In January of 2007, we started home brewing again after a 10-year hiatus. We started in the fall of 2006 with a few batches of hard apple cider. Since the cider turned out so well, we thought we'd try a few ales. From January to May in 2007, we made 13 batches of beer, most of which turned out great.
Fall of 2007 started up the second season of brewing. Our biggest success from spring of 2007, a Kolsch style ale, was the featured ale for the 2007-2008 brewing season. We are making two batches of something else and then two batches using Kolsch yeast.
As of February 2008, we made two batches of organic pale ale, a golden Kolsch, a Negra Modelo clone with Kolsch yeast that we named Negra Wisconsin, a dry stout, a porter, another golden Kolsch, a pilsner Kolsch, a Scottish ale, and a spiced dark ale made with molasses, fresh grated ginger, cloves and nutmeg. Recipes will be posted below as we make them.
We buy all the ingredients at Northern Brewer in St. Paul, MN. Most of the recipes are based on the "Guidelines for Brewing 5 Gallons on Traditional Beer" section in The New Complete Joy of Home Brewing by Charles Papazian.
 | 6 lbs discounted organic light malt extract |
| 1/2 lb crystal malt specialty grain |
| 1 oz Cascade hops (8.5 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/2 oz Willamette hops - flavor |
| 1056 Wyeast American ale yeast |
Moved to secondary fermenter on 11/04/07. Bottled on 11/17/07.
It tasted ok but the discounted malt may have a little off. It was a
little flat.
| 6 lbs discounted organic light malt extract |
| 1/2 lb crystal malt specialty grain |
| 1 oz Cascade hops (8.5 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/2 oz Yakima Goldings hops - flavor |
| 1056 Wyeast American ale yeast |
Used 1 quart the fermenting ale from the previous batch. Transferred to the secondary fermenter on 11/17/07. Bottled on 11/22/07. This ale also tasted a little off, perhaps from the old extract. It was not flat like the first batch.
| 6 lbs golden malt extract |
| no specialty grains |
| 1 oz Northern Brewer hops (6.5 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/2 oz German Perle hops (4.0 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/2 oz Saaz pellet hops - flavor |
| 1/2 oz German Perle hops - aroma |
| 2565 Wyeast Kosch yeast |
Moved to secondary fermenter on 11/25/07. Bottled on 12/29/07. Tastes great!
| 6 lbs amber malt extract |
| 1/2 lb medium crystal malt specialty grain |
| 1/4 lb chocolate roasted specialty grain |
| 1 oz German Perle hops (7.9 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/2 oz Saaz pellet hops - flavor |
| 2565 Wyeast Kolsch yeast |
This was to be a Negra Modelo dark ale clone. We used the Vienna lager recipe in The New Complete Joy of Home Brewing by Charles Papazian. Used 1 quart the fermenting ale from the previous batch. Bottled on 12/29/07. It tastes quite a bit like Negra Modelo.
| 6 lbs dark malt extract |
| 1/2 lb medium crystal malt specialty grain |
| 1/2 lb chocolate roasted specialty grain |
| 1/2 lb black roasted specialty grain |
| 1 oz Chinook hops (12.9 HBU) - bittering |
| 1084 Wyeast Irish Ale yeast |
Moved to secondary fermenter on 01/06/08. Bottled on 01/18/08. Tastes great.
| 6 lbs amber malt extract |
| 1/4 lb coffee roasted specialty grain |
| 1/4 lb black roasted specialty grain |
| 2/3 oz Magnum hops (9.3 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/2 oz Yakima Goldings - flavor |
Used 1 quart the fermenting ale from the previous batch. Moved to secondary fermenter on 01/20/08. Bottled on 01/26/08. Tastes great.
| 6 lbs golden malt extract |
| no specialty grains |
| 2/3 oz Magnum hops (9.3 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/4 oz German Northern Brewer hops - flavor |
| 1/4 oz German Northern Brewer hops - aroma |
| 2565 Wyeast Kolsch yeast |
Moved to secondary fermenter on 01/26/08. Bottled on 02/17/08. Tastes great.
