Wedding Blonde Ale

This was a hurry-up beer that had to go from ingredients to wedding day in less than four weeks. I wanted something that was simple and inoffensive that would appeal to everyone.

Brewer:	Rathole		Email:	am1nightcreature@yahoo.com
URL:	http://hometown.aol.com/rathole2331/apology.html
Beer:	Wedding Blonde Ale		Style:	American Pale Ale
Type:	Extract w/grain		Size:	5 gallons
Color:	8 HCU (~6 SRM)		Bitterness:	18 IBU
OG:	1.043		FG:	1.009
Alcohol:	4.4% v/v (3.5% w/w)
Water:	Local well water
Grain:	.75 lb. American crystal 10L
Steep:	Steep in grain bag 30 minutes at 155°
Boil:	45 minutes	SG 1.043	5 gallons
	4.75 lb. Light dry malt extract
	45 minute boil helps keep the color down. Add irish moss last 15 minutes.
Hops:	.75 oz. Cascade (4.2% AA, 45 min.) 1 oz. Cascade (4.2% AA, 10 min.)
Yeast:	Danstart Nottingham dry yeast. Neutral character gave almost lager like qualities in this beer. Nice and clean.
Log:	Brewed 4/28/2007, OG 1.042 Transferred to secondary 5/4, SG 1.010 Kegged and force carbonated 5/24 30 PSI at 65°
Tasting:	Clean, light, crisp (for an ale). Not too much hop character. Bit of bitterness. I tried to keep the IBU's low, since this would be served young. A little foamy out of the keg (I think I overcarbonated it a bit) but settled out in the glass well with good head retention. Bit of malt taste. Perhaps the cleanest ale I've ever made, I was impressed how lager-like it was, especially so young. No one had a bad thing to say, and both kegs were empty at the end of the reception. Between this and another beer I served (a lemon wheat) the reaction was about equal. Everyone liked them both, depending on their tastes. Good summertime hot weather beer. I made some home brew converts with this one.

Recipe posted 05/27/07.