Brew Dudes Homebrewing Blog

American Pale Ale Experiment – Part 1

On July 24, 2024

Mike shares his latest endeavor – a hoppy American pale ale experiment. Cutting to the chase, this post is part one of a two-part series where we’ll dive into the recipe, taste, and evaluate the hops. In the next installment, we might do a comparison with a special twist.

He has brewed a lot of light lagers lately, but it’s time to return to something a bit more hop-forward. So, let’s explore the recipe and process behind this refreshing summer beer.

What is Mike trying to unlock here?

American Pale Ale Recipe

Here’s what Mike put together:

Grains:
87% Briess Brewer’s Malt
7% Carapils malt
5% Munich malt 10°L

Hops:
1 oz (28g) Nugget at 60 minutes
1 oz (28g) Amarillo at 15 minutes
1 oz (28g) Simcoe at 15 minutes
15 minute Whirlpool addition of Cascade and Amarillo at 175-180°F (79-82°C)

Yeast: 1 packet of Fermentis US-05

Process:
Mash at 150°F
Mash-out at 168°F (75.6°C) for 10 minutes
Boil for 60 minutes
Fermented at 2 weeks at room temperatures

Results:
Original Gravity (OG): 1.056
Final Gravity (FG): 1.010
ABV: Approximately 6%

Tasting Notes and Thoughts

First off, the beer has a pleasant aroma though it lacked the intense citrus brightness we hoped for. The Nugget hops contributed a grassy, rather than resiny, bitterness. The flavor was enjoyable but not as vibrant as expected. Despite using Amarillo and Cascade in the whirlpool, the hop character wasn’t bright and citrusy.

The beer’s color came out beautifully, a darker gold with consistent foam and nice lacing on the glass. It’s a super drinkable beer, but we were left wanting a bit more hop brightness. The US-05 yeast performed well, allowing the malt and hops to shine without interference. While this batch may not have hit all the notes we were aiming for, it’s still a solid and balanced American pale ale.

Stay tuned for part two of the American pale ale experiment. He may be using different hops or perhaps a new yeast strain to see if we can enhance that hop character.

BREW ON!

American Homebrew Lager – New Beer Style

By John Krochune

On July 17, 2024

In Style Profiles, Videos

Hey, it’s not every day that you see the birth of a new beer style. Mike took what he learned from the Jar of Destiny American Light Lager experience and created a new American Homebrew Lager. Learn more as we discuss the beer’s conception to tasting, exploring how he aimed to elevate the classic American lager into something uniquely crafted at home.

Crafting a new style for the masses!

The Recipe

Mike set out to build upon the foundation of an American light lager, aiming for a crisp, refreshing brew with a subtle yet distinctive hop character. His recipe, the “American Homebrew Lager,” centered around simplicity and quality ingredients.

Grains:
50% Briess two-row Brewers malt
50% American Pilsner malt
4 oz Aromatic malt (for background and head retention)

Hops:
1 oz Willamette at 60 minutes
1 oz Willamette at whirlpool (10 minutes)

Yeast:
NovaLager yeast (repitch)

Results:
Starting at 1.050 and finishing at 1.009, our American Homebrew Lager achieved a balanced ABV of around 5.5%, characteristic of the style.

American Homebrew Lager Tasting Notes

Right of the first sip, this beer revealed a pronounced hop expression. The Willamette hops provided a subtle herbal and minty zing, adding a refreshing complexity that lingered pleasantly with each sip. The beer maintained excellent head retention and a clean, bright appearance, though we noted it could benefit from further conditioning for optimal clarity.

Compared to the American light lager, our style with homebrewer sensibilities showcased a more assertive hop profile while retaining the light, crisp body ideal for warm weather enjoyment. The use of NovaLager yeast contributed to a neutral flavor profile, allowing the hop character to shine through.

Crafting the American Homebrew Lager is an exploration into elevating a classic style with modern techniques and ingredients. We hope to highlight the accessibility of brewing lagers at home, thanks to advancements in yeast strains that don’t need strict fermentation control.