| 6 lbs pilsen malt extract |
| no specialty grains |
| 2/3 oz Magnum hops (9.3 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/4 oz German Northern Brewer hops - flavor |
| 1/4 oz German Northern Brewer hops - aroma |
| 2565 Wyeast Kolsch yeast |
Used 1 quart the fermenting ale from the previous batch. Bottled on 02/23/08.
| 6 lbs amber malt extract |
| 1 lb medium crystal specialty grain |
| 1/4 lb chocolate roasted specialty grain |
| 1 oz Yakima Goldings hops (4.6 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/4 oz Chinook hops (3.2 HBU) - bittering |
| no flavor or aroma hops |
| 1728 Wyeast Scottish Ale yeast |
Moved to secondary fermenter on 02/24/08. Bottled on 03/08/08. Tasted good at bottling.
| 6 lbs amber malt extract |
| 1 lb black strap molasses |
| 1/4 lb coffee roasted specialty grain |
| 1/4 lb black roasted specialty grain |
| 1/2 lb chocolate roasted specialty grain |
| 4 oz shredded ginger root |
| 1 tsp ground nutmeg |
| 1 tsp ground cloves |
| 3/4 oz Chinook hops (9.0 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/8 oz Chinook hops - aroma |
Used 1 quart the fermenting ale from the previous batch. Bottled on 03/08/08. Even warm and flat, this tasted like molasses cookies dunked in coffee, yum!
| 6 lbs Munich malt extract |
| 1 1/2 lbs amber malt extract |
| 1/2 lb toasted munich pilsen specialty grain |
| 1/2 lb Weyermann Caramunich III specialty grain |
| 1/8 organic chocolate roasted specialty grain |
| 1/2 oz Magnum hops (7 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/2 oz German Spalt hops - flavor & aroma |
| 2565 Wyeast Kolsch yeast |
Brew in March, drink in fall. The yeast started right away so hopefully, it should be a good one. Moved to the secondary fermenter on 03/16/08. Bottled on 3/30/08.
| 6 lbs Munich malt extract |
| 1 lb amber malt extract |
| 1/2 lb toasted munich pilsen specialty grain |
| 1/2 lb Weyermann Caramunich III specialty grain |
| 1/8 organic chocolate roasted specialty grain |
| 1/2 oz Magnum hops (7 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/2 oz German Spalt hops - flavor |
| 2565 Wyeast Kolsch yeast |
Used 1 quart the fermenting ale from the previous batch. Almost exactly the same as the previous batch except 1/2 lb less malt and no aroma hops. Bottled on 4/25/08.
| 6 lbs Golden malt extract |
| 1.5 lbs Amber malt extract |
| 1/2 lb Weyermann Caramunich III specialty grain |
| 1 oz Magnum hops (14 HBU) - bittering |
| a pinch of Magnum and German Spalt hops - flavor |
| 2565 Wyeast Kolsch yeast |
Again, we used 1 quart the fermenting ale from the previous batch. Bottled on 5/9/08. This was a great tasting malty German ale.
| 7 1/2 lbs Amber malt extract |
| 1/4 lb organic chocolate specialty grain |
| 3/4 oz Magnum hops (10.5 HBU) - bittering |
| 1007 Wyeast German ale yeast |
Moved to the secondary fermeter on 5/10/08. Bottled on 5/26/08. Another good malty German ale.
| 6lbs Pilsen malt extract |
| 1/2 lb Weyermann Caramunich III specialty grain |
| 1 1/4 oz Magnum hops (17 HBU) - bittering |
| a pinch of Magnum and 1/4 oz German Spalt hops - flavor |
| 1/4 oz German Spalt hops - aroma |
| 1007 Wyeast German ale yeast |
Used 1 quart the fermenting ale from the previous batch. All remaining ingredients for the 2007-2008 season were used up in this batch. Bottled on 6/7/08. Tasted like a German IPA.
