New Beer's Day

I often celebrate New Year’s Day by brewing, reviewing the beers that I’d made over the last year, and brainstorming for the coming year. 2011 was a year for experimenting. It began with an inquiry into debittered black malt (an excellent porter and a stout are the early results of emerging research). The highest brewpoint of the year was probably the coriander pale ale crafted with my friend Tim. It was very tasty. I mourned for its passing and I anxiously await its rebirth. 

This brings me to 2012. Along with recreating hoppy, coriander goodness before the Mayan calendar expires, I intend to try my hand at crafting a lager this winter. I’ve stuck with ales for the vast majority of my brewing experience and I think it is time to branch out and tackle something new. 

In the spirit of excellent beer, I invite you to send me suggestions for styles to make this year, recipes if you have some, or tips on how to successfully brew a lager. Post your responses here, or email me at mjessery@gmail.com. 

See 2011 out with an excellent brew and welcome 2012 with an even better one. Slàinte!

#74: Winter Stout
Last Brew of 2011.

Coriander Spring Ale

  3 lbs amber DME 2 oz. Homegrown Hops (bittering)

  3 lbs light DME 2 oz. Homegrown Hops (flavor)

  1 lb Carapils Malt 3 oz. Homegrown Hops (aroma)

  ½ lb Victory Malt 2 tbsp. Ground coriander

  ½ lb 2 Row Malt Coopers dry yeast

                                              ¾ cup of corn sugar (priming)

Place crushed malts in 2.5 gallons of water and steep at 155 degrees for a half an hour. Remove the spent grains and bring to a boil. Add malt extract and 2 ounces of hops. Boil for 30 minutes. Add 2 oz of hops. Boil for another 30 minutes adding 3 oz. of hops and coriander in the last 10 minutes of the boil. Cool the wort. Pitch the yeast. Ferment for 10 days. Bottle with corn sugar and age for 3-4 weeks. We used hops grown in my backyard for this. Cascade hops would substitute, but if they are pelletized you should reduce hop amounts by 25-50% unless you want to turn this into an IPA variety which would probably taste just as excellent.