Summer (Lite) Beer Suggestions

[Morrey]

My wife asks often for me to try brewing a beer that is lighter than my typical beers such as Caribou Slobber, Brown and Red Ales, IPA's, English Pale Ales and similar. I have tried a Kolsch and a Heffe for her, but she still is wanting a lighter beer. Frankly I think she should just go out and buy some Mich Ultra, but she is part of my brewing process and she wants to see her own beer in a kegerator. I will do my best to please her.

Looking at some extract kits (not an all grain guy) I noted that Cream Ales may be suitable. I am limited to ales due to my fermenting temp around 70F.

Is a Cream Ale possibly what I need to try......or is there another "Lawnmower" ale out there which is crisp, clean and light for the summer? Thanks!!

 

[kristiismean]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=123937

both all grain and extract recipe's listed.

 

[Dixon9717]

I did a APA last summer with mango for my wife and she loved it.

 

[BigMack]

A blonde ale would probably do the trick. BierMunchers Centennial Blonde is super popular. You could also try a Belgian Wit.

 

[mrdauber64]

I love a good cream ale in the summer. One of my favorite extract recipes from Northern Brewer was their Liberty Cream ale. Very light and easy drinking. Give it a try!

 

[m00ps]

im only gonna say this once before I start flipping out

brew a saison. she will love it. end of discussion

 

[mrdauber64]

im only gonna say this once before I start flipping out

brew a saison. she will love it. end of discussion

I've never had a Saison that I liked. Are there any that don't have that peppery spicy taste to them? I'm very intrigued by the style but I just can't drink a peppery beer when it's hot. What is a good fruity saison yeast?

 

[stpug]

My wife asks often for me to try brewing a beer that is lighter.... I have tried a Kolsch and a Heffe for her, but she still is wanting a lighter beer...

Looking at some extract kits (not an all grain guy) I noted that Cream Ales may be suitable. I am limited to ales due to my fermenting temp around 70F.

Is a Cream Ale possibly what I need to try......or is there another "Lawnmower" ale out there which is crisp, clean and light for the summer? Thanks!!

I think a cream ale is a reasonable place to start and should have the potential of hitting the mark for her. Working from extract, I would aim for pilsner dry malt extract as my base with a little dextrose. In addition, I would use just a touch of specialty malts to get a smidge of flavor, followed by a light hand of noble (or noble-like) hops. Couple that with a ester-free yeast strain that can tolerate 70F and you should have something your wife is asking for.

The most obvious yeast choice for this beer would probably be 1056 (or wlp001, or US05 but US05 will remain hazy for a while longer than the other two).

Hop choices would be tettnanger, saaz, hallertau mittlefruh, santiam, crystal hops, sterling, ultra, mt hood, or the like. With a small amount for finishing.

Sugars would be pilsner DME, dextrose or maybe rice syrup/solids.

Specialty malts would be a smidge of victory or biscuit malt.

OG 1.045, IBUs 18. Ferment as cool as you possibly can. Crash cool to clear the fermenter. After kegging, give it 2 weeks in the kegerator to drop clear and lager (i.e. cold age), and you should be sitting on a winner.

At least, that's my take on it. Cheers!

 

[kombat]

I have a Munich Helles on tap that turned out great. It's really nice to have a lighter beer on tap, especially now that the weather is finally starting to warm up.

 

[Morrey]

I think a cream ale is a reasonable place to start and should have the potential of hitting the mark for her. Working from extract, I would aim for pilsner dry malt extract as my base with a little dextrose. In addition, I would use just a touch of specialty malts to get a smidge of flavor, followed by a light hand of noble (or noble-like) hops. Couple that with a ester-free yeast strain that can tolerate 70F and you should have something your wife is asking for.

The most obvious yeast choice for this beer would probably be 1056 (or wlp001, or US05 but US05 will remain hazy for a while longer than the other two).

Hop choices would be tettnanger, saaz, hallertau mittlefruh, santiam, crystal hops, sterling, ultra, mt hood, or the like. With a small amount for finishing.

Sugars would be pilsner DME, dextrose or maybe rice syrup/solids.

Specialty malts would be a smidge of victory or biscuit malt.

OG 1.045, IBUs 18. Ferment as cool as you possibly can. Crash cool to clear the fermenter. After kegging, give it 2 weeks in the kegerator to drop clear and lager (i.e. cold age), and you should be sitting on a winner.

At least, that's my take on it. Cheers!

Excellent suggestion with all the details I need to look for! With this information, I could put my own recipe together vs buying a kit. I'll cost compare to see the difference. It sounds as I may be making this style more than once, especially coming into the summer months here in the south.

 

[m00ps]

I've never had a Saison that I liked. Are there any that don't have that peppery spicy taste to them? I'm very intrigued by the style but I just can't drink a peppery beer when it's hot. What is a good fruity saison yeast?

These are the saison yeasts Ive used that have very little spice esters to them and are much more fruit geared. The widely available ones anyway. Also, if you ferment hot (80s, into the 90s) you will get a lot more fruit

Wyeast 3711
White Labs 585
Omega Yeast Hothead (fruitiest)
Yeast Bay Belgian Dry Ale (not specifically a saison yeast)

 

[Kharnynb]

our "house wheat" is a tad on the high abv side, but increasing the mash temp a bit should make it a very easy drinker:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=553259

 

[mrdauber64]

These are the saison yeasts Ive used that have very little spice esters to them and are much more fruit geared. The widely available ones anyway. Also, if you ferment hot (80s, into the 90s) you will get a lot more fruit

Wyeast 3711
White Labs 585
Omega Yeast Hothead (fruitiest)
Yeast Bay Belgian Dry Ale (not specifically a saison yeast)

Awesome, thanks! I'll have to brew a couple this summer when I can get my temps that high.