Blonde Ale Miller Lite (Really Triple Hopped)

[binaryc0de]

I dumped in the AE from AHBS (also powder) yesterday and today looks like it went from 1.010 to 1.006. So maybe it will crank it down to 1.000. I stirred up the yeast cake a little to get more activity out of it.

 

[SC_Ryan]

Awesome. I'll have to hit up AHS.

 

[Schlenkerla]

How does the AE compare to mashing lower? Does it screw with the flavor profile or does it cause a more vigorous fermentation?

I don't think I really answered your question earlier......

I do mash lower too. I think the lower mash breaks down more of the complex sugars. As for the AE in the 2ndary its like over saturating clean beer with another dose of enzyme to get all of the left over sugars broken down into simple sugars. Hence the lower FG. I always use S-05 to do this.

I believe this is essential to clean up the corn-like taste thats is common with a cream ale. OMHO - The sweet corn-like taste is from the left over complex sugars.

 

[mymbtheduke]

If you use sorachi in a 60 minute bittering it will be very neutral. I doubt you would be able to tell if you used sorachi, especially if you did a late or dry hopping with a noble German or Czech variety.

Very helpful. Thanks.

 

[BeerWars]

I am brewing this for my brother-in-law for when he comes over to have dinner / watch sports. I'd like to get this dialed before football season (can't come soon enough) because I have other friends and a wife that love BMC lights.

Here is the hitch. My BIL is a DIE-HARD BMC drinker. He drinks Miller light, Busch light, Keystone light, Labat light by the 30 pack. He hates the taste and smell of hops (says it gives him a headache). I was drinking a Sierra Nevada 8 feet from him and he said the smell was overwhelming.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo...... I am not trying to convert him (or my friends) or teach them the nuance of homebrews - I just want to make a beer that they will enjoy while hanging out.

How would you modify the hop schedule to make this beer taste hop neutral (exactly like a BMC light beer)?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Blauvelt]

I brewed this one up. Its in the secondary on the hops now. The FG going into the secondary was 1.003 and very clean tasting, with no corn flavor. I am not going to use AE in the secondary at all; mainly because it is impossible to find in my area.

I used a 2 hour mash with rests at 130 degrees for 15 mins, 145 for 90 mins and 152, for 15 mins. I almost considered a decoction to get from 145-152 because I had very little space left in my mash tun, but decided against it because I was trying to stick to the low FG guidelines in the recipe. This may be a good path to take for people who are trying to brew this with no Amylase enzyme in the secondary.

I have only tasted this straight from the fermentor but, the hops are very nice in this-very well balanced.

 

[SC_Ryan]

How would you modify the hop schedule to make this beer taste hop neutral (exactly like a BMC light beer)?

Thanks in advance!

Do a single hop addition at 60 minutes and use a noble hop. Sazz would be great. I would keep the IBU at 15-17. That level will keep the beer balanced.

 

[BeerWars]

Do a single hop addition at 60 minutes and use a noble hop. Sazz would be great. I would keep the IBU at 15-17. That level will keep the beer balanced.

I have Cascade pellets and whole hops on hand and the brew store is closed today. I'll take your recommendation of hops for round 2.

I did my IBU calculator and it says I can hit 13 IBU with the pellets I have and your single hop addition. I read BMC's are between 8-11. So that is close enough for me. So you wouldn't recommend any aroma or dry hopping?

 

[BigB]

I bottled mine today. Unfortunately, the AE only brought the beer down to about 1.005. There was a wicked off flavor prior to secondary (corn most likely) but that seems to be gone now. Also, I know its flat and warm, but I'll be damned if it didn't actually taste really close to Miller Lite.

 

[binaryc0de]

I just got back from a week long vacation and I took a hydrometer sample 1.006. So it looks like the AE did very little. So I'll go ahead and cold crash and bottle.

 

[Schlenkerla]

I'm wondering if all of you have AE thats not working. Those of you who didn't get it down to zero, what yeast did you use? I have always used Safale S-05.

Getting down to 1.000 is slowly done, I always rack to the 2ndary on top of AE after 7 days.

