Beer Style: Pale Ale Family
Kölsch: The Delicate Beer of Cologne
Is it a lager or an ale? Actually, Kölsch is a bit of both as it is fermented with ale yeast prior to extended lagering. Learn more about this refreshing style from Cologne, Germany.
Dad’s Cream Ale
This Cream Ale can be easily adapted to become a Kentucky common by either adding SINAMAR® or some mid-range crystal malt and black malt. It can also be made at a higher strength to give a decent approximation of a malt liquor.
Gordon Strong’s Kölsch
Is it a lager or an ale? Actually, Kölsch is a bit of both as it is fermented with ale yeast prior to extended lagering.
Altbier
This recipe is based on the all-grain recipe by Gordon Strong in the January-February 2019 issue of BYO and shows how I would approach the recipe as a partial mash, replacing much of the base malt with malt extract allows for a shortened brew day that requires less equipment than all-grain brewing does.
Blonde Bloke British Golden Ale
This Golden Ale recipe uses two specialty malts that will add body and mouthfeel to what otherwise might be a fairly straightforward beer. The subtle complexity of the dextrin and caramelized oats make this a summery beer without being boring.
Turning Point Brew Co.’s Nightcall clone
The bitterness of this Yorkshire bitter is below the minimum for a best bitter under the BJCP Style Guide. Bitterness is still present with the lower ABV beer, but the star of the show is the malt character. A healthy addition of melanoidin malt gives the beer the classic biscuit flavor Yorkshire bitters are known for, with more caramel character being added with the brown and crystal malts. The late addition of the East Kent Golding hops add floral notes with a hint of fruit character from the Archer addition. As my Grandad would have said: “A proper pint.”
Marble Beers’ Manchester Bitter clone
You can see the focus on the distinctive color with the use of the extra pale malt, giving wiggle room to build some malt flavor with crystal and Munich malts. The ABV is the mid-range of a best bitter, but just tips over the maximum IBUs. What you’re left with is a light and refreshing but incredibly bitter beer.
The Bitter Truth
British bitter is broken into three distinct styles in the Beer Judge Certification Program style guide, largely based on strength. However, there are other variations of bitter that don’t fit any of these categories. Get to better know the Yorkshire and Manchester bitters and then give brewing one — or both — a try.
Schumacher Latzenbier clone
Latzenbier, at 5.5% ABV, is a bit more malty than Schumacher’s everyday altbier, yet still nicely balanced toward the bitter end.
Schlüssel Stike clone
This special fall release from Schlüssel is similar to their everyday beer, but bigger, richer, and just a tiny bit sweeter up front, balanced by a higher 38 IBUs.
Uerige Sticke clone
Uerige Altbier has predominant notes of honey and biscuit, and a very slight roasted note can be found in the finish. Their Sticke Altbier at 6% is dry hopped, giving it the boldest nose of the special release altbiers from Düsseldorf breweries.
The Special Altbiers of Düsseldorf
Each fall, four of the five remaining classic altbier breweries in Düsseldorf, Germany, have annual special beer releases. They are bigger versions of the delicious altbier that they brew and serve every day. Jamil Zainasheff made a trip so he could attend the release
of three of them in 2023 and returned home with information on how homebrewers can recreate these beers themselves.
