1. You need Untappd for Business. Get a demo, get a $25 gift card. It's that easy.
    Dismiss Notice

Grain bill for a single hop pale ales

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by JuliusPepperwood, Nov 28, 2014.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. JuliusPepperwood

    JuliusPepperwood Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2013 North Carolina

    I started brewing late last year and moved to all grain this spring. I recently wanted to experiment more with hops and get a better idea of their flavors and characteristics. So I am going to begin brewing single hop pale ales but need some advice on the grain bill. I thought I'd go with 2 or 3 malts to balance out the hops a little but still let them shine. I thought about a doing a SMaSH but a local brewery does a single malt single hop series and their beer always seems too light and thin.

    I was thinking 80-90% 2 row pale but wasn't sure about the remaining grain. Munich? Crystal? Victory? Vienna?
     
    #1 JuliusPepperwood, Nov 28, 2014
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2014
  2. Homebrew42

    Homebrew42 Initiate (0) Dec 20, 2006 New York

    It really depends on exactly what you want the beer to look/taste/feel like, but something like 85% 2-row, 10% munich, 5% crystal would be reasonable.
     
    #2 Homebrew42, Nov 28, 2014
    MrOH, JuliusPepperwood, Scope4Beer and 1 other person like this.
  3. flagmantho

    flagmantho Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,992) Feb 19, 2009 Washington
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I used to do about 10-15% Victory and the remainder 2-row pale for my single-hop beers, particularly IPAs. But this could easily work for a pale, too.
     
    #3 flagmantho, Nov 28, 2014
  4. inchrisin

    inchrisin Pooh-Bah (2,013) Sep 25, 2008 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    1/2# of 40L and a pound or two of Munich. 1/2# of carapils makes it into the grist too.
     
    #4 inchrisin, Nov 28, 2014
  5. JuliusPepperwood

    JuliusPepperwood Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2013 North Carolina

    Looking for a rich amber color with a medium feel (something similar to Sierra Nevada's PA would be great).

    Flavor wise, just a crisp hop forward pale ale. Nothing nutty or spicy just a little malt sweetness to balance out the hops. But the plan is for it to be a bit hop forward.

    I was leaning towards munich and crystal to go with the 2-row. Was worried victory would add some nutty flavors and vienna might impart biscuit flavors.
     
    #5 JuliusPepperwood, Nov 29, 2014
  6. Homebrew42

    Homebrew42 Initiate (0) Dec 20, 2006 New York

    Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is brewed simply with 2-row and crystal.
     
    #6 Homebrew42, Nov 29, 2014
  7. JuliusPepperwood

    JuliusPepperwood Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2013 North Carolina

    I looked up SNPA recipes and think I'll go with 90% 2-row and 10% C20 or C30. Should give me good color and a simple malt presence.
     
    #7 JuliusPepperwood, Nov 29, 2014
  8. hoptualBrew

    hoptualBrew Initiate (0) May 29, 2011 Florida

    I like 3-5% Honey malt in my pales, no crystal. I usually throw in some Munich & Pale wheat as well.
     
    #8 hoptualBrew, Nov 29, 2014
  9. Robtobfest

    Robtobfest Initiate (0) Oct 21, 2009 Connecticut

    I'll second the honey malt. I brewed a Stone San Diego Session Ale clone and I really dug what the honey malt brought to it.
     
    #9 Robtobfest, Nov 30, 2014
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.