American Pale Ale Summer Citra Cerveza

[MollyHatchet]

I don't see a problem with it, beer out, beer in.

 

[jcc4507fly]

Sweet! I'll be sampling in less than a week!! I'll let yall know how it turns out this time!

 

[Biscuits]

I will be bottling my batch tomorrow...2 more weeks, save for the uncarbonated sample I will have tomorrow, until I get some of this deliciousness in my belly!

 

[Biscuits]

Cerveza is in the bottles! I was a bit worried about the color at first, I was expecting a Corona type color and mine came out straw and cloudy....but I looked through the thread and it seems like this is about right. Uncarbonated sample smells phenomenal and tastes really good, a touch on the sweet side though. I am going to have to be more careful with my mash temp next time I think. Anyway, I cannot wait for this beer to be carbonated and mature a bit...gonna be perfect for drinking by the pool.

 

[bigdaddybrew]

It's a straw colored cerveza not unlike Corona but being an ale and actually being hopped it has flavor and aroma. The flaked barley can leave a haze but it gives it bit of head retention. I find Irish moss for 15 min of the boil helps and I sometimes add gelatin before cold crashing. I hope you enjoy it by the pool!

 

[Biscuits]

I know it is a sin to rush things when it comes to beer but I am really busy lately with traveling so, instead of cold crashing like I wanted to do, I skipped it..which I think will be necessary next time. Although, I am not overly concerned about the color as long as it tastes as good as I think it will.

 

[jcc4507fly]

Mine has come out of the fermenter cloudy both times. The first time it cleared up nicely by the time it carbonated. Time will tell for this batch. I do use whirlfloc tabs for last 15min of the boil, I keg, and I do not cold crash.

 

[MollyHatchet]

Both of my batches came out cloudy, but I like it like that. The head is real white, and there is lacing all the way down the glass to the last swallow. I use Irish moss, and it's still has a nice yellow straw color, like a home brew. I wouldn't want someone to think I would be serving a BMC.
PS: I picked up the ingredients to do two more batches!! [emoji106]

 

[bigdaddybrew]

The flaked barley tends to leave a haze but gives head retention without adding sweetness. If you cut the it to 8 oz it will reduce the haze but at my LHBS it comes in pounds so I use it all. Actually it can be brewed without it but because I like a dry refreshing finish the head suffers. A little haze never bothered a tasty beer.

 

[bobeer]

I brewed this 2 weeks ago to the day. I just took a hydrometer sample and it's at 1.010. There's still some krausen on the top so it might still be fermenting. I have it at just under 65 degrees.
It tasted pretty good. Lots of citra. It almost tastes like oranges which is crazy. Very light, almost lemonade like, and hazy. It will be interesting to see what it's like when it gets in the keg. I might have to take it to a warmer climate and see if I can gain a couple more gravity points.

 

[Psylocide]

Man, that is making me thirsty! Think I will rack to keg tomorrow and drop the Citra hops and start carbing! Must have this beer on tap again!!!
Side note, I just kicked my previous keg of this. What do yall think about skipping the cleaning and sani and racking right into the 'dirty' keg? Has anyone tried this b4? Pressed for time and it would be nice to not even pull the keg out of keezer and rack right into it. Thoughts?

I've put 3 beers back to back in the same keg... I'm cleaning it this time.

So, yeah, go for it. Just take a big whiff to ensure nothing seems off.

 

[Biscuits]

Mine has come out of the fermenter cloudy both times. The first time it cleared up nicely by the time it carbonated. Time will tell for this batch. I do use whirlfloc tabs for last 15min of the boil, I keg, and I do not cold crash.

I just got home today from a camping trip and the beer has been bottle conditioning for about 4 days now, I put one up to the light to see how it was looking and it looks like everything has settled out and is nice and clear...I was tempted to throw one in the fridge but I resisted.

 

[bigdaddybrew]

My LHBS was out of flaked barley so I used 8 oz of Carapils instead. It adds a touch of sweetness. The OG was 1.046, Final gravity was 1.006 using Coopers dry yeast. Dry pitch, 68f room temp. Even with no temp control it's very clean with just a hint of fruitiness that compliments the hop aroma. Cold crashed clear.
My Summer Citra Cerveza ready for hot weather...

