003. Emma's XXV Blueberry Belgian Ale - Beer Recipe - Brewer's Friend

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003. Emma's XXV Blueberry Belgian Ale

158 calories 16.4 g 12 oz
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Beer Stats
Method: Extract
Style: Fruit Beer
Boil Time: 60 min
Batch Size: 5.5 gallons (fermentor volume)
Pre Boil Size: 2.5 gallons
Pre Boil Gravity: 1.106 (recipe based estimate)
Efficiency: 35% (steeping grains only)
Calories: 158 calories (Per 12oz)
Carbs: 16.4 g (Per 12oz)
Created: Sunday February 23rd 2014
1.048
1.012
4.8%
33.1
7.5
n/a
n/a
 
Fermentables
Amount Fermentable Cost PPG °L Bill %
4.10 lb Dry Malt Extract - Wheat4.1 lb Dry Malt Extract - Wheat 42 3 57.7%
2.50 lb Liquid Malt Extract - Amber2.5 lb Liquid Malt Extract - Amber 35 10 35.2%
6.60 lbs / $ 0.00
Steeping Grains
Amount Fermentable Cost PPG °L Bill %
0.50 lb American - Caramel / Crystal 40L0.5 lb Caramel / Crystal 40L 34 40 7%
$ 0.00
 
Hops
Amount Variety Cost Type AA Use Time IBU Bill %
0.50 oz Columbus0.5 oz Columbus Hops Pellet 15.2 Boil 60 min 15.84 25%
0.50 oz Columbus0.5 oz Columbus Hops Pellet 15.2 Boil 30 min 12.17 25%
0.50 oz Cascade0.5 oz Cascade Hops Leaf/Whole 7.7 Boil 15 min 3.62 25%
0.50 oz Cascade0.5 oz Cascade Hops Leaf/Whole 7.7 Boil 5 min 1.45 25%
2 oz / $ 0.00
 
Yeast
Wyeast - Trappist High Gravity 3787
Amount:
1 Each
Cost:
Attenuation (avg):
76%
Flocculation:
Med-High
Optimum Temp:
64 - 78 °F
Starter:
No
$ 0.00 Yeast Pitch Rate and Starter Calculator
Quick Water Requirements
Water Gallons  Quarts
Heat water added to kettle (equipment estimates 6.61 g | 26.4 qt) 2.03 8.1  
Mash volume with grains (equipment estimates 6.61 g | 26.4 qt) 2.07 8.3  
Grain absorption losses (steeping) -0.06 -0.3  
Volume increase from sugar/extract (early additions) 0.53 2.1  
Pre boil volume (equipment estimates 7.08 g | 28.3 qt) 2.5 10  
Boil off losses -1.5 -6  
Hops absorption losses (first wort, boil, aroma) -0.08 -0.3  
Post boil volume 5.5 22  
Going into fermentor 5.5 22  
WARNING: Kettle losses > 2% detected which throw off OG calculation for extract/partial mash recipes in batch target 'fermentor' mode. Solution: Reduce kettle losses, misc losses and hops absorption in equipment profile, OR set batch target to 'kettle' and do a full wort boil. See batch target FAQ.    
Total: 2.03 8.1
Equipment Profile Used: System Default
 
Notes

Brew Day: March 11, 2014.

One boilover - my first!

OG was only 1.048, way below my estimate of min. 1.053...can't explain why. I was kind of drunk and pitched my yeast before extracting the sample for gravity measurement. Maybe that? Probably not? Did I remove too much yeast in my turkey baster? I'll find out if it doesn't ferment / ferment enough.

03/13: Vigorous fermentation!! The airlock I bought didn't have the bottom cut out so no CO2 wasn't escaping - it looked like it was about to blow. I considered a blow-off tube, but I had roughly 1.5 gallons of head-space and didn't think it was necessary. So I put a real airlock back in and the bubbling was very intense. Probably 2 bubbles a second!!

03/25: Bought 4.4 lbs of Canadian wild blueberries from Hartmans for $17. Pre-frozen. After much deliberation, I decided to heat them up for 15 mins at 170F. I let it cool to probably 35C and added it to secondary. I racked beer over top of it and inserted air lock. I probably lost about 0.2 lbs of berries during transfer (messy!). Im really excited to see how this turns out.

Expectations: Hopefully wheat extract pairs well with the blueberry, amber LME and crystal 40L will hopefully add some sweetness and colour, flowery and spicy notes from cascade hops, 3787 yeast will impart some complex fruity esters and phenolics as usually seen in Belgian dubbels or triples, finally 4.4 lbs of blueberries in secondary for two weeks should hopefully impart a subtle to moderate blueberry taste and colour.

Bottled on April 6, 2014. Forgot to take gravity reading - stupid me! I expect it will be 5.0% based on OG, but I can't be sure of the attenuation.

Final bottle on 07/20:

Last bottle is still overcarbed.

Appearance: Deep dark dirty purple. More brown than purple. Probably because of the crystal malt. Dont use next time. Long lasting head, very bubbly.

Aroma: Primarily fruity, slight blueberry.

Taste: Hard to get over the carbonation but notes of dark fruit. Very crisp as a result of the carb.

Mouthfeel: Very light body, very prickly.

Overall: Besides the overcarb, not a terribly bad beer. Ease up on the crystal next time. No amber next time either. Just wheat and 2-row. It makes it too complex, and not the good type.

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  • Last Updated: 2014-10-30 15:38 UTC