Possible pale ale and spruce ale recipes

Beer Recipes
1

So my next two planed batches are a pale ale and “spruce” ale
here is what i’m thinking. any ideas and/or suggestions are welcome.
the first recipe is the pale ale

Shaffer Pale Ale
brewer logo
Added By: csu007
Method: Extract
Style: American Pale Ale
Boil Time: 60 min
Batch Size: 5 gallons
Boil Size: 3 gallons
Efficiency: 70%
Original Gravity:
1.055
Final Gravity:
1.015
ABV (standard):
5.18%
IBU (tinseth):
37.84
SRM (morey):
7.84
Fermentables
Amount Fermentable PPG °L Bill %
6.67 lb Liquid Malt Extract - Light 35 4 80%
Steeping Grains
Amount Fermentable PPG °L Bill %
0.5 lb Caramel / Crystal 40L 34 40 6%
0.5 lb Pale Ale 37 3.5 6%
0.42 lb Carapils (Dextrine Malt) 33 1.8 5%
0.25 lb Victory 34 28 3%
Hops
Amount Variety Time AA Type Use
0.5 oz Amarillo 60 min 8.6 Pellet Boil
1 oz Glacier 60 min 5.5 Pellet Boil
0.25 oz Amarillo 30 min 8.6 Pellet Boil
0.5 oz Glacier 20 min 5.5 Pellet Boil
0.25 oz Amarillo 15 min 8.6 Pellet Boil
0.25 oz Glacier 5 min 5.5 Leaf/Whole Boil
1 oz Amarillo 7 days 8.6 Pellet Dry Hop
Hops Summary
Amount Variety AA Type
2 oz Amarillo 8.6 Pellet
0.25 oz Glacier 5.5 Leaf/Whole
1.5 oz Glacier 5.5 Pellet
Other Ingredients
Amount Name Time Type Use
1.67 tsp Irish Moss 15 min Fining Boil
Yeast
Fermentis / Safale - Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05
Attenuation (avg):
72%
Flocculation:
Medium
Optimum Temperature:
59°F - 75°F
Starter:
No
This recipe is not shared.
Last Updated: 2012-10-22 16:45 MDT

the second one is the spruce ale

Centenial Ale
brewer logo
Added By: csu007
Method: Extract
Style: Holiday/Winter Special Spiced Beer
Boil Time: 60 min
Batch Size: 3 gallons
Boil Size: 3 gallons
Efficiency: 70%
Original Gravity:
1.074
Final