 

[branman]

Doing another 10gal tomorrow, gonna try it with the Carapils this time and upping the gravity just a little to get a little more pow pow to it (probably end up mowing the wrong yard) lol

 

[Biscuits]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1434246565.842394.jpg Mind=blown! So refreshing and delicious!

 

[MollyHatchet]

Sweet, I am going to do batch number three Monday morning.

 

[bobeer]

I have a 5 gallon batch of this and it's been on gas for 3 days. I forgot to add some Irish moss at the end of the boil so it's very cloudy and it's so light in color it looks like lemonade. lol.

It's finally beginning to mellow out a bit but there's a ton of corn flavor that's coming though. I think if I brew this again I'm going to add a little more IBU's and perhaps a little more malt too. It's refreshing but it doesn't have a lot of taste to it atm besides the corn. I'm going to let it condition for a few more days before I really pass judgement on it.

 

[bigdaddybrew]

Took a cooler full of my Summer Cerveza to a party. It was a hot muggy day in Michigan. They drank it as fast as I could pour. The BMC drinkers enjoyed it and so did the craft beer folks. Only complaint I heard was from an IPA addict...not full bodied and bitter enough. Yep, this ain't that beer! That's why it's called my Summer Citra Cerveza, a light refreshing Cream ale with a hoppy citrus nose. Now I need to brew another batch ASAP!

P.S. And for the record I love a good IPA...Darkhorse Crooked Tree is so good!

 

[branman]

I got mine brewed this weekend, a buddy of mine came over and wanted to learn a little bit about the process. I usually don't drink while I'm brewing until I get to the boil, but I made an exception and my mash efficiency suffered coming in at just under 60% (worst ever) but all went well and had a blast over all

 

[Biscuits]

Took a cooler full of my Summer Cerveza to a party. It was a hot muggy day in Michigan. They drank it as fast as I could pour. The BMC drinkers enjoyed it and so did the craft beer folks. Only complaint I heard was from an IPA addict...not full bodied and bitter enough. Yep, this ain't that beer! That's why it's called my Summer Citra Cerveza, a light refreshing Cream ale with a hoppy citrus nose. Now I need to brew another batch ASAP!

P.S. And for the record I love a good IPA...Darkhorse Crooked Tree is so good!

HAHA, I feel your pain...my buddy and I have been going through these fast! I might have to do a larger batch next time...2 gallons is definitely not enough! So far, the only thing I would like to improve for next time is the head retention, I am not sure if it was from something I did during the brew process but the head goes away very fast and I would like for it to stick around...it's so white and fluffy!

 

[bobeer]

Here's mine. Definitely the lightest beer I've ever brewed. It's mellowed out a lot and is getting better by the day. I'm on day 4 on gas and it's becoming pretty nice to sip on in this 90+ degree humidity. I think it'll just get better from this point out. I'm going to up the ibu's next time. It's nice and dry but still has body. My batch came out about 5.5%. Thanks for the recipe!

View attachment 1434413676410.jpg

 

[bigdaddybrew]

My most recent batch I used 8 oz of carapils instead of the flaked barley because my LHBS was out. It still finished dry at 1.006. The head retention was similar but it is clearer. Perhaps using carapils AND flaked barley to increase head retention?

This is definitely the lightest beer I brew for the summer. I have brewed this with as little as a pound of corn (more malt, less corn). It's not as light and refreshing, more of a pale ale but it does give you more body and head retention with less corn sweetness...not quite a summer cerveza but still quite good.

Let me know what you come up with.

 

[bobeer]

OK, last update on this one. Reading the style guidelines for BJCP style 6A (cream ale/2008 edition) this beer hits the nail on the head style wise. The only thing my batch is lacking is clarity. Probably because I forgot to add Irish moss but it's getting a tad clearer on its own in the keg over time.

I tipped a few of these last night with my dinner and it was a great experience!

 

[Psylocide]

OK, last update on this one. Reading the style guidelines for BJCP style 6A (cream ale/2008 edition) this beer hits the nail on the head style wise. The only thing my batch is lacking is clarity. Probably because I forgot to add Irish moss but it's getting a tad clearer on its own in the keg over time.

