Beer Style: Pale Ale Family
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.
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.
Oakshire Brewing Co.’s Key-Limety Kölsch clone
Brewed to include the addition of key lime puree, this Kölsch uses a semi-traditional Kölsch grist bill along with a big helping of honey. Fermented with Kölsch yeast and finishing dry, this is a very fun one. Feel free to omit the fruit or substitute another fruit for key lime, as Oakshire has done on occasion.
Garage Project’s Dirty Boots Pale Ale clone
Dirty Boots pale ale is what the brewery describes as a “full noise” pale ale bordering on an IPA, with assertive bitterness backed up by malt character from a grain bill of Pilsner, crystal, and Munich malt.
Cascade SMaSH Pale Ale
A single-malt, single-hop (SMaSH) pale ale recipe that’s almost as easy to brew as it is to drink.
Tettnang SMaSH Kölsch
A quick and straightforward recipe for a refreshing SMaSH (Single Malt and Single Hop) Kölsch.
Step-Mashed Kölsch
It is possible to produce a Kölsch in less time, but Kölsch yeast is notoriously difficult to clear because it is a powdery yeast. Giving it sufficient classic lagering time does help it clear, and it also helps reduce some of the sulfur notes produced by the yeast. Kettle finings or post-fermentation clearing agents (even mechanical filtration) is recommended if the beer isn’t fully clear. Kölsch should be a brilliantly clear beer, so please pay attention to this important part of the style.
