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Summer Session Ale

A no-frills session beer, easy to make and easy to drink. Pretty much a classic
American pale ale, but with some wheat for smoothness and a rich, lasting head. The
Cascades I used were an unusual batch with high AA. Use a bit more if yours are 6%AA.

Brewer: John Fisher Email: johnfish@uclink.berkeley.edu
Beer: Summer Session Ale Style: American Pale Ale
Type: All grain Size: 5 gallons
Color:
7 HCU (~6 SRM)
Bitterness: 48 IBU
OG: 1.055 FG: 1.014
Alcohol: 5.4% v/v (4.2% w/w)
Water: Contra Costa (CA) tap water. Pretty soft.
Grain: 5 lb. American 2-row
3 lb. Wheat malt
2 lb. American Munich
Mash: 76% efficiency
30 mins @120° protein rest, thick mash.

60 mins @155° dropping over the hour to ~152°, thinner mash.

Sparge with 4 gallons @168°.
Boil: 75 minutes SG 1.046 6 gallons
Irish moss last 15 mins.
Hops: .75 oz. Chinook (12% AA, 60 min.)
1 oz. Cascade (9.1% AA, 15 min.)
1 oz. Cascade (aroma)
Yeast: Wyeast 1056. I like a 1.5 qt starter (2 cups DME).
Log: Brewed 9/13/02.
Bottled 9/20/02. Tastes great now; the bitterness level is perfect.
First bottle opened 9/27/02.
Carbonation: 2.5 volumes Dried Malt Extract: 7.84 oz. for 5 gallons @ 72°F
Tasting:  opened after 1 week for carbonation. This beer is
good fresh! Clearer than I expected, given the wheat, thanks
to the protein rest. Head retention remains adequate. This one
turned out to be a real crowd pleaser, and I will make it again.

Recipe posted 09/28/02.