| 8 lbs Amber malt extract |
| 1/2 lb medium crystal malt specialty grain |
| 1/4 lb chocolate specialty grain |
| 1/2 lb peated specialty grain |
| 1/4 lb toasted specialty grain |
| 1 oz Cascade hops (9 HBU) - bittering |
| no aroma or flavor hops |
| 1728 Wyeast Scottish ale yeast |
Moved to the secondary on 10/26/08. Bottled on 11/2/08. Had a hint of peat.
| 8 lbs Amber malt extract |
| 3/4 lb local honey |
| 1/2 lb chocolate specialty grain |
| 3/4 lb medium crystal specialty grain |
| 1/2 lb toasted specialty grain |
| 3/10 oz Cascade and 4/10 Centennial hops (8 HBU) - bittering |
| no aroma or flavor hops |
| 1728 Wyeast Scottish ale yeast |
Used 1 quart the fermenting ale from the previous batch. Moved to secondary on 11/2/08. Bottled on 11/17/08. Tasted good.
| 6 lbs Golden malt extract |
| 2 lbs Amber malt extract |
| 1/2 lb medium crystal malt specialty grain |
| 1/4 lb chocolate specialty grain |
| 1/4 lb black specialty grains |
| 1 oz Cascade hops (9 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/2 oz Cascade hops - flavor |
| 1/2 oz Cascade hops - aroma |
| 1469 Wyeast West Yorkshire ale yeast |
Moved to secondary on 11/18/08. Bottled on 11/27/08.
| 6 lbs Golden malt extract |
| no specialty grains |
| 1 oz Cascade hops (9 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/2 oz Cascade hops - flavor |
| 1/8 oz Williamette hops - aroma |
| 1469 Wyeast West Yorkshire ale yeast |
Used 1 quart the fermenting ale from the previous batch. The yeast was slow to start. Moved to secondary on 11/27/08. Bottled 12/6/08. Might be a bit off from the slow start of the yeast.
| 6 lbs Dark malt extract |
| 1 1/4 lbs medium crystal malt specialty grain |
| 1/4 lbs black malt specialty grain |
| 1/8 lbs toasted malt specialty grain |
| 1 lb Lyle's Black Treacle Syrup |
| 1 lb oatmeal |
| 1 oz Kent Goldings hops (6 HBU) - bittering |
| 1084 Wyeast Irish ale yeast |
Moved to secondary on 12/7/08. Bottled on 12/14/08. Tasted great.
| 6 lbs Amber malt extract |
| 1 lb black malt specialty grain |
| 1 oz Centennial hops (11 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/4 oz Centennial hops - flavor |
| 1084 Wyeast Irish ale yeast |
Used 1 quart the fermenting ale from the previous batch. Moved to the secondary on 12/14/08. Seemed to keep fermenting in the secondary for an extraordinary long time. Bottled on 1/11/09. Tasted good.
| 6 lbs Golden malt extract |
| 1/2 lbs medium crystal malt specialty grain |
| 1 lb Lyle's Golden Syrup |
| 3/4 oz Chinook hops (9 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/2 oz Cascade hops - flavor |
| 1968 London ESB ale yeast |
Bottles on 1/2/09. Tasted great - bitter with a hint of sweet.
| 6 lbs Amber malt extract |
| 1/4 lb toasted malt specialty grain |
| 3/4 oz Chinook hops (9 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/2 oz Crystal hops - flavor |
| 1968 London ESB ale yeast |
Used 1 quart the fermenting ale from the previous batch. Moved to the secondary on 1/16/09.
| 6 lbs Pilsen malt extract |
| no specialty grains |
| 3/4 oz Galena hops (9 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/4 oz Sterling hops - flavor |
| 1/4 oz Sterling hops - aroma |
| 2565 Wyeast Kolsch ale yeast |
This was made just after our 89 hour sub-zero temperature run. The temp was about 5 above, a heat wave! Bottled on 2/14/09. Tasted great at bottling.
