Tropical Blond Ale

[trujunglist]

You ever had a Kona Big Wave? This recipe looks pretty similar to those stats. Would be interested in hearing how a side-by-side went...

 

[Yesfan]

You could definitely do this. But personally I would use a neutral bittering hop and save the mosaic till later in the boil to get the full use of its flavor and aroma profile.

EDIT: After going back through this thread, what do you guys think about this:

1lb Crystal 10L
1/4lb Honey Malt
6 1/2 lbs of 2 row
1/4lb Corn Sugar
1 oz Magnum (10-14%) @ 60
1/2oz Citra (14.1%) @ 10
1/2oz Citra (14.1%) @ 5
1oz Mosaic (10-12%) @ flameout
US-05

mash at 152F


Basically just replaced the Mosaic with Magnum and then switched out the flameout hops from Citra to Mosaic.

 

[Billybrewer09]

EDIT: After going back through this thread, what do you guys think about this:

1lb Crystal 10L
1/4lb Honey Malt
6 1/2 lbs of 2 row
1/4lb Corn Sugar
1 oz Magnum (10-14%) @ 60
1/2oz Citra (14.1%) @ 10
1/2oz Citra (14.1%) @ 5
1oz Mosaic (10-12%) @ flameout
US-05

mash at 152F

Basically just replaced the Mosaic with Magnum and then switched out the flameout hops from Citra to Mosaic.

Without running the number I can't be 100% sure, but I think 1oz magnum is way too much.
I think 1/2 oz would be closer, but it all depends on what you want your IBU's at.

 

[Yesfan]

Without running the number I can't be 100% sure, but I think 1oz magnum is way too much.
I think 1/2 oz would be closer, but it all depends on what you want your IBU's at.

Since the original 1/2oz amount of Mosaic was at 45 minutes, I didn't know if the extra 15 minutes of boil time required more of an amount for the bittering hop.



On another note, if you have one batch with the first hop addition at 60 minutes, and another batch with it's first addition at 45, is it safe to assume that the 60 minute addition is going to be higher in IBUs, or is it the other way around?

 

[Billybrewer09]

The longer the boil of the hop addition the more IBU's it will add

 

[shadows69]

I like where this is going, although im going to use Willamette or tettnang. Is the 1 lbs of crystal and 1/4 lbs of honey malt not to sweet? Just seems like alot.

 

[mdwmonster]

Is the 1 lbs of crystal and 1/4 lbs of honey malt not to sweet? Just seems like alot.

I think there is a bit of sweetness to it, but in my opinion, it isn't overbearing or even dominant. With that much Citra on the back end, I find the residual sweetness plays well with the tropical fruit flavors of the hops. I don't know if you'll still see that with the Willamette and Tettnang as I don't find their citrus flavors to be as pronounced.

I think trujunglist's comparison with Kona Big Wave is apt. While its been a while since I had Big Wave, I would estimate that mine has more of a honey flavor to it. Maybe a bit more sweetness (or the perception of sweetness).

 

[kchomebrew]

I think the overall recipe looks good. I just got done reading "For the love of Hops" and learned some great stuff about hop additions, etc. So I have a couple of suggestions. First, I think Mosiac and Citra will go well together so good choice on that.And if you really want to ignore the suggestions you are receiving, by all means go for it and I'm sure your beer will still be great. But if you are wanting the hops to bring out the tropical notes, you'll need to really focus on late additions/flameout schedule to do that, IMO. Completely forget the 60 min. addition. You don't need it for your recipe if you are wanting to establish tropical aromas/flavors. With that in mind, and if you don't mind using more hops with later additions, I think you'll get an amazingly smooth, aromatic and flavorful tropical aroma by doing the following:

1/2oz Citra @ 15min.
1/2oz Mosiac @ 15min.
1/2oz Citra @ 5min.
1/2oz Mosiac @ 5min.
1oz Citra @ flameout (steep/whirlpool for 10 min.)
1oz Mosiac @ flameout (steep/whirlpool for 10 min.)

And then I'd also dry hop with 1oz. of Mosiac for 7 to 10 days in the secondary.

I'd also scrap the US-05 yeast and go with US-04. US-05 is a good yeast but I think the english yeast strain is good at taking a back seat to hop aroma.

Good luck !

 

[dapete]

I have some good Orange Blossom Honey. What do you think of adding that in place of the corn sugar?

 

[hethacker12]

I have some good Orange Blossom Honey. What do you think of adding that in place of the corn sugar?

taste wise, I do not think such a small amount (~4 oz) of honey will stand out in the 5 gal batch. Carbonation wise though, there should not be any difference in using honey versus dextrose.
but by all means, try something new and add the honey

 

[dapete]

Thanks hethacker!

I didn't explain but I have a corn allergy. This recipe would probably be fine, but I've never used any corn products in my beers.

I carb with table sugar because its more predictable than honey. Or so I've read.

 

[hethacker12]

Thanks hethacker!

I didn't explain but I have a corn allergy. This recipe would probably be fine, but I've never used any corn products in my beers.

I carb with table sugar because its more predictable than honey. Or so I've read.

yeah, thats what i have read too, also looking at my chart here it says that cane sugar (at 45 - 48 points) is more fermentable than corn sugar (37 - 40 points) while honey is at 30 - 35 points.
btw, i am talking about gravity points per pound per gallon. hope it helps.

 

[grhsgomer]

sounds like a good one

 

[BeerEngineer15]

Wow at 4.7% ABV it's almost a session beer too! Very nice recipe I want to try this one out!

 

[ma_duece_brew]

I ended up brewing something based off this as my first all grain batch a few weekends ago.
1lb Crystal 10L
3/4 lb Honey Malt
7 lbs of 2 row
1/2 oz Magnum (10-14%) @ 60
1/2oz Citra (14.1%) @ 10
1/2oz Citra (14.1%) @ 5
1oz Citra (14.1%) @ flameout and whirlpool hopstand for about 30 minutes
US-05

Carbonated up 5 days in, excellent head and lacing but flavors need to round off a bit, got that that catty green citra smell in the nose on day 5 but yesterday at day 12 in bottles it was quite improved. Turned out closer to a pale ale for me but made it for a guys get together while our SO/GFs are at a baby shower, shouldnt be shunned too bad by the BMC crowd Ill be sharing with. Going to tweak it a bit more and dial it in but a great summer type beer.

 

[Carros]

I brewed this back in July and finally got around to kegging it last Sunday. I decided to go ahead and tap it last night, and even though it’s not fully carbed yet this is fantastic already.

 

[brewchemistry]

Can someone give me an opinion on this recipe? I'm going for a light, crisp and "tropical" session for the patio this summer.

1lb Crystal 10L
1/4lb Honey Malt
4 1/2lb Golden Light DME (4L)
1/4lb Corn Sugar
1/4oz Mosaic (12.7%) @ 45
1/2oz Citra (14.1%) @ 10
1/2oz Citra (14.1%) @ 5
1oz Citra (14.1%) @ flameout
US-05

SG 1.042
23IBU
4.2ABV

Thought is that the Mosaic and Citra will give me a lot of tropical mango/grapefruit flavors, honey malt some sweetness, and the corn sugar help to dry and crisp it a bit. Do the proportions sound right?

Thanks for your input.

Sounds delicious, I like the Citra, Galaxy combo I used in my last Golden Ale. Super delicious, I also added all the hops at the 15 min mark in the boil which gave it intense flavor and aroma with no lingering bitterness but perceived bitterness. Its fantastic!! My grain bill was very similar and used honey malt, Came out delicious however I used a dart of Crystal 60L for golden color. Happy brewing!