Looking for a good session Blonde

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by inchrisin, May 13, 2014.

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  1. inchrisin

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

    I'm looking for a good blonde ale recipe that's a legit session beer. I want it to stand out as not being an APA but still very drinkable and enjoyable. It's not for people who don't like homebrew. It's for me. I just need 10 gal of a lawnmower beer because it's getting hot outside. I want to go with something spicy and/or earthy and herbal with the hops. The C hops and Simcoe will sit out. I've used them for 2 out of every 3 brews I've done this year.

    I've got:
    Nugget
    Saaz
    Hallertau
    I might also have some Mt. Hood in the back of the freezer.
    and I might bitter with Summit. (Citrus, I know).

    I'm up for buying more hops, but I'd like to see what I can do here. I don't have any experience with blending Saaz with anything other than maybe Hallertau. This sounds kind of German for a Blonde, right?

    Any thoughts on making a spicy beer that will finish clean and be really quaffable for the 90F heat we've got coming our way?

    Here's what I'm seeing:

    5 gal batch (I'll double this)

    I'll mash really high, just to try to keep a little body. 155F for 40 min.

    6# American 2-row Briess
    1.25# Munich malt
    .5# crystal 60L
    .5# carapils

    20 IBU Mt. Hood and Summit @ 60 min
    5 IBU Nugget @ 5 min
    1/2 oz Nugget @ KO

    US 05 @ 66F for 10 days.
     
    #1 inchrisin, May 13, 2014
  2. marquis

    marquis Pooh-Bah (2,313) Nov 20, 2005 England
    Pooh-Bah

    #2 marquis, May 13, 2014
    inchrisin likes this.
  3. pweis909

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

    I agree that you might consider cutting back the crystal or the carpils, depending on desired sweetness. You are already mashing for body; perhaps that will be sufficient and you can reduce the amount of carapils? Sort of depends on what you like, though. To me, reading through your post made me think I would really like something Kolsch-like with some Hallertau, Saaz, and Mt. Hood.
     
    #3 pweis909, May 13, 2014
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  4. drewbeerme

    drewbeerme Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2007 Illinois

    100% Pilsner maybe add some wheat, 50/50 blend of Saaz/hallertau throughout.
     
    #4 drewbeerme, May 13, 2014
  5. MrOH

    MrOH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,995) Jul 5, 2010 Virginia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Ditch the C60L and the carapils, switch the 2row over to pils. The Munich in there might be nice. FWH with whatever of your hops has the lowest AA to 20IBUs. Do an oz of Mt. Hood at FO and do a nice steep/whirlpool.
     
    #5 MrOH, May 13, 2014
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  6. PortLargo

    PortLargo Pooh-Bah (1,831) Oct 19, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    If you want a clean and spicy brew I would use Willamette for finishing. But IMO, clean beers are over-rated. I recommend ditching the US-05 and use something like 3944 (yes, this works) or 3522 and make a Belgian pale with a floral/fruity aroma (very sessionable). Any combination of Saaz/Hallertau/Styrian Golding will work well.
     
    #6 PortLargo, May 13, 2014
  7. wspscott

    wspscott Pooh-Bah (1,958) May 25, 2006 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    I would go with a smaller amount of C60, maybe .25# and no carapils. I would bitter with a little Nugget and use just Saaz for your late additions (assuming you have enough).

    I like PortLargo's idea of a Belgian yeast. I currently have a "low gravity tripel" on tap that was was 9# Pils, some Nelson and 3787. A very tasty and easy to drink beer.
     
    #7 wspscott, May 13, 2014
  8. VikeMan

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

    I like 1968 in a low gravity blonde. Fermented at 66F, it's pretty clean, and it leave s a little more body than Chico.
     
    #8 VikeMan, May 13, 2014
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  9. cmmcdonn

    cmmcdonn Initiate (0) Jun 21, 2009 Virginia

    You already have what you need to make a great beer, but I would still recommend taking a look at "Biermuncher's Centennial Blonde" recipe. It's the only homebrew recipe I know of with it's own "How many gallons have been brewed" thread (5000+). I brewed it once and really enjoyed it, but I subbed in US-05 and fermented low to get those peachy esters.
     
    #9 cmmcdonn, May 13, 2014
    elephantrider likes this.
  10. hoptualBrew

    hoptualBrew Initiate (0) May 29, 2011 Florida

    I like my Blondes:

    75% Pils
    15% Rye malt
    10% Munich 15L

    and use a high attenuating yeast strain. Saaz works well with Blondes I think.
     
    #10 hoptualBrew, May 13, 2014
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