| 6 lbs Amber malt extract |
| 1/2 lb medium crystal malt specialty grain |
| 3/8 lb chocolate malt specialty grain |
| 1 oz Cascade hops (8 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/2 oz Sterling hops - flavor |
| 1 qt of 2565 Wyeast Kolsch ale yeast from previous batch |
This was the same clone recipe we made last year. Bottled on 2/14/09. Tasted great at bottling.
| 6 lbs pilsen malt extract |
| no specialty grain |
| 1 oz Cascade hops (8 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/4 oz Sterling hops - flavor |
| 1/4 oz Sterling hops - aroma |
| Dry Danstar Windsor yeast |
This was supposed to be another Kolsch but I left the smack pack on the stove too long and it seemed that the yeast was killed. Luckily, there are always back-up packets of dry yeast in the fridge. This is now an EPA instead! Bottled on 03/08/09, tasted great.
| 6 lbs Amber malt extract |
| 1/2 lb medium crystal malt specialty grain |
| 3/8 lb black malt specialty grain |
| 3/4 oz Galena hops (8 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/2 oz Sterling hops - flavor |
| 2565 Wyeast Kolsch ale yeast from previous batch |
Surprise, surprise! The dead yeast on the stove was still alive. The smack pack was swollen by morning so Bruce made a quick batch on his day off. We were out of chocolate malt so he used black instead. It will be fun to see if we can taste the difference! Bottled on 03/08/09, tasted great.
| 8 lbs Amber malt extract |
| 1/2 lb medium crystal malt specialty grain |
| 1/2 lb toasted specialty grain |
| 1/8 lb chocolate malt specialty grain |
| 3/4 oz Chinook hops (8 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/2 oz Sterling hops - flavor |
| 2565 Wyeast Kolsch ale yeast |
Bottled on 04/04/09, tasted great.
| 6 lbs Dark malt extract |
| 2 lbs Amber malt extract |
| 3/4 lb medium crystal malt specialty grain |
| 1/2 lb toasted specialty grain |
| 1/8 lb chocolate malt specialty grain |
| 3/4 oz Chinook hops (8 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/2 oz Sterling hops - flavor |
| 2565 Wyeast Kolsch ale yeast - from previous batch |
Moved to the secondary on 04/04/09. Bottled on 04/12/09, tasted great.
| 6 lbs pilsen malt extract |
| 1 lb Amber malt extract |
| 1 lb medium crystal malt specialty grain |
| 1 1/3 oz Cascade hops (10-13 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/2 oz Crystal hops (2-4 HBU) - bittering |
| 1/2 oz Crystal hops - flavor |
| 1/2 oz Crystal hops - aroma |
| 1084 Wyeast Irish Ale yeast |
Moved to secondary on 04/12/09. Bottled on 04/26/09. Tasted good but not as bitter as an IPA. Next time, more bittering hops.
| 6 lbs Dark malt extract |
| 1 lb Amber malt extract |
| 12 oz molasses |
| 1/2 lb light chocolate malt specialty grain |
| 1/2 lb roasted malt specialty grain |
| 1/2 lb black malt specialty grain |
| 4 oz grated ginger |
| 1 oz Kent Goldings hops (4-6 HBU) - bittering |
| 1 oz Crystal hops (3-5 HBU) - bittering |
| 1 tsp ground nutmeg - last 20 minutes |
| 1 tsp ground cloves - last 20 minutes |
| 1/2 oz Crystal hops - last 5 minutes |
| 1 pkg Danstar Nottingham dry yeast |
When we were sparging the wort, the screen for the hops came loose so quite a few hops escaped into the carboy. When we bottled on 04/26/09, it still tasted great. This was the last beer for the 2008-2009 brewing season.