Fantasy Football Draft Ale suggestions

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Wiffler27, Jul 4, 2017.

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  1. Wiffler27

    Wiffler27 Pooh-Bah (2,092) Aug 16, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Our annual live fantasy draft is on August 27 at my friend's house in LBI. With my recent success of homebrews, my friends want me to make a batch for our draft. I asked a similar question in regards to my family and the answer was a cream ale. My friends are much different than my family.

    The guys at the draft are a mix of Bud Light, Yuengling, anything, everything, etc. A buddy of mine will drink whatever is cheapest but then skis in Vermont and loves Heady, he'll drink whatever even though he appreciates a great beer.

    Weather: Hot
    Atmosphere: Fantasy Football and a get together of friends since HS and even earlier. So boozing and more boozing.
    I want something in the 4-5.5% range, easy to drink, not super bitter yet not super bland. Personally I love IPAs and hops so I'm leaning towards a clean pale ale with refreshing hops.

    With the draft on 8/27, I'm somewhat pressed on time considering I need at least 10 days (in my experience) for the bottles to be drinkable. My last 2 brews have been in the 1.070-1.080 range and were in carboys for 26 days before bottling. One was 10 days primary, 16 days secondary and the other was 26 days primary. I'd like a shorter turn around because I'm brewing 2 more batches before I even brew my Fantasy Football Draft Ale.
     
    #1 Wiffler27, Jul 4, 2017
  2. Wiffler27

    Wiffler27 Pooh-Bah (2,092) Aug 16, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    While I've never had any of them, I've heard great things about Tired Hands HopHands, Hill Farmstead Edward and their collaboration in regards to Karma. But I have had Kane Head High many times and these beers have a similar hop bill. I was fooling around on BeerSmith and considered a pale ale in the 4.5-5 range with Amarillo/Centennial/Simcoe/Columbus that is roughly under 40 IBU.

    I want a good beer without being super bland and boring.
     
    #2 Wiffler27, Jul 4, 2017
  3. Prep8611

    Prep8611 Savant (1,208) Aug 22, 2014 New Jersey

    ya my vote would be for a pale ale although I'd probably go with a simple single or maybe double hop recipe
     
    #3 Prep8611, Jul 4, 2017
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  4. DrMindbender

    DrMindbender Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2014 South Carolina

    I'd go with a Kolsch or a Session Pale Ale personally...something that's crushable and inoffensive. I donated a simple Citra hopped Kolsch to a local festival recently, that served only homebrew, that was the first keg kicked and the general public really liked. For market research sake, on tap beside it was an All Day IPA clone, a basic IPA, a Blood Orange Saison, a Porter and a blended Sour, a fairly well balanced/spaced tap list IMO...the All Day kicked next, soon followed by the Blood Orange Saison and IPA.
     
    #4 DrMindbender, Jul 6, 2017
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  5. GormBrewhouse

    GormBrewhouse Pooh-Bah (2,111) Jun 24, 2015 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah

    +1 to a session pale, minimal hops, like 1 oz cascade @ 60 and another oz. at 5 min.
     
    #5 GormBrewhouse, Jul 6, 2017
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  6. Prep8611

    Prep8611 Savant (1,208) Aug 22, 2014 New Jersey

    What's the decision. Have u ever thought of just making a smash? Sometimes simple beers are the best ones I've made.
     
    #6 Prep8611, Jul 6, 2017
  7. Wiffler27

    Wiffler27 Pooh-Bah (2,092) Aug 16, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    I haven't made up my mind yet, I still have the next 2-3 weeks or so to decide. I've thought of a Kolsch but I don't have temperature control to lager it and someone told me that if kolsch yeast is too warm it gets serious off flavors.

    I haven't done a SMaSH but that may be my choice. Brulosophy has a SMaSH recipe I may steal/tweak
     
    #7 Wiffler27, Jul 6, 2017
  8. Prep8611

    Prep8611 Savant (1,208) Aug 22, 2014 New Jersey

    Sounds like a good idea. You'd be surprised how much everyone will like a clean simple beer. If I can make a recommendation I'd use Maris otter extract since I understand you are an extract brewer. You will get a much more balanced beer using that than something like a pilsner extract
     
    #8 Prep8611, Jul 6, 2017
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  9. Wiffler27

    Wiffler27 Pooh-Bah (2,092) Aug 16, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Would you use Maris Otter or a regular 2-Row pale base? I'm not a huge fan of Pilsen malt anyway
     
    #9 Wiffler27, Jul 6, 2017
  10. Prep8611

    Prep8611 Savant (1,208) Aug 22, 2014 New Jersey

    I would use Maris otter. Much better base malt for a pale ale. You are doing extract correct?
     
    #10 Prep8611, Jul 7, 2017
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  11. Wiffler27

    Wiffler27 Pooh-Bah (2,092) Aug 16, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    I am using extract.

    I'm making a cream ale kit for my family and a self-designed IPA for myself before I brew my Fantasy Football Draft Ale. I have a Sip of Sunshine clone kit bottled, gonna crack one next Wednesday to try it out (it'll be 13 days in the bottle then).

    I'll make it in the 4-5.5% range, I've actually never made a beer this "small". Do you think it would be fine to have it in primary for 14-20 days then bottle?
     
    #11 Wiffler27, Jul 7, 2017
  12. Prep8611

    Prep8611 Savant (1,208) Aug 22, 2014 New Jersey

    Let us know how it turns out!
     
    #12 Prep8611, Jul 7, 2017
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  13. Prep8611

    Prep8611 Savant (1,208) Aug 22, 2014 New Jersey

    If it's small 14 days should be plenty but just check your fg readings
     
    #13 Prep8611, Jul 7, 2017
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  14. GormBrewhouse

    GormBrewhouse Pooh-Bah (2,111) Jun 24, 2015 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah

    Usually with beers below 6 abv I will rack to secondary or bottle after 10 days. 14 or 15 days wont hurt, but moving the beer forward frees up fermenters and or gets the beer bottle conditioning.
    Good luck.
     
    #14 GormBrewhouse, Jul 7, 2017
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