Any recomendations for a 'not bitter' summer ale?

[Scotty]

On the plus side, Citra has a high AA% meaning you could leave a lot for flavour and aroma. It would be interesting if you are going to use a decent yeast fermented at a temperature to bring out the banana aroma's coupled with citra's grapefruit flavours.

[Kev888]

Hmm yes, that sounds good - maybe a candidate for dry hopping, even. Not sure about the yeast, i'll have to see what I've got..

Cheers
Kev

[critch]

ive done a very nice summer ale with styrian goldings and elderflower its going into the cambridge beer festival if anyones interested

[Kev888]

Sounds nice, I like the idea of elderflower and goldings.. so thats another brew then!

Probably for the best really - having looked into it I'd now really like to try a traditional wheat beer, i definately want to try one with citra as well so could split the batch and do separate boils, but elderflower isn't really looking suitable for either of those so a third brew would probably be best.

I see that on this thread there's talk of preserving elderflowers as a syrup, but does anyone know if you can (sensibly) freeze or maybe dry elderflowers?

Cheers
Kev

[WishboneBrewery]

You could brew most pale things with an easy 25-30 EBU's and have lots of tasty late hops...

[Kev888]

Hmm, interesting thought.. could help with splitting the brew too..

Perhaps I could (say) boil a full batch with gentle Hallertauer Hersbrucker for all the boil at around 20IBU or so, then drain half off to an FV for a (hopefully) normal wheat beer, and then add some Citra to the remaining half for a bit of an 80c steep in the boiler, and maybe also dry hop with more citra later as well..

I wouldn't want it to become 'too hoppy' like my usual IPAs, just impart some reasonably distinctive fruity citra tastes over and above the straight wheat beer. How does that sound?

Cheers,
kev

[WishboneBrewery]

I dry hopped my Citra pale and got some grassy flavours that took a while to die down, I think I could have happily left out the Citra Dry Hopping

[Kev888]

Ah, thats useful, thanks very much. Think perhaps I'll instead try bringing the second half of the batch to the boil again then, and doing a 15min citra addition and probably keep the 80c citra steep but forget (or much reduce) any dry hopping with citra for this brew - I'm familiar with that sort of thing from dry hopping IPAs but I suspect its not whats wanted here.

Cheers
kev

[Lime Corridor]

Micmacmoc, I like the sound of the golden champion recipe. Can you give me an idea of the fuggles/challenger ratio and how many grams of each at start of the boil.

Thanks

LC

[micmacmoc]

Certainly, its 'not cloned' as Jamil might say but its a nice fruity summer drink, not for everyone but I loved it. If you can pick fresh elderflowers get the whitest ones, preferably at the end of a sunny afternoon when they're oozing, try to avoid stalks and insects (some pick them early in the morning to avoid insects and infections but that won't matter if you're adding to hot wort).

23litre

1050-1012 4.9% Windsor Yeast 33lt total, 13 litre mash water 14 EBC 38IBU
'Hedgebadger'

MOtter 4950
Crystal 150

Fuggles (4%) 74g 90 mins

challenger (7.6) 21g 15 mins
elderflower (had to use from previous year , frozen) 30g 15 mins

challenger (7.6) 15g 0 minutes

This lot did'nt last long, I've still some of last years elderflowers in the freezer, had I a spare fermentor I'd do another batch but I dare'nt do any more brewing, three full fermentors and not enough bottles/kegs to manage whats in them! Must get swillin' some ale then.
G'luck
moc
mevagissey

[Lime Corridor]

Thanks micmacmoc. Clone or non clone it sounds great. I am hopeful that the elderflowers stay out for a further week or two. I also have a full fv and no space to store…ho hum. Have you tried it with elderflowers out of the freezer before? May help me out of my predicament…

LC

[Lime Corridor]

Sorry, just re-read your post – so frozen elderflowers work well. Good times!.

LC

[Lime Corridor]

Hi micmacmoc, just to let you know that I made the Hedgebadger recipe on Sunday. Nailed the 1050 OG which I am happy about. Had to switch Windsor for S-04 as it was all I had, which I hope is ok. Fermenting away nicely, can't wait to to get an early taste! I'll let you know how it goes.

cheerzen

LC

[Lime Corridor]

Just a quick one, Hedgebadger is fantastic. Going down too well and Mrs. Corridor loves it, I knew that it would got a second batch on straight after that is now in the bottle and should be ready in a week or so. I am planning a third batch this weekend.

Thanks again micmacmoc.

LC

[Titch]

hi been looking at this reciepe

can you add more details please ?
times etc thanks

this is only my second AG so need a push in the right direction

Yeah, wheat. I did 50/50 wheat with coriander and orange peel, hallertauers to 20ish ibu. was most refreshing, i liked the wb06 yeast much better than the munich.
Heres a version of 'golden champion'

mo 5000
crystal 150

fuggle/challenger 90 mins 30 ibu

chall 15g flame out
elderflowers 30g

made a lovely summer drink, perhaps a little hoppy for the non ale folks but if its chilled (sacrilidge!) ITS A BELTER.