I'm wondering if the yeast has attenuated all it can or is just slowly chugging away. With mine it still pretty clean, after the first week. Its virtually clear as can be.

If the beer is down to 1.005 and the corn flavor is gone, then call it good. I think the AE knocks out that corn flavor.

I also mash low, 147F, and I also do the starch conversion test too. If I goes black I keep mashing. Usually another 15-30 minutes.

 

[Schlenkerla]

How would you modify the hop schedule to make this beer taste hop neutral (exactly like a BMC light beer)?

Thanks in advance!

Do a single hop addition at 60 minutes and use a noble hop. Sazz would be great. I would keep the IBU at 15-17. That level will keep the beer balanced.

This is good advice!

 

[BigB]

Well for me, I used S-05. Beer was at 1.010 after 7 days and I racked to secondary and added the AE. The AE bubbled and foamed rapidly for a couple days then it slowly subsided over the next 8-9 days. After 2 solid weeks in secondary (and no further AE Activity, but plenty of clearing) I bottled. FG 1.005.

 

[Schlenkerla]

Well for me, I used S-05. Beer was at 1.010 after 7 days and I racked to secondary and added the AE. The AE bubbled and foamed rapidly for a couple days then it slowly subsided over the next 8-9 days. After 2 solid weeks in secondary (and no further AE Activity, but plenty of clearing) I bottled. FG 1.005.

Must see pictures of drinking vessels......

 

[binaryc0de]

For me I used 1 pack S-05. Primary 7 days then racked on top of 1 Tsp powered AE. 7 days later no activity still at 1.010. Ordered more AE from different store (also powered). Used 1 Tbsp (instructions on package) directly into carboy and gently stirred (re-suspended the yeast cake) with sanitized racking cane. 7 days later 1.006 and holding. beer is still slightly cloudy but it taste dry with a very small hint of sour (maybe the corn?). Even though I haven't been able to get it down to 1.000 it doesn't taste bad (for a light beer). So I guess I'll crash cool and bottling soon.

 

[Schlenkerla]

For me I used 1 pack S-05. Primary 7 days then racked on top of 1 Tsp powered AE. 7 days later no activity still at 1.010. Ordered more AE from different store (also powered). Used 1 Tbsp (instructions on package) directly into carboy and gently stirred (re-suspended the yeast cake) with sanitized racking cane. 7 days later 1.006 and holding. beer is still slightly cloudy but it taste dry with a very small hint of sour (maybe the corn?). Even though I haven't been able to get it down to 1.000 it doesn't taste bad (for a light beer). So I guess I'll crash cool and bottling soon.

Does it taste more like a parched dryness? This is common when this beer is very young. It quickly dissipates after short time chilled sitting w/ CO2.

 

[binaryc0de]

Yeah I would agree it taste more parched. That's good then I feel better about bottling it now.

 

[Schlenkerla]

How does it taste now???

 

[KCPyrate]

Didn't read through all 17 pages but this looks like it would be a perfect candidate for a stovetop all grain brew with it's small grain bill. Going to have to give it a shot to make a nice summer thirst quencher that should satisfy some of my light beer drinking friends!

 

[binaryc0de]

I'm planing to pop one this weekend, and I'll report back.

 

[Schlenkerla]

I'm planing to pop one this weekend, and I'll report back.

Fricken slow poke!!!!

 

[binaryc0de]

haha... I was waiting to open one with a friend/fellow brewer this past weekend so I could get his opinion too. It had nice carbonation for only being about a week in the bottle. He claimed he could still taste a slight corn flavor in there, but being a very young beer and seeing as I haven't cold conditioned the bottles yet, maybe time is the answer. When I’ve used corn in the past (without AE) time has worked to dissipate the corn taste. So I'm going to set these in my beer fridge and lager for some time and pull it out again later. Also I ordered the grain pre-milled online. So since I didn't mill this myself maybe there was more corn in there than should have been.

 

[KCPyrate]

How much do you think it would change the flavor profiles, ABV or other aspects to increase the grains to 2 lbs of each? I have extra hops if that would need to be adjusted as well. A lot of the online vendors sell grains 1 lb at a time & it would be easier than having two random 1/4 lbs of grains sitting around or waste.