Embrace the new style and remember to make it your own.

Brew on!

Pinter Review 2 – The All Grain Rebrew

By John Krochune

On July 10, 2024

In Equipment, Videos

We take the Pinter for another spin. This time, Mike and I tackled an all-grain rebrew using the Pinter, focusing on a classic English ale. We aimed to create a Best Bitter with a rich, balanced flavor to see how the brewing system performed with fresh ingredients. In this post, we’ll walk you through the brewing process, share the recipe details, and conclude with our tasting notes and overall thoughts on the brew.

The Brewing Process

Recipe and Ingredients

For this all-grain rebrew, we tailored the recipe specifically for the Pinter, which handles a one-gallon batch sizes. Our grain bill consisted of 87% Maris Otter malt, 9% Crystal malt (60°L), and 4% Victory malt to add a bit of a biscuit note. We used 14 grams of East Kent Goldings (EKG) hops, aiming for around 35 IBUs.

We had two additions: one at the start of the 60-minute boil and one at flameout. For yeast, we chose Lallemand Windsor British ale dry yeast. Its known for slightly lower attenuation and ability to bring what I wanted – a full English ale character.

Brewing Steps

We started with a boil size of 1.75 gallons, mashing our grains in two gallons of water. Using the brew-in-a-bag method, we removed the grains after mashing and proceeded with the boil. After boiling for 60 minutes, we chilled the wort and transferred it into the Pinter, added the yeast, and sealed it up. The fermentation took place at around 64°F (18°C).

We fermented for 10 days, cold crashed for one day, and conditioned for about four days. This method allowed us to achieve a well-fermented beer.

Pinter Rebrew Thoughts

Tasting the Brew

The final product had an original gravity of 1.042 and a final gravity of 1.010, resulting in an ABV of 4.2%. As we poured and tasted the beer, we were greeted with a delightful aroma, reminiscent of chocolate and grain. The flavor profile was dominated by biscuit notes, a subtle sweetness from the Crystal malt, and an earthy, tea-like quality from the EKG hops. The Windsor yeast contributed to a slightly hazy appearance and a complex, ester-rich profile.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we were quite pleased with how this all-grain rebrew turned out. The Pinter proved to be an excellent tool for creating small batches of cask-style ale. The fermentation process, although not visible from the outside, was effective, and the final product was a testament to the potential of this brewing system. If you’re a fan of English ales and looking for a convenient way to brew small batches at home, the Pinter is definitely worth considering.

BREW ON!

Homebrew Jar of Destiny: The Eleventh Pick

By John Krochune

On July 3, 2024

In Style Profiles, Videos

The Homebrew Jar of Destiny keep rolling along like a freight train as fate provides us with two more styles to explore and brew. We started this challenge 2.5 years ago and we have brewed 20 beers so far. See what the next two beer styles we’ll be adding to this list by viewing this video!

The 11th Picks from the Jar of Destiny

This Round’s Picks

John’s Pick – 7C – Pale Kellerbier

I didn’t know too much about this beer style right after the pick. At first glance, it’s a young Helles. Based on this short description, I am confident I can brew a good version of it. Timing will be important as the beer should be brewed so that it is fresh for the tasting day.

Mike’s Pick – 24B – Belgian Pale Ale

Upon review, Leffe is not a Belgian Pale Ale so our thoughts about this style being of a higher ABV that other pale ales is wrong. Still, the real challenge here lies in balancing the yeast’s phenolic, slightly spicy character with an interesting hop profile. Belgian Pale Ale is known for its crispness and is an excellent choice for the fall. This will require a bit of research and careful selection of yeast strains to achieve the desired complexity and flavor.

Thanks again for reading and thanks again to the Jar. We appreciate you both.

BREW ON!

