Alpha Pale Ale

[JSB]

final recipe....

BeerSmith Recipe Printout - www.beersmith.com
Recipe: 0016 Alpha Paler Ale
Style: American Pale Ale
TYPE: All Grain


Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 23.00 L
Boil Size: 30.67 L
Estimated OG: 1.055 SG
Estimated Color: 23.1 EBC
Estimated IBU: 37.4 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.00 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
5.20 kg BB Ale Malt (5.9 EBC) Grain 90.91 %
0.25 kg JWM Crystal 140 (145.8 EBC) Grain 4.37 %
0.10 kg JWM Wheat Malt (3.9 EBC) Grain 1.75 %
0.10 kg Weyermann Melanoidin (70.9 EBC) Grain 1.75 %
0.07 kg Bairds Pale Chocolate Malt (500.4 EBC) Grain 1.22 %
25.00 gm CB - Northern Brewer [8.50 %] (60 min) Hops 22.4 IBU
10.00 gm CB-06 Cascade [6.70 %] (30 min) Hops 5.4 IBU
10.00 gm CB-06 Cascade [6.70 %] (15 min) Hops 3.5 IBU
10.00 gm CB-06 Cascade [6.70 %] (10 min) Hops 2.6 IBU
20.00 gm CB-06 Cascade [6.70 %] (5 min) Hops 2.8 IBU
20.00 gm CB-06 Cascade [6.70 %] (1 min) Hops 0.6 IBU
10.00 gm CB-06 Cascade [6.70 %] (Dry Hop 10 days) Hops -
5.00 gm CB-06 Amarillo [8.90 %] (Dry Hop 10 days) Hops -
0.05 tsp Sodium Met (Mash 60.0 min) Misc
0.50 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs US-56 (Safale) Yeast-Ale

Any other recommendations/comments

 

[Thirsty Boy]

I've dropped Brad (Rodgers, the head brewer) an e-mail to ask him if he would be kind enough to give a little recipe advice. Of course he only has a very little less reason to tell me to piss off than joe blow off the street, so there might be no joy. But then again... there might.

 

[ausdb]

I've dropped Brad (Rodgers, the head brewer) an e-mail to ask him if he would be kind enough to give a little recipe advice. Of course he only has a very little less reason to tell me to piss off than joe blow off the street, so there might be no joy. But then again... there might.

He's normally pretty helpful, showing him you have done your homework helps

 

[Thirsty Boy]

Received a reply from Brad.

Fairly helpful - but not quite the completely detail hopping regime that I never really expected to get.. but hoped for.

LOTS of cascade late in the boil. And also dry hopped towards the end of fermentation (secondary for HB purposes I imagine)
They have used but dont always use a "touch of Amarillo, not much though" dry hopped.
And somewhere in there there is Mt Hood and Centenial.

And he says it Fermented with 1056, slowly at around 16C


So thats a little more information to go on at least.

Thirsty

 

[Jye]

Thats some good info TB. I think we have the grain bill sorted from the info on the web site and below is my version of a hopping schedule.

Being a commercial brewery I think there are a few conditions for the hops... relatively simple hopping and the high AA hop variety for bittering. Im still unsure on the mt hood as it will be over powered by all the late cascade but given that centennial is probably used for bittering (and I dont really get it in the flavour) mt hood could be in there for flavor somewhere.

Plus some calcium sulfate to make the hop stick out.

Alcohol: 5.2% OG 1.053
Bitterness: 35 IBU
Colour: 23EBC

92% Pale Malt
8% Crystal, Dark

Centennial [10.00%] (60 min) Hops 24 IBU
1 g/L Mt. Hood [6.00%] (15 min) Hops 6 IBU
2 g/L Cascade [6.00%] (5 min) Hops 5 IBU
2 g/L Cascade [6.00%] (Dry Hop 5 days) Hops -

1 Pkgs American Ale (Wyeast Labs #1056) Yeast-Ale

 

[Ross]

Thats some good info TB. I think we have the grain bill sorted from the info on the web site and below is my version of a hopping schedule.

Being a commercial brewery I think there are a few conditions for the hops... relatively simple hopping and the high AA hop variety for bittering. Im still unsure on the mt hood as it will be over powered by all the late cascade but given that centennial is probably used for bittering (and I dont really get it in the flavour) mt hood could be in there for flavor somewhere.

Plus some calcium sulfate to make the hop stick out.

Alcohol: 5.2% OG 1.053
Bitterness: 35 IBU
Colour: 23EBC

92% Pale Malt
8% Crystal, Dark

Centennial [10.00%] (60 min) Hops 24 IBU
1 g/L Mt. Hood [6.00%] (15 min) Hops 6 IBU
2 g/L Cascade [6.00%] (5 min) Hops 5 IBU
2 g/L Cascade [6.00%] (Dry Hop 5 days) Hops -

1 Pkgs American Ale (Wyeast Labs #1056) Yeast-Ale

you giving this one a whirl Jye? Is the Alpha pale available up here anywhere?

Cheers Ross

 

[Jye]

you giving this one a whirl Jye? Is the Alpha pale available up here anywhere?

Cheers Ross

Ive only had it at the Stones Corner bar... may have to go back for a few more samples before brewing it

 

[Guest Lurker]

Hey Jye

Over here in the west, I have a reputation for spitting beer that has dark crystal in it back in the face of the bloke that made it. Really dont like it. But I really like Alpha Ale. Are you sure about that 8%? At 8% I would expect to be getting raisin/plum/sherryn flavours that I dont really taste in that beer?

 

[Jye]

Your right, 8% is a fair bit. I took 'dark crystal' from the web site to mean crystal but maybe its chocolate? 2% will get you in the correct colour range without the flavour addition.

 

[Thirsty Boy]

I forgot to mention what he said about the grain bill...

"A touch of crystal malt for palate weight and colour"

So I reckon its maybe a little less than 8%, and probably a mid range rather than a really dark crystal... or maybe its a really dark crystal and only a % or two.

I reckon some of that Centenial and Mt hood might be later in the boil. I really get a chunk of stuff from the Alpha hop profile that isn't normal Cascadiness. I don't know what Centenial tastes like... but I reckon some of the herbaceous/resinous thing could be Mt hood, they're kinda pungent like that.

I wouldn't worry about ascribing the highest Alpha Acid hop as the "bittering" hop from a cost perspective. I don't think cost really plays a big part in the way Brad designs his beers. And they get it back when they sell you a bottle. Have you seen how much that stuff costs for a case??

But it probably is bittered mainly with the centenial anyway. I'll have crack at this one sooner or later and I think I'll pretty much follow your recipe.. but with a little less crystal and maybe reserve a little of the Mt Hood and Centenial for the flavour addition.

I'm trying to set up spending an afternoon out at the Garage to watch them do a brew. I've got the nod, just a matter of timing. If I can get some more inside info when I'm out there, I'll pass it along.

Thirsty

 

[bconnery]

you giving this one a whirl Jye? Is the Alpha pale available up here anywhere?

Cheers Ross

Ross,
I've seen it at a few independent stores in Brisbane. The website lists their stockists if I recall correctly...
http://www.matildabay.com/
Chalk and Cheese, West End; Chalk and Cheese, Teneriffe; Spotted Cow Hotel, Toowoomba; Vegas Liquor, Brisbane CBD; Vegas Liquor, Indooroopilly.
Plus Dan Murphy's, but not necessarily for their small batch range, of which alpha pale ale is currently one according to the site...

 

[Jye]

I'm trying to set up spending an afternoon out at the Garage to watch them do a brew. I've got the nod, just a matter of timing. If I can get some more inside info when I'm out there, I'll pass it along.

Thirsty

Keep an eye out for any whiteboards :lol:

 

[JSB]

Thanks Jye & TB and other contributors

Here are the two recipes for Sunday.....


Recipe: 0016 Alpha Paler Ale v1

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 23.00 L
Boil Size: 30.67 L
Estimated OG: 1.052 SG
Estimated Color: 23.0 EBC
Estimated IBU: 35.4 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.00 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
5.10 kg BB Ale Malt (5.9 EBC) Grain 93.24 %
0.30 kg JWM Crystal 140 (145.8 EBC) Grain 5.48 %
0.07 kg Bairds Pale Chocolate Malt (500.4 EBC) Grain 1.28 %
25.00 gm CB-05 Centennial [9.40 %] (60 min) Hops 25.3 IBU
5.00 gm CB-06 Cascade [6.70 %] (30 min) Hops 2.8 IBU
5.00 gm CB-05 Centennial [9.40 %] (30 min) Hops 3.9 IBU
20.00 gm CB-06 Cascade [6.70 %] (5 min) Hops 2.9 IBU
20.00 gm CB-06 Cascade [6.70 %] (1 min) Hops 0.6 IBU
5.00 gm CB-06 Amarillo [8.90 %] (Dry Hop 10 days)Hops -
10.00 gm CB-06 Cascade [6.70 %] (Dry Hop 10 days) Hops -
0.05 tsp Sodium Met (Mash 60.0 min) Misc
0.50 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs US-56 (Safale) Yeast-Ale

Recipe: 0017 Alpha Paler Ale v2

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 23.00 L
Boil Size: 30.67 L
Estimated OG: 1.052 SG
Estimated Color: 23.0 EBC
Estimated IBU: 36.8 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.00 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
5.10 kg BB Ale Malt (5.9 EBC) Grain 93.24 %
0.30 kg JWM Crystal 140 (145.8 EBC) Grain 5.48 %
0.07 kg Bairds Pale Chocolate Malt (500.4 EBC) Grain 1.28 %
20.00 gm Simcoe [11.90 %] (60 min) Hops 25.6 IBU
5.00 gm Simcoe [11.90 %] (30 min) Hops 4.9 IBU
5.00 gm CB-06 Cascade [6.70 %] (30 min) Hops 2.8 IBU
20.00 gm CB-06 Cascade [6.70 %] (5 min) Hops 2.9 IBU
20.00 gm CB-06 Cascade [6.70 %] (1 min) Hops 0.6 IBU
5.00 gm CB-06 Amarillo [8.90 %] (Dry Hop 10 days)Hops -
10.00 gm CB-06 Cascade [6.70 %] (Dry Hop 10 days) Hops -
0.05 tsp Sodium Met (Mash 60.0 min) Misc
0.50 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs US-56 (Safale) Yeast-Ale

Cheers & I'll report back..

JSB

 

[JSB]

Ok gents - just kegged the two Alpha Pale knock offs - Brew 17 with Simcoe Amarillo nice but no Alpha......

Brew 16 - Malt complexity very low.....quite thinnish, attenuation was way up......Hop characteristic not far off piney, slight grassy note - maybe the Amarillo dry hop which I find subsides with time - definitely more Centennial needed in the flavour additions minus the cascade......very nice refreshing ale - which I find Alpha Pale to be, This one will be for x-mas so a bit of extended conditioning may round it out a touch


Recipe: 0016 Alpha Paler Ale v1

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 23.00 L
Boil Size: 30.67 L
Estimated OG: 1.052 SG
Estimated Color: 23.0 EBC
Estimated IBU: 35.4 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.00 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
5.10 kg BB Ale Malt (5.9 EBC) Grain 93.24 %
0.30 kg JWM Crystal 140 (145.8 EBC) Grain 5.48 %
0.07 kg Bairds Pale Chocolate Malt (500.4 EBC) Grain 1.28 %
25.00 gm CB-05 Centennial [9.40 %] (60 min) Hops 25.3 IBU
5.00 gm CB-06 Cascade [6.70 %] (30 min) Hops 2.8 IBU
5.00 gm CB-05 Centennial [9.40 %] (30 min) Hops 3.9 IBU
20.00 gm CB-06 Cascade [6.70 %] (5 min) Hops 2.9 IBU
20.00 gm CB-06 Cascade [6.70 %] (1 min) Hops 0.6 IBU
5.00 gm CB-06 Amarillo [8.90 %] (Dry Hop 10 days)Hops -
10.00 gm CB-06 Cascade [6.70 %] (Dry Hop 10 days) Hops -
0.05 tsp Sodium Met (Mash 60.0 min) Misc
0.50 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs US-56 (Safale) Yeast-Ale

 

[Thirsty Boy]

Cool, sounds like you are nearly there.

Mash a little warmer, swap out some cascade for centennial. Maybe use a british ale malt for more malt flavour??

What temps did you mash at.. how long etc etc

TB

 

[JSB]

Thanks TB for your help - I will try with some Bairds MO & Crystal next time, and mash up the temp scale a touch

Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Medium Body
Total Grain Weight: 5.47 kg
----------------------------
Single Infusion, Medium Body
Step Time Name Step Temp
60 min Mash In 66.0 C
10 min Mash Out 76.0 C

 

[Jye]

I'm trying to set up spending an afternoon out at the Garage to watch them do a brew. I've got the nod, just a matter of timing. If I can get some more inside info when I'm out there, I'll pass it along.

Thirsty

Have you managed to make it out there Thirsty?

Im giving my recipe above a crack today and any further insight would be great.

 

[asis]

Sorry to drag up an old thread, but there isn't much information on Alpha Ale and I'm keen to have a go at it.

Just wondering if anyone has had any success or more information? Thirsty?

Thanks

Adam

 

[Osangar]

I am also interested in some further feedback if available

JSB after a long conditioning if the beer lasted that long, what was your thoughts on recipe tweaks. Which was close to the intended taste, v1 or v2.

Thirsty, did you find any further guidance for those interested in the Alpha.

As a side note is it me, or does Alpha Pale seem less.hopy than it has before ?

 

[MattC]

!!Bump!!