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Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 12:58 pm
by gm-
I have made this 3 times now to keep around for guests that are not into big and hoppy beers. Based on the weed feed and mow from Brewing Classic Styles, but with few additions.

45% Canadian 2 row
44% German Pils
5% Carahelles
5% Dexterose
1% Black malt (for little colour)

Mashed low (~66°C) for dry and crispy ale.

Hops
Tettnanger at 60 min up to 20 IBUs
Small Tettnanger addition at flameout (1/2 oz for 5 gal batch)

Fermented with US-05 at 18°C for clean flavour, becomes better with some lagering (~2 weeks or so).

I've usually kegged it and added some gelatin for a brilliantly clear beer. Most people don't realize is a homebrew (not sure that is a good thing or not, but it serves it's purpose)

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 1:05 pm
by GuingesRock
Would you say more about how you use the gelatin please. How much and when you put it in, does it need to be mixed with anything, sanitation etc. Have you used any other finings in the keg? Is that the best one in your experience. Thanks

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 2:04 pm
by gm-
GuingesRock wrote:Would you say more about how you use the gelatin please. How much and when you put it in, does it need to be mixed with anything, sanitation etc. Have you used any other finings in the keg? Is that the best one in your experience. Thanks
I fill the keg with the beer, place it in my keezer for 24 hours or so. After that I take a sanitized measuring cup, add a 2/3 cup of preboiled cooled water and mix in a teaspoon or so of unflavoured gelatin, the bulk barn has it in bulk quite cheap, but knox works fine as well. I then microwave it for 10-15 sec at a time up to 66°C to pasteurize. I then dump the gelatin mixture into the keg, give the keg a good swirl, connect the CO2 and purge. After 2 days or so you will have crystal clear beer, the first two pints will be cloudy, but after that, they will be extremely clear.

I've only used gelatin, maybe others can chip in with their experience on others such as isinglass. Gelatin works well, and is cheap and easy to use.

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 2:05 pm
by Araxi
Love that name, I'll bet we all have a recipe for those people.

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 3:38 pm
by GuingesRock
gm- wrote:
GuingesRock wrote:Would you say more about how you use the gelatin please. How much and when you put it in, does it need to be mixed with anything, sanitation etc. Have you used any other finings in the keg? Is that the best one in your experience. Thanks
I fill the keg with the beer, place it in my keezer for 24 hours or so. After that I take a sanitized measuring cup, add a 2/3 cup of preboiled cooled water and mix in a teaspoon or so of unflavoured gelatin, the bulk barn has it in bulk quite cheap, but knox works fine as well. I then microwave it for 10-15 sec at a time up to 66°C to pasteurize. I then dump the gelatin mixture into the keg, give the keg a good swirl, connect the CO2 and purge. After 2 days or so you will have crystal clear beer, the first two pints will be cloudy, but after that, they will be extremely clear.

I've only used gelatin, maybe others can chip in with their experience on others such as isinglass. Gelatin works well, and is cheap and easy to use.
Thanks very much!

I agree with making some beer that non beer people can drink. I do the same. It's better to have a whole lot of happy people, than a lot of people sitting looking very glum and pretending they like your beer.

You don’t mention the ABV, but if you made that beer around 8.5 – 9 %, after a couple of glasses you will be able to move them on easily to the really hoppy stuff. I know that from experience. :twisted:

I don't have enough experience to comment otherwise on the beer, but I'm sure it's good...and good for beer people too.

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 6:01 pm
by dexter
GuingesRock wrote:
gm- wrote:
GuingesRock wrote:Would you say more about how you use the gelatin please. How much and when you put it in, does it need to be mixed with anything, sanitation etc. Have you used any other finings in the keg? Is that the best one in your experience. Thanks
I fill the keg with the beer, place it in my keezer for 24 hours or so. After that I take a sanitized measuring cup, add a 2/3 cup of preboiled cooled water and mix in a teaspoon or so of unflavoured gelatin, the bulk barn has it in bulk quite cheap, but knox works fine as well. I then microwave it for 10-15 sec at a time up to 66°C to pasteurize. I then dump the gelatin mixture into the keg, give the keg a good swirl, connect the CO2 and purge. After 2 days or so you will have crystal clear beer, the first two pints will be cloudy, but after that, they will be extremely clear.

I've only used gelatin, maybe others can chip in with their experience on others such as isinglass. Gelatin works well, and is cheap and easy to use.
Thanks very much!



I agree with making some beer that non beer people can drink. I do the same. It's better to have a whole lot of happy people, than a lot of people sitting looking very glum and pretending they like your beer.

You don’t mention the ABV, but if you made that beer around 8.5 – 9 %, after a couple of glasses you will be able to move them on easily to the really hoppy stuff. I know that from experience. :twisted:

I don't have enough experience to comment otherwise on the beer, but I'm sure it's good...and good for beer people too.
So you get them drunk and then feed them hoppy beer?




I like your style! :cheers2:

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 8:00 pm
by gm-
Pint of it, needs a tad more carbonation, but extremely quaffable beer

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2013 7:25 pm
by BasilD
Hey guys, just curious if this process may be modified to work with bottleling. And if so would you suggest adding the gelatin sollution with the priming sugar.

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2013 7:15 am
by adams81
I've used gelatin successfully by adding it to the secondary about three days before bottling. I find it works best if I cold crash at the same time.

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:45 am
by jtmwhyte
Does this one go with a 90 minute or 60 minute boil?

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 11:09 am
by jacinthebox
I'd do a 90min with that much pils

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 11:27 am
by gm-
Yeah, I've always done 90 min boils on it.

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 11:54 am
by jtmwhyte
I might try this out but the lightest crystal I have is 30

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 12:47 pm
by mr x
I have lots of c10 and carastan 13-17, but it will be a few days before I am home.

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 12:52 pm
by jtmwhyte
mr x wrote:I have lots of c10 and carastan 13-17, but it will be a few days before I am home.
I likely won't be ready to brew until next week sometime (doing a double batch of pale ale on the weekend). Let me know when you're around and I'll bottle off some recompense :rockin:

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 1:06 pm
by mr x
Sure. Pick your preference and weight.

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 4:31 pm
by jtmwhyte
mr x wrote:Sure. Pick your preference and weight.
since I'll likely F@ck up the first one I'd probably be safer going with 2#

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 4:32 pm
by mr x
C10 or carastan ?

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 7:42 pm
by jtmwhyte
mr x wrote:C10 or carastan ?
C-10

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 9:34 pm
by mr x
It appears I didn't know my inventory. No C10. :x

I put out some carastan 13-17 if you want it. In the plastic honey tub. Your bottles are there too.

Re: Good beer for people who like bad beer - Cream Ale

Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 12:55 pm
by jtmwhyte
Okay thanks X. I'm in Truro with the family until 3 then I will swing by.