I tipped a few of these last night with my dinner and it was a great experience!

Flaked barley can cause some haze.

I'd sub out carapils for it if it were me.

 

[bigdaddybrew]

Reading the style guidelines for BJCP style 6A (cream ale/2008 edition) this beer hits the nail on the head style wise. The only thing my batch is lacking is clarity. Probably because I forgot to add Irish moss but it's getting a tad clearer on its own in the keg over time. I tipped a few of these last night with my dinner and it was a great experience!

A single addition of Cluster for IBU less than 20 would be even closer but I love the hoppy citrus aroma.

My most recent batch the LHBS was out of flaked barley so I used 8 oz of Carapils with good results. If you can't cold crash for clarity Carapils will have a similar head retention with better clarity but is not as dry and crisp.

 

[bobeer]

A single addition of Cluster for IBU less than 20 would be even closer but I love the hoppy citrus aroma.

My most recent batch the LHBS was out of flaked barley so I used 8 oz of Carapils with good results. If you can't cold crash for clarity Carapils will have a similar head retention with better clarity but is not as dry and crisp.

I get no hoppy aroma in mine. All i smell is malt and corn. There is a tad, and I do mean just a tad, of hop flavor in the aftertaste. Great head retention too. I think if I used carapils next time in place of flaked barley I'll do a lower mash. Maybe 148 so it maintains it's dry and crispy appeal.

I love hoppy beers so it's hard for me to not say, More hops! Dry hop! Bigger/Longer hopstand! haha. Then again maybe the grist would make for an interesting IPA?

 

[bigdaddybrew]

I get no hoppy aroma in mine. All i smell is malt and corn. There is a tad, and I do mean just a tad, of hop flavor in the aftertaste. Great head retention too. I think if I used carapils next time in place of flaked barley I'll do a lower mash. Maybe 148 so it maintains it's dry and crispy appeal.

I love hoppy beers so it's hard for me to not say, More hops! Dry hop! Bigger/Longer hopstand! haha. Then again maybe the grist would make for an interesting IPA?

I have dry hopped with an additional ounce of Citra with good results. Some of my IPA addicted friends have lost their sensitivity to bitterness and subtle hop aroma so they usually complain this beer lacks body, bitterness and hop aroma. But my BMC friends sometimes complain it's too hoppy...sissies!

 

[bigdaddybrew]

I love hoppy beers so it's hard for me to not say, More hops! Dry hop! Bigger/Longer hopstand! haha. Then again maybe the grist would make for an interesting IPA?

Try it...IPCA India Pale Cream Ale?
Pre-prohibition Cream Ales have more bittering. A beer this light can get overwhelmed by the perceived bitterness pretty quickly. This beer is considered "slighty hoppy" (slightly bitter) at 1.045 and an IBU of 24. I'm not sure it could stand up to typical IPA IBUs but the good thing is a little more hops goes a long way in a beer this small.

 

[MollyHatchet]

My first round with this I hopped it hard and came out at 100 ibu. I love my hoppiness, but it needed backed off a bit. I did my second batch at 39 ibu, (still conditioning in the keg) on Monday my third batch was at 75 ibu, just over the maximum border. My next batch I am going for something in the 20's for ibu. I also backed the flaked Barley back to .75 so I don't have pillows of fluffy head for days. I love this beer, it's easy and cheap to make and it's fun to play with different hop varieties and ibu levels. A great summer time refresher for sure!!

 

[bigdaddybrew]

My first round with this I hopped it hard and came out at 100 ibu. I love my hoppiness, but it needed backed off a bit. I did my second batch at 39 ibu, (still conditioning in the keg) on Monday my third batch was at 75 ibu, just over the maximum border. My next batch I am going for something in the 20's for ibu. I also backed the flaked Barley back to .75 so I don't have pillows of fluffy head for days. I love this beer, it's easy and cheap to make and it's fun to play with different hop varieties and ibu levels. A great summer time refresher for sure!!

MollyHatchets' IPCA! That's what makes Homebrewing awesome, rules are broken with awesome results!