This recipe is another LBBP original...and I am not 100% sure how to categorize it! It takes influences from American cream ales, European pale lagers, with a dash of Pilsner for good measure. The intention is to craft a beer (kinda like what I did with Bavarian Blondie, which was a big hit FWIW) that is light, crisp, refreshing, and readily enjoyed by everyone...regardless of whether or not they "think" they like craft/home brew.
Cool Cat (LBBP Cream Ale) - Brewed on 7/22/2011 - Briess 2-Row: 4 lbs - Briess Flaked Corn: 9 oz - Briess Caramel 10: 4 oz - Briess Carapils: 1 oz - Pacman yeast slurry - Hallertau hops: 1/2 oz (60 min) - Saaz hops: 3/4 oz (1/4 @ 20, 1/4 @ 12, 1/4 @ 7)
60 min mash @ 152° anticipated: OG 1.048 - 4.7% ABV - 18 IBU
mashed in about 4.25 gallons of water by heating up to 159° and then mixing in the grains. temps were between 150-152° for about 65 minutes, and then I mashed out at 169° for 10 minutes. on to the boil we went, got it rolling for about 4-5 minutes, then started the hop additions. everything went smoothly from there, and I nailed the target OG @ 1.048! will try to ferment in the upper 60°s.
ferment through: 8/11 carbonate/condition: 8/29 1st tester: 9/20 This batch also fell victim to a carbonation issue, as in it is taking FOREVER for it to naturally carb. However, the trub bottle was finally firm enough to toss it into the fridge a few days ago, and here we are! As you can see from the pic above, the color is WAY off IMO...but that might (as in probably!) be attributed to the fast and not so thorough washing of the yeast cake (since I basically re-used the cake from 8 of 9 Lives). Ehh...what are you gonna do? So it has a copper-orangey hue that is very atypical for the style, and the nose is sweet and a little fruity. The taste is that of candy with fruit and a touch of noble spice. Wow! That is pretty cool I must say! The finish is smooth, and all-in-all, it is a very pleasant to drink beer. My wife actually REALLY liked this one, so it is a bummer that I am having carbonation issues with the remaining bottles in this batch. There is a very good chance that at least half of them are going to be transferred into PETs and force carbed on a bottle by bottle basis. Ideal? Certainly not, but at least the beer is worthy of this extra effort. Plus, with re-using yeast, and splitting the hops from "left overs" of other batches...this is a very inexpensive recipe. One bottle in, and already Cool Cat has worked its way into the LBBP Rotation ~Next Recipe~