sweeter. Cheers!

do you use 4oz pellets in this recipe?

 

[user 574]

do you use 4oz pellets in this recipe?

Haven't seen Janx here for a while but I know his answer: Whole Hops.