Colorado Pelican Australian Sparkling Ale
Brewed: 9/1/2017 Kegged: 9/16/2017
Until I had been living in Colorado for some time, I didn't realize that American White Pelicans live in Colorado throughout the summer. Even when I started seeing them, I figured they flew over the state migrating, but it turns out they spend the whole summer here.Even knowing this, it always surprises me when I see them on Colorado lakes. A common occurrence, it still always seems unexpected.
I thought "Colorado Pelican" would be a great name for a beer. A beer that seems common, but is still somewhat unexpected.
For example ... pale ales are common. However, an Australian Sparkling Ale is unexpected.
So, Colorado Pelican Australian Sparkling Ale was born. Other than the Australian Ale Yeast (White Labs #WLP009), there is nothing real obvious making it "Australian". I had intended to use traditional Australian hops, but they were not available at my LHBS, so I went with Cluster and EKG.
The beer is fairly hoppy and fairly dry. It has firm bitterness. It isn't overpowering in any aspect. It is easy drinking and not real high in ABV.
A nice pale ale.
For more information about this beer, see Sheppy's Blog: Colorado Pelican.
| Colorado Pelican --- Batch 1 |
| Style | Australian Sparkling Ale | Batch Size | 5.50 gal | |||
| Type | All Grain | Boil Size | 7.77 gal | |||
| Brewhouse Efficiency | 75.00 | Boil Time | 90 minutes |
Recipe Characteristics
| Recipe Gravity | 1.044 SG | Estimated FG | 1.007 SG | ||||
| Recipe Bitterness | 26.4 IBUs (Rager) | Alcohol by Volume | 4.8 % | ||||
| BU : GU | 0.601 | ||||||
| Recipe Color | 5.6 SRM |
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| Measured OG: | 1.045 | Measured FG: | 1.009 | ||||
| ADF: | 80 | Measured ABV: | 4.7 |
Ingredients
| Amt | Name | Type | # | %/IBU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 lbs 8.0 oz | Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) | Grain | 1 | 84.5 % |
| 1 lbs | Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM) | Grain | 2 | 11.3 % |
| 6.0 oz | Brown Malt (Crisp) (65.0 SRM) | Grain | 3 | 4.2 % |
| 0.250 oz | Magnum [12.70 %] - Boil 60.0 min | Hop | 4 | 12.4 IBUs |
| 1.00 Items | Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins) | Fining | 5 | - |
| 1.000 oz | Cluster [7.80 %] - Boil 15.0 min | Hop | 6 | 8.1 IBUs |
| 1.000 oz | Goldings, East Kent [5.60 %] - Boil 15.0 min | Hop | 7 | 5.8 IBUs |
| 1.0 pkg | Australian Ale Yeast (White Labs #WLP009) [35.49 ml] | Yeast | 8 | - |
| 1.00 tsp | Yeast Nutrient (Primary 3.0 days) | Other | 9 | - |
Mash Profile
| Name | Description | Step Temperature | Step Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mash In | Add 11.09 qt of water at 155.6 F | 145.0 F | 90 min |
Batch sparge with 2 steps
(2.17gal, 3.88gal) of 168.0 F water
Make yeast starter a couple of days before brew day.
4g gypsum in the mash water. This should bring Denver water profile (as defined by BeerSmith) to
Ca=59,Mg=8,Na=21,SO4=116,Cl=23,HCO3=104
Brew as directed from recipe.
Cool wort to as close to 60 degrees as possible.
Ferment at room temp for 2 weeks.
Keg carbonate.
Brewing Record
| Brew Date: | Strike Temp: | 156 | ||||
| Mash Temps: | 140 ... brought up to 145 for 1.5 hours | |||||
| Pre-boil OG | 1.040(1.036 SG) | Pre-boil Vol | (8 gal) | |||
| Actual Mash Efficiency | Pitch Temp | |||||
| Fermentation | ||||||
| Day 1: | ||||||
| Day ... | ||||||
| Day ... | ||||||
Brewing Notes
8/31/2017 bought ingredients today.
9/1/2017 Brewed today. Everything went great. Fermentor is pretty full, so I will have to remember to put in a blow-off-tube.
9/4/2017 Was gone this past weekend. There was some yeast in the blow off tube so good thing I remembered to put it in. 72 degrees. Looks to be close to done.
9/5/2017 Took a taste sample and a refractometer reading. 5.9 brix puts the gravity at about 1.010. The flavor is nice. A bit of fruity flavor from hops and yeast esters. Light bread character from malt. Hoping it will go a bit lower on the FG, but it is already tasting fantastic.
9/14/2017 Another taste/refractometer sample. 5.8 brix puts this at about 1.009. Love the flavor. Not particularly "dry" as the style calls for, but it is a delicious pale ale. Clarity is great.
9/16/2017 Kegged. 1.009 FG. Tastes great.
9/16/2017 Put on left side of kegerator. Poured from tap. Obviously not carbonayed, but I really like the flavor.
9/21/2017 Carbed pretty well now. Tastes good. Firm bitterness. Dry. Tastes like I think the guidelines describe.
9/29/2017 Yum 😋
9/30/2017 There is just a slight touch of a roast flavor, which I think comes from the brown malt. Unique flavor in a golden ale. Yum 😋
11/10/2017 The flavor of the brown malt is interesting. I can't quite describe it. Roasty isn't exactly right, but neither is bready. Somewhere between Munich and Roasted malt. A bit unexpected in a pale ale, and unique. I really like it.
11/17/2017 Killed the keg. Good to have an empty for Mango Wheat.
8/31/2017 bought ingredients today.
9/1/2017 Brewed today. Everything went great. Fermentor is pretty full, so I will have to remember to put in a blow-off-tube.
9/4/2017 Was gone this past weekend. There was some yeast in the blow off tube so good thing I remembered to put it in. 72 degrees. Looks to be close to done.
9/5/2017 Took a taste sample and a refractometer reading. 5.9 brix puts the gravity at about 1.010. The flavor is nice. A bit of fruity flavor from hops and yeast esters. Light bread character from malt. Hoping it will go a bit lower on the FG, but it is already tasting fantastic.
9/14/2017 Another taste/refractometer sample. 5.8 brix puts this at about 1.009. Love the flavor. Not particularly "dry" as the style calls for, but it is a delicious pale ale. Clarity is great.
9/16/2017 Kegged. 1.009 FG. Tastes great.
9/16/2017 Put on left side of kegerator. Poured from tap. Obviously not carbonayed, but I really like the flavor.
9/21/2017 Carbed pretty well now. Tastes good. Firm bitterness. Dry. Tastes like I think the guidelines describe.
9/29/2017 Yum 😋
9/30/2017 There is just a slight touch of a roast flavor, which I think comes from the brown malt. Unique flavor in a golden ale. Yum 😋
11/10/2017 The flavor of the brown malt is interesting. I can't quite describe it. Roasty isn't exactly right, but neither is bready. Somewhere between Munich and Roasted malt. A bit unexpected in a pale ale, and unique. I really like it.
11/17/2017 Killed the keg. Good to have an empty for Mango Wheat.