So I have tomorrow off and thought it might be fun to start up a homebrew. I'm still very new to the game, this would only be my third and both times I used some of those Brewers Best kits, both have used LME. I have a great homebrew store a couple towns over from me so I plan to go there and talk with the staff there. I'm Looking to expand a little more beyond just the kits and wondering if anybody had any "idiot proof" recipes they've had success with that they'd be willing to share. Recently really enjoyed a Mayflower Spring Hop Ale last week and was thinking a hoppy red/amber ale would be great to be drinking over the next couple months. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for anyone who took the time to read this.
I have lots of idiot proof recipes. I might suggest elderberry wheat if you're still on pure extract. Get a package of elderberries and enough wheat extract to make about a 1.050 starting gravity beer. Add the elderberries at 20 minutes left in the boil. Adds a nice purple color and a light tartness/fruitiness. The beer has got raving reviews twice now and I'm gong to brew it again soon. The hops don't matter that much. Use low AA, non-threatening hops like saaz or hallertau or willamette, an ounce at 60 and an ounce at 10 minutes (probably negotiable on the hops scedule). All grain version here.
VERY interesting, I'm a little skeptical though just because I'm generally not a big fan of wheat beers, but I'm not ruling this one out.
I like a good hoppy American Wheat when it's getting warm. There's so Gumballhead clone recipes out there that I used as a starting point, and it's a fairly simple type of beer to brew. Use Wyeast 1056 or 05 for a clean fermentation instead of a hefe yeast. 2-3 hops, go for a nice citrusy/fruity combo (I brew mine with Citra and Amarillo). Been a crowd pleaser the past two years. I'm not a big wheat beer fan either, but I dig a hoppy wheat made with 1056. That elderberry wheat is interesting, might have to put that one on the schedule.
This is my hesitation with wheats I really didn't care for Gumballhead; I appreciate the suggestion though.
I love gumball head but I generally don't care for hoppy wheats. I really can't figure out why, as I like "hoppy" and I like "wheat" and I like "gumball head." But mostly the hoppy wheats I've tried I wouldn't buy a second sixer of. I do think of wheats beers as good spring/summer beers tho. I suppose my own recipe is dear to me because of it's novelty (color), it's slight tartness (berries), and the fact that it's "my" recipe* *honestly, I don't remember where I came up with the idea, but no doubt "it's been done before"
Ha! No recipe is idiot proof says me! And I should know. I would suggest getting "Brewing Classic Styles" by Jamil Z. and John Palmer. I wouldn't call them idiot proof, but I would say that the recipes are great as is for each style.
