Big Ideas for Small-Scale Craft Brewing: Don’t Miss a Full-Day of 10 Live Online Seminars at the 2026 NanoCon. Register now and Save 25%!

recipe

Anderson Valley Brewing Co.’s Summer Solstice Seasonal Ale clone

Anderson Valley describes this summer sipper as a slightly sweet, malty session beer with a creamy mouthfeel and clean finish.

Anderson Valley Brewing Company’s Summer Solstice Seasonal Ale clone recipe

(5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)
OG = 1.049 FG = 1.011
IBU = 5 SRM = 12 ABV = 5%

Ingredients

8 lbs. 14 oz. (4 kg) 2-row pale malt
13 oz. (0.38 kg) crystal malt (40 °L)
11 oz. (0.30 kg) crystal malt (80 °L)
2.3 AAU Cascade hops (0 min.) (0.45 oz./13 g of 5% alpha acids)
1-2 vanilla beans (post-fermentation)
Wyeast 2112 (California Lager) or White Labs WLP810 (San Francisco Lager) yeast
2/3 cup (130 g) dextrose (if priming)

Step by Step

Mash the grains at 150 °F (66 °C). Vorlaf until your runnings are clear, sparge, and then boil the wort for 60 minutes.

Add the hops at flameout, stir the wort to create a whirlpool, and let them steep in the whirlpool for at least 20 minutes. After the whirlpool, chill the wort to 65 °F (18 °C), aerate well, and pitch the yeast.

Ferment at 65 °F (18 °C). Split the vanilla bean lengthwise then chop. Place in a small bowl and add just enough vodka to cover. Soak for 7 days. When the beer reaches final gravity, add the vanilla bean tincture and wait another 7 days. Then bottle or keg as normal.

Extract with Grains Option: Scale the 2-row pale malt down to 3 oz. (85 g), and add 2 lbs. (0.91 kg) light dried malt extract and 4 lbs. (1.8 kg) light liquid malt extract (late addition). Place crushed grains in a steeping bag and submerge in 3 qts. (2.8 L) of water at 161 °F (72 °C). Steep at 150 °F (66 °C) for 45 minutes. Begin heating 2 gallons (7.6 L) of water in your brew pot. After steep, lift grain bag into colander placed over brew pot to collect the liquid. Stir in the dried malt extract and bring to a boil. Boil for 60 minutes. Stir in liquid malt extract with 20 minutes left in the boil. Add the hops at the end of the boil, stir the wort to create a whirlpool, and let them steep for at least 20 minutes. Chill the wort, transfer to fermenter and top up with cool water to reach to 5 gallons (19 L). Follow the remainder of the all-grain recipe.

You might also like…

recipe

Gold Finger (James Blonde Barleywine)

This unconventional Barleywine is light in color but non-compro­mising in strength. It could also be called James Blonde.

recipe

Trout River Brewing Rainbow Red Ale clone

A hoppy, malty Amberican-style Amber (Red) Ale. – Lyndonville, Vermont

recipe

Speedway Brewing Co.’s Speedy Kiwi 5.6 ESB clone

Speedway Brewing closed its doors in 2010, but we do still have the recipe for their Speedy Kiwi ESB. While it is based on the English style

recipe

Late-Hopped Simcoe Ale (Small Batch)

An American Pale Ale, this recipe is for the ultimate short brew day. From flame-on to cleanup is only 90 minutes. Lots of floral, fruity Si

Continue reading – Enter your email to log in or register

New to Brew Your Own? Create a free account to get our weekly newsletter and two free article webpage visits every month.

Yes! I would like to receive new content and updates.