2.00 lbs. Pale Malt(2-row)
2.00 lbs. Pale Malt(6-row)
2.00 lbs. Flaked Corn (Maize)

Hoping to brew this up soon for something inexpensive & easy to drink for 4th of July.

 

[mymbtheduke]

I made this on 5/7.

2 lbs of 2 row
2 lbs of 6 row
1.75 lbs of flaked corn
.80 oz of EKG at 5% I thought it was Hallertau but it wasn't. Long story.
US05 for 3 weeks
Tsp of AE after a week.
OG= 1.034
FG = 1.004

I ended up with 5.75 gallons with a gal of trub hence 4.75 gallons. I wish it was a bit darker with a little more body. Reminds me of MGD64. It is good, I am drinking it but I want to increase the SRM by 1 and hopefully the OG to 1.040. Overall I like it. What do you suggest to increase the color and OG. Another lb of 2 row? Shot of crystal 10L?

Funny, I made it on a Saturday morning but found that it didn't excite me. No anticipation so I made a English Pub Ale on Monday to create some expectation.

 

[Schlenkerla]

I made this on 5/7.

2 lbs of 2 row
2 lbs of 6 row
1.75 lbs of flaked corn
.80 oz of EKG at 5% I thought it was Hallertau but it wasn't. Long story.
US05 for 3 weeks
Tsp of AE after a week.
OG= 1.034
FG = 1.004

I ended up with 5.75 gallons with a gal of trub hence 4.75 gallons. I wish it was a bit darker with a little more body. Reminds me of MGD64. It is good, I am drinking it but I want to increase the SRM by 1 and hopefully the OG to 1.040. Overall I like it. What do you suggest to increase the color and OG. Another lb of 2 row? Shot of crystal 10L?

Funny, I made it on a Saturday morning but found that it didn't excite me. No anticipation so I made a English Pub Ale on Monday to create some expectation.

My recipe as it stands is 2 SRMs The style range is 2-3.

If you want to hit 3 SRM with negligible calorie & cost additions add the following. According to ProMash
.16oz or 4.5g of Black Malt (SRM 600)
or
.19oz or 5.4g of Black Patent Malt. (SRM 525)

 

[mymbtheduke]

Thanks for the response but I already got another batch this afternoon from the LHBS. I added 1 lb of 2 row and .25 of crystal 10L. We shall see how it turns out.

 

[BigB]

Well, after 3 weeks in the bottle, I finally tried a couple. Flavor wasn't bad, but more like Corona Lite than Miller Lite. Also, very poor carbonation... Not sure what went wrong here. I made sure I used 3/4 cup of corn sugar, conditioned at 68-72 F. I think I may add 1/2 tsp of corn sugar to the bottles and give it another 2-3 weeks.

 

[Schlenkerla]

Well, after 3 weeks in the bottle, I finally tried a couple. Flavor wasn't bad, but more like Corona Lite than Miller Lite. Also, very poor carbonation... Not sure what went wrong here. I made sure I used 3/4 cup of corn sugar, conditioned at 68-72 F. I think I may add 1/2 tsp of corn sugar to the bottles and give it another 2-3 weeks.

Your problem is volumetric measurement of sugar. You should use a gram scale. Use about 5-6 grams. Edit: Meant Ounces, 5-6 Ounces.

 

[BigB]

Your problem is volumetric measurement of sugar. You should use a gram scale. Use about 5-6 grams.

My bad, I also always weigh the corn sugar. It was 4 ozs. Now I did't weigh each 1/2 tsp because I was just trying to boost the carbonation, and I didn't want to look like a coke dealer measuring out minute grams of a white powdery substance...I have very suspicious neighbors

 

[Schlenkerla]

My bad, I also always weigh the corn sugar. It was 4 ozs. Now I did't weigh each 1/2 tsp because I was just trying to boost the carbonation, and I didn't want to look like a coke dealer measuring out minute grams of a white powdery substance...I have very suspicious neighbors

So when they see you using the wortchiller they think you are making moonshine.