WindRiver Brewing July 2010 Internet Newsletter

Hoppy Beers: A Summer Treat!

Beers that feature a pronounced hop character often have a refreshing characteristic that can balance out even very malty beers.

In addition to adding a great flavor dimension to your beer, beers with more hops (especially lots of flavor and aroma hops) often are very enjoyable just weeks after bottling.

Although how much and what types of hops to add are a matter of personal preference, here some guidelines:

Unless you like your beer to be very bitter, it is best to boil any extra hops you would like to add during the last 10 - 20 minutes. I only like to boil about 10 - 15 HBU's for the full duration of the boil. (To calculate HBU's, simply multiply the ounces of hops being used by the Alpha Acid of the hops. EXAMPLE: 2 oz of 8.5 Northern Brewer=17 HBU's)
The later in the boil you add the hops, the more aroma you will get. Hops boiled longer than 20 minutes will mainly contribute bitterness to the beer, hops boiled for 15 - 20 minutes will impart some bitterness, but mainly hop flavor, and hops boiled for 0 - 10 minutes will add mainly aroma as well as some hop flavor.
For maximum hop aroma, add aroma hops right after you shut the heat off. Allow the hops to steep for about 10 minutes in your closed brew pot before adding the contents to your fermenter. I like to cool my boiling pot off in a sink of cold water before adding the contents with my cold water to my fermenter.
For the highest quality hop aroma, use loose or plug hops, and try to stay away from high alpha "bittering" hops. some of my favorite varieties include Cascade (for an American Pale Ale), East Kent Goldings, Fuggles, Willamette (all for British style Ales), Hallertau, Mt. Hood, Liberty, Saaz, Tettnanger (For more of a European flavor).
For the freshest hop aroma, dry hop in the secondary fermenter for 1 - 2 weeks before bottling or kegging. If you are using a cornelius keg, you can put the hops in a nylon hop bag and wedge the closed hop bag between the keg wall and liquid out dip tube. Then your beer will steep in the hops as you are enjoying it.

THE FOLLOWING KITS ARE ON SALE, DRY HOP SUGGESTIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION, BUT HOPS NEED TO BE ORDERED SEPARATELY. oFFERS VALID THROUGH AUGUST 2010 NEWSLETTER.

Gopher Pale Ale:An easy drinking pale ale with a balance malt and hops. We suggest adding 1 oz of Fuggles to dry hop (please order separately). The kit includes: 3.3 lbs. Gold malt extract, 3.3 lbs. Amber malt extract, 1/2 lb. Crystal 10°L & 1/2 lb. Carapils grain blend, 1 oz. Willamette bittering hops, 1 oz. Fuggles aroma hops, yeast and priming sugar.
with dry yeast, ~~$23.95~~ NOW $21.95 $21.95	with liquid yeast (Wyeast 1098), ~~$27.95~~ Now $24.95 $24.95

Red Cedar Ale Another great choice for an easy drinking ale for relaxing outside. Offers a bit more hop bite than the Gopher Pale Ale. We suggest adding 1 oz of Cascade to dry hop (please order separately)

The kit includes: 6 lbs. Amber Malt extract, 1/8 lb. Roasted Barley & 1/8 lb. Special Roast & 1/2 lb. Crystal 80°L grain blend, 1 oz. Galena bittering hops, 1 oz. Fuggles aroma hops, yeast, and priming sugar.

with dry yeast, ~~$23.95~~ NOW $21.95

with liquid yeast (Wyeast 1056), ~~$27.95~~ Now $24.95

Sleepy Time Barley Wine A huge, hearty beer ideal for winter time enjoyment. Due to the high alcohol content, this one takes some time to mature, so now is a great time to get it started! We suggest adding 2 oz of Willamette to dry hop (please order separately)

The kit contains: 6 lbs. Amber malt extract, 6 lbs. Dark malt extract, 2 oz. Mt. Hood bittering hops, 2 oz. Kent Goldings bittering hops, 1 oz. Tettnanger aroma hops, 1/2 lb. Crystal 40°L, 1/2 lb. Victory malt , yeast and priming sugar.

with dry yeast, ~~$34.95~~ NOW $29.95

with liquid yeast (Wyeast 1056), ~~$38.95~~ Now $33.95

THIS OFFER IS GOOD UNTIL THE NEXT NEWSLETTER.

Ask Dr. Zoot, Your Brewing Questions Answered

Q. I like to use hop plugs, but I have noticed that I do not get a tremendous amount of hop character when I use a hop bag. How can I get more hop flavor and aroma?

A. The easiest way to get the most out of hop plugs is not to use a boiling bag (i.e. boil them loose and strain the wort). This is kind of a messy chore though. If you looking for more hop aroma, the best way to increase this is to dry hop for about 2 weeks in the secondary fermenter. If you are looking for more hop flavor, either use more hops than usual or steep them loose in the brew pot. You can further increase the hop aroma of your beer by only adding your final hop addition right after you have shut the heat off. Then, either immerse the covered brewpot in a sink full of cold or ice water, or at least allow the hops to steep in the hot wort for 10 - 15 minutes before pouring the contents into your fermenter (make sure to strain the hops of you did not use a hop bag).

Dr. Zoot,
Q. How should I store my WindRiver Brewing ingredient kits?

A. Our ingredient kits should be brewed as quickly as possible ( especially during the summer). For prolonged storage the malt extract should be refrigerated or frozen. The yeast pack should be refrigerated but not frozen, and the hops should be refrigerated or frozen. Grains should be stored at a moderate temperature in a dry environment.

Q. I like to add 2 - 3 Lbs of 2-row to my extract recipes, should I steep these grains in a bag or loose?

A. You can certainly steep your grains for partial mash recipes in a grain bag. Since you more concerned with adding some grain flavor to the beer, as opposed to relying on the grain for your fermentable sugars. For this reason, it is not essential to steep the grains loose. If you want to maximize the flavor and fermentable sugar extraction from the grains, you should steep the grains lose and then pour them through a colander or other type of a strainer, and then use this liquid along plain water (if necessary) so that you have at least 2 - 3 gallons into which you can add your malt extract. If you are more into convenience, then just steep your grains in a muslin or nylon hop bag. Cheers and Good Brewing!!
WindRiver Brewing
windrvr@bitstream.net

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