Check out the First Pick and the start of it all!
Check out the Second Pick
Check out the Third Pick
Check out the Fourth Pick
Check out the Fifth Pick
Check out the Sixth Pick
Check out the Seventh Pick
Check out the Eighth Pick
Check out the Ninth Pick
Check out the Tenth Pick

Links To The Jar of Destiny Series Results
Check out the British Strong Ale post
Check out the Black IPA post
Check out the International Amber Lager post
Check out the Belgian Tripel post
Check out the Double IPA post
Check out the Kölsch post
Check out the English IPA post
Check out the Wood-Aged Beer post
Check out the Belgian Golden Strong Ale post
Check out the American Amber Ale post
Check out the German Pils post
Check out the Brett Beer post
Check out the Munich Helles post
Check out the Imperial Stout post
Check out the Foreign Extra Stout post
Check out the Belgian IPA post
Check out the Eisbock post
Check out the Czech Dark Lager post
Check out the California Common post
Check out the American Light Lager post

American Light Lager – Jar of Destiny

By John Krochune

On June 26, 2024

In Recipes, Style Profiles, Videos

In this post, we dive into another pick from the Homebrew Jar of Destiny. Back in April, we selected an American Light Lager, and now, a few months later, we’re excited to share the results. This light, crisp beer aims to capture the essence of its commercial counterparts while adding our own unique twist. Join us as we break down the brewing process, ingredients, and our final thoughts on this refreshing brew.

USA!

American Light Lager Homebrew Recipe

Ingredients

Base Malt:
3 pounds (1.36 kg) American two-row barley

Adjunct:
1 pounds (.45 kg) rice solids

Hops:
0.5 ounces (14 g) of Tettnang (60 minutes)
0.25 ounces (7 g) of Tettnang (10 minutes)
0.25 ounces (7 g) of Cascade (10 minutes)

Yeast:
1 packet of NovaLager yeast

Brewing Process

Mash:
60 minutes at 145°F (63°C)
Ramp up to 158°F (70°C) and hold for 10 minutes
Ramp up to 168°F (76°C) for mash out and hold for 10 minutes

Boil:
60-minute boil
Add hops at times directed above

Fermentation:
Ferment with NovaLager yeast
Target final gravity: approximately 1.008
Estimated ABV: 4.2-4.3%

Notes:
Aim for a pre-boil gravity of 1.038 and a post-boil gravity of 1.040-1.041.
Consider using rice solids instead of rice syrup to maintain light color.

Tasting Notes and Thoughts

The Flavor Experience
The first few sips of our American Light Lager took a bit of adjustment, but once our palates settled in, the beer became quite enjoyable. The nose offered a slight hint of yeast and maybe a touch of sulfur, but overall, it was clean with a subtle grain aroma. The taste reminded me of Night Shift Brewery’s Night Lite, with a crisp, dry finish and light body. The rice solids contributed a distinct sweetness, almost reminiscent of a heated rice pad’s aroma, adding an interesting layer to the flavor profile.

Conclusion
Overall, our American Light Lager turned out to be a successful brew, capturing the essence of a commercial light lager with a homebrew twist. It’s a perfect summer beer—light, refreshing, and easy to drink. The brewing process was straightforward, and the use of rice solids instead of syrup helped maintain the desired color and flavor. As we continue our Homebrew Jar of Destiny series, we’re excited to see what other beers we’ll create. Stay tuned for our next pick and BREW ON!

Links To The Jar of Destiny Series Results
Check out the British Strong Ale post
Check out the Black IPA post
Check out the International Amber Lager post
Check out the Belgian Tripel post
Check out the Double IPA post
Check out the Kölsch post
Check out the English IPA post
Check out the Wood-Aged Beer post
Check out the Belgian Golden Strong Ale post
Check out the American Amber Ale post
Check out the German Pils post
Check out the Brett Beer post
Check out the Munich Helles post
Check out the Imperial Stout post
Check out the Foreign Extra Stout post
Check out the Belgian IPA post
Check out the Eisbock post
Check out the Czech Dark Lager post
Check out the California Common post
Check out the American Light Lager post