Mountain Goat Steam Ale

[carpedaym]

I've never brewed with no hops in the boil, the idea of it makes me nervous but I'm keen to give this recipe a crack.

Same here... I've taken to topping up my fermenter with 1–2L less water than the target volume. That way if I'm short on hop bitterness or flavour as the ferment is slowing down, I can do a mini boil with 100–200g of DME and bump things up a notch while the yeast are still keen to eat up the new fermentables. I will DEFINITELY be doing that with this one!

 

[syl]

Wow.

I have done a standalone taste and I can that it is indeed, VERY accurate. Tastes like a MGSA when you get a super fresh one!!! Colour spot on, if it was CC'd it would be spot on visually.

I am buying a sixer of MGSA tonight and tomorrow I will do a sidy by side test with my brew buddy and put some notes up here.

 

[PhantomEasey]

Sounds great sly, I'm keen to see your results as a fresh MGSA in the middle of summer is pretty damn fine.

 

[Spiesy]

Probably my least favourite beer from the (awesome) Mountain Goat stable.

 

[syl]

Stout my least favourite. But the missus loves it and for all the AHB'ers that have seen the brewery in my apartment. You know I owe her at least this much!

 

[PhantomEasey]

I agree that darker beers are better, but in summer, lawnmower style, I reckon the steam ale is one of the more refreshing ones going around.

 

[Edak]

Have already had a few steams today, quite nice when camping in the country.

I should add that I am only drinking non HB because I have yet to build portable keg solution.

 

[pressure_tested]

Can I swap citra for Vic Secret?
Has anyone made this recipe with ale yeast at ale temps?

 

[Lurks]

I'm a little baffled by Mountain Goat's beer since I specialise in 'steam' beers, Eg. California Commons.

They're not ales for a start but then most other things in the beer don't have anything to do with the style. Which is fine, I guess, but the steam bit is puzzling just the same

 

[syl]

Can I swap citra for Vic Secret?
Has anyone made this recipe with ale yeast at ale temps?

You can, or Mosaic.

Goat use Ale yeasts for this. It isn't to style. Best with US05. 1272 was TOO fruity!

 

[syl]

I'm a little baffled by Mountain Goat's beer since I specialise in 'steam' beers, Eg. California Commons.

They're not ales for a start but then most other things in the beer don't have anything to do with the style. Which is fine, I guess, but the steam bit is puzzling just the same

Yeah. It's just a branding thing this 'steam ale' They use US05!

 

[Spiesy]

The term "Steam Ale" came about as Anchor used to ferment in cool ships on top of the brewery, and during cooler temperatures, steam could be seen rising from the fermentation vessels... or so I heard.

I doubt any of this goes on with the Goat crew.

 

[syl]

The term "Steam Ale" came about as Anchor used to ferment in cool ships on top of the brewery, and during cooler temperatures, steam could be seen rising from the fermentation vessels... or so I heard.

I doubt any of this goes on with the Goat crew.

Haven't seen any ship above the site in Richmond!

 

[pressure_tested]

You can, or Mosaic.

Goat use Ale yeasts for this. It isn't to style. Best with US05. 1272 was TOO fruity!

Cheers, just saving some cash on this one. habe to buy vic secret anyways

 

[markjam]

I'm a little baffled by Mountain Goat's beer since I specialise in 'steam' beers, Eg. California Commons.

They're not ales for a start but then most other things in the beer don't have anything to do with the style. Which is fine, I guess, but the steam bit is puzzling just the same

I think they claim it's a sort of 'reverse' steam beer - rather than brewing with lager yeast at high temperatures, they're brewing with an ale yeast at low temperatures. I guess 'Steam Ale' sounds better than 'Faux Lager'...

 

[Lurks]

I think they claim it's a sort of 'reverse' steam beer - rather than brewing with lager yeast at high temperatures, they're brewing with an ale yeast at low temperatures. I guess 'Steam Ale' sounds better than 'Faux Lager'...

Indeed. Then again it's not malty enough to be a common. Nor does it use the same hops. I personally think the Carlsberg strain (wy2124 I think, or saflager w34/70) make a better drop than cool fermented us05. It's crisper, no doubt due to lager yeast's propensity for munching on a slightly wider range of sugars.

That said if you're hopping it to shit (again out of style) then this stuff probably doesn't matter.

I'm sure the man from Goat is a very nice person but the MG steam ale I had at my uni bar was a worse beer than my coopers K&K pal brews. Bad one?

 

[indica86]

I'm sure the man from Goat is a very nice person but the MG steam ale I had at my uni bar was a worse beer than my coopers K&K pal brews. Bad one?

I must say I had one and it is one of the most revolting beers I have drunk. Bad one too?

 

[carpedaym]

For that crispness, I'd be focusing more on getting the right mash temp and having a nice big pitch of yeast rather than worrying about overly restricting the fermentation temp. And if you are going to start the ferment low, make sure to slowly ramp the temperature up so the little guys finish properly.

 

[GalBrew]

You must have both had bad ones. Steam Ale is one of my go to beers and is delicious. It is also not trying to emulate a Cal Common under any circumstances, but is a 'reverse steam beer' as previously mentioned. Also us-05 is the yeast that MG use on most of their beers so that's what I would go.

 

[yum beer]

Don't know about bad ones....
My first try was flat, lifeless and yuk.....
2nd bottle about 6 months later, supposedly well handled, fresh.....was better, but still not a good beer.
Their IPA is yummy.......Steam Ale, nup....