This was the second in the vein of lighter ales I was making for summer. This one I wanted to be a little hoppier but nothing too crazy. Plus, I had a bunch of Zythos hops that just needed to be used.
I know the picture makes it look like it’s overcarbonated but it tastes fine. My beer is getting more time to ferment in the bottle and I’m still adjusting how much bottling sugar I really need. The long and short of it is; some bottles will gush a little but it’s not a sign of infection in this particular case, it’s a sign of active yeast doing what they do.
It’s slight spicy in the nose but it gives way to malt and sweetness–a little honey perhaps?– very quickly. The finish is sweet too, though easily brushed away by the high carbonation of the beer. I also get a stronger bitter note on the finish than I did the blonde ale. I consider this a good thing, since I’m drinking them at about the same time. It’s good to have distinctions between the two beers!
It’s a very drinkable ale though and sits well with the hot summer days. I don’t think I can call this a pale-just not quite hoppy enough-but perhaps a weird cousin between a blonde and a pale?
Brew date: 5.9.15
Steeping grains
4.5 lb Irish pale
4 lb Carapils
1.5 lb Victory
Fermentables: 3.5 LME
Hops
.75 oz Zythos @ 60
1 oz Nt Hood @ 60
.25oz Zythos, 1 oz Mt Hood @10
Yeast: Windsor dry yeast, 2nd use
OG: 1.06
FG: 1.01
ABV: 6.4%
A pint for Dionysus 