Summer Ale

[ingo]

Summer Ale

OG 1,040
IBU 30
75 min @ 67°C
94% Pale Malt (Maris Otter (TF))
3% crystal malt (TF)
3% Amber malt (TF)
60 min boil
30 IBU EKG @FWH
2g/l Goldings @whirlpool
2g/l Bramling-X @whirlpool
WLP029 0.5x10^6 cells/ml/°Plato @17°C free rise cap @20°C
@SVG 75% transfer to lager vessel on to
4g/l medium toasted cherry wood chips
fully ferment out FG ~1,004 - 1,001
warm lager 2 weeks
dry hop 24h
2g/l EKG
2g/l Bramling-X
cool (fine) and keg
brewing music: Van Morrison, Summertime in England

The esters of the yeast work very well with the hints of marmalade and black berry of the hops and the wood. I prefer to use lower alpha goldings to get a bit more tannins to get a dryer mouthfeel. The amber malt helps. The yeast makes a bit of glycerol that adds some sweetness to the beer.

The same recipe also works well with a saison yeast. An other variation is to replace the Maris Otter by 50% 'normal' pale malt and 44% dark wheat malt.

Cheers,

Ingo

[KevH]

I brewed a summer ale for last summer. It was lovely. Didn't think to play that song when brewing mind; wonder if it would have been even better if I did?! Do you find it imparts any special flavours to the beer?

[ingo]

Oh Yes. It gets you in the proper brewing mood. Jaques Brel for Lambic. Zappa for those American beers with too much of the wrong hops. Einstuerzende Neubauten for Berliner Weisse,

Ingo

[KevH]

I shall have to get the old wireless set up when I brew next time. Looking forward to drinking the results. Cheers Ingo.