Summer Beer

[Old Hippie]

It's time to think about setting up summer beer -- those brews we make for the warmer season. (OK...you SouthHem folks can tell us about your winter beers!)

I've always been of more than one mind about summer beer. Part of me likes a lighter beer with just a bit of residual maltiness and a moderate dose of hops. Part of me likes a beer with lots of mass and a heady amount of alcohol. Part of me wants a lager, another an ale.

My most frequent summer brew is Wasp Trap Ale -- which is a relatively uncomplicated extract brew with a varying palette of hops. (Sometimes it's "Wazzinafridge" variety, other times Cascade and Willamette, or Goldings, etc. Depends on what I can get on any given day.) I tend to bottle it in 2-litre bottles.

I started brewing it when my wife tried to find some cheap beer in the house to use as bait in the wasp traps. She knows to ask before using just any bottle that comes to hand.

I made a bunch of it and decided it was OK to drink. Yup, I'm one of them con-oh-sewers. This is a good time of year, as the house will get too hot to brew (and the root cellar too cold) later in the summer.

After a hard day on the terraces when it's 35C the eastern verandah is the place to be, with a beer or three or else a nice glass of absinthe.

:ootd:

[Macman]

Sounds good to me! I make beer at the U-brew, and I find I go less malty and more hoppy as spring comes. I like Ricard in the summer too!

[Pleater]

As soon as it gets warm I start to think about ginger beer - the real stuff with lemon juice and the yeast frozen into the ice at the bottom of the bottle.

Not 'real' beer, but it just brings to mind all the Summers I ever knew, out in the garden, the bees working the flowers, under the apple trees to get shade from the sun, the mug dripping a little condensation - ah - bliss.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Richrail]

The beer I brew for summer harkens back to my childhood. I brew an Orange Vanilla Cream Ale. I start with just a basic cream ale throw in a bunch of orange zest in the boil and when I bottle I add the vanilla.

[Oberu]

There's a company around here (Washington State) that makes, what they call, a 2 pint IPA. I know you said moderate hops but this isn't at all like any IPA I've ever had.. and I do love IPA. It comes across to me as a light scottish style beer.. peaty taste and rich but not heavy. It's about 12 percent if memory serves me and it's very smooth. You can see light through it and it's a lovely amber in color. If you can find it.. give it a go!

[cable scot]

I brew for "the other season",northern Wi is cold in winter,early spring(late spring this year)and late fall so that's when I brew lagers so it's ales both weeks of summer.Spring for me and the group is for my maple porter I use fresh maple sap insted of water and it ages till late fall or mid winter,other than that it's the start of ale season for thoes cold winter months.

[Green Dragon]

I like a nice light ale for summer. I have taken a pilsner recipe and with Saaz(flavoring & aroma) and Hallertau hops (bittering) but use an ale yeast which are more tolerant of the brewing conditions I have here at home. Seems to work and makes for a really nice summer beer with a nice balance of malt and a clean finish.

Running behind this year but hope to get a batch in the primary this weekend. In the mean time, I have a few other batches ready and waiting.

[moggi1964]

I have never brewed my own ale but did do some wine once.

Any recommendations on a kit beer that is worth investing in in the US?

[cable scot]

I have never brewed my own ale but did do some wine once.

Any recommendations on a kit beer that is worth investing in in the US?

More beer.com,Midwest brewing and Northern brewer are good places to start,also pick up a copy of "The joy of homebrewing" by Charlie Papazian after 15yrs of homebrewing this is still my go to reference for the craft.

[moggi1964]

More beer.com,Midwest brewing and Northern brewer are good places to start,also pick up a copy of "The joy of homebrewing" by Charlie Papazian after 15yrs of homebrewing this is still my go to reference for the craft.

Thank you for the recommendations.