Ideas for a higher alcohol, easy drinking beer with WLP002

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by tronester, Nov 26, 2012.

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  1. tronester

    tronester Pooh-Bah (1,653) Nov 25, 2006 Oklahoma
    Pooh-Bah

    I've had three batches of beer brewed on a cake of WLP002 Fullers strain of yeast. The first was a dark mild, then a pumpkin beer, now an IPA. I want one final batch to pitch on top.

    I need something that will be ready for the masses to drink at Christmas and maybe around 8% abv.

    I was debating a 100% Rahr pilsner malt base, hopped with magnum to around 15 ibus. That might not work well w the yeast though.

    I have .5oz of magnum left over that I need to use and plenty of Rahr pilsner malt. Any suggestions?
     
    #1 tronester, Nov 26, 2012
  2. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    Are you worried about the ABV? Fullers Golden Pride is a 9% beer, so it will work.
     
    #2 hopfenunmaltz, Nov 26, 2012
  3. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    The only thing around 8% ABV that I would remotely call easy drinking, particularly for the masses, would be something like Duvel, which of course would not be made with an english yeast strain. Though we may have different ideas about what easy drinking is. Is there some reason it needs to be so high in ABV?
     
    #3 VikeMan, Nov 26, 2012
  4. tronester

    tronester Pooh-Bah (1,653) Nov 25, 2006 Oklahoma
    Pooh-Bah

    It doesn't have to be high gravity, no. It's just that the last three batches were around 5% abv or less.

    Something around 6% abv would be ok. Though I realize the yeast strain, malt and hop choices are kind of weird.
     
    #4 tronester, Nov 26, 2012
  5. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Ah. Okay...Magnum isn't really known as a flavor/aroma hop, but I don't think there's anything objectionable about it's (low) flavor/aroma either. So if you really want to use those (and only those) ingredients, you certainly could do a SMaSH with Rahr Pilsner, Magnum Hops, and WLP002. It wouldn't fit any style really. Also, if you can only get to 15 IBUs (I haven't done the math), and given the relatively low attenuation of WLP002, I think at 6% ABV it may turn out something like a very under-bittered ESB. If that sounds appealing, go for it. I'm not sure I would try this myself unless it was much lower gravity. Or maybe add some spices in the space vacated by the low hop bittering.
     
    #5 VikeMan, Nov 27, 2012
  6. tronester

    tronester Pooh-Bah (1,653) Nov 25, 2006 Oklahoma
    Pooh-Bah

    Well I am in the brewing process right now. I came up with this idea: http://hopville.com/recipe/1665287

    Its a cream ale, I forgot I had a pound of flaked maize laying around. I realize the Fullers strain of yeast is pretty flavorful, so it may not exactly be to style, but after a relative mentioned Genesse Cream Ale at thanksgiving, I figured this might work out ok.
     
    #6 tronester, Dec 1, 2012
  7. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    It seems to me that Fuller's used to use maize in some of their beers. Probably not Rahr Pilsner malt, though. My experience with the Fuller's strain is that it is more neutral than several other English yeasts, especially if fermented at the low end of the range. Looks like a cream ale to me.
     
    #7 pweis909, Dec 3, 2012
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