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6/1/2020
it really has turned a corner after a couple weeks - at first it was fruity and cloyingly sweet but now it seems drier, cleaner, and definitely clearer. it almost tastes like a lager. i cant stop sippin it! probably could try brewing it down to 4.5 or 5%
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5/14/2020
Fg 1.0025. Is that even possible.
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5/2/2020: brewed this tonight. changed the recipe to take a full oz at 15 min instead of 0.5. just so i dont have a half oz bag floating around for 6 more years. adjusted recipe for OG (was 1048, now 1045) and efficiency (69->65); more explanation on that below.
tried recirculation / vorlauf . not a really defined or repeatable pattern but the wort looked pretty clear during cooling. first runnings i actually took after recirculation was still pretty hazy, 2nd runnings looked clearer but the photos and videos make them look the same. also towards the end i had to tip the mash tun to get everything out, that came out hazy. probably rather want to heat up more sparge water so i can keep sparging without tipping until i have enough wort. came out with 4.5 gallons. original OG was 1048 but i was at 1050, tried to top up without overshooting it but i did, final OG was 1050 on about 5 gallons.
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12/13/19 : never got the brewers gold in the mail. many recipes im browsing use williamette so lets go with that. previous "blonde" and many online do no late additions but i cant help it. maybe should reconsider.
BYO also suggests you can use Glacier, U.S. Fuggle, U.S. Tettnang or Styrian Goldings as alternatives.
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9/5/19: changing out cluster for brewers gold - should be getting some free in the mail soon....lowering IBU to under 20. abv is high for style but oh well :-)
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8/15/19: reformulating this one with 2row instead of british; dropping the honey malt for lighter less crazy crystal malt. everything else the same. hopefully a lot lighter color, get rid of honey malt flavor for cleaner plainer more classic blonde ale flavors...
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8/14/19:
first couple pints are not so great. first of all, the beer is really really deep golden. i wonder if oxidized but i vaguely remember the color being too dark during mash. i suppose honey malt is darker than i thought. second, the beer just isnt great, really way too sweet, needs more balance. partially i cant get past the ugly color. im reading now that people typically use 2-4% honey malt, i used 6. next time may use just a tiny bit if any, will try some other lighter crystal malt to try to achieve more appropriate FG. this one fermented way down to 1.005 or something like that
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7/29/19 :
decided to rebrew this, it was good. im having issues with final gravity either because of my mash or the yeast, so im adding some honey malt. i also switched to golden promise this time (just because of an inventory opportunity to use something new). i am planning to mash 150 again but maybe for only 30 minutes with the crystal malt and yeast to see if the FG comes out really low again. i suppose i should probably only change one thing at a time. will decide on brew day i guess. also i would like to cold crash this thing for a week or more to really try to get it clear from the first pour.
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The Brain : originally was supposed to be a cream ale except with 100% 2 row malt instead of using sugar to supplement. With the wy 1272 it came out fruity and hazy so i called it summer ale. after a while though the haze settled and it was kind of malty clean and clear, i started calling it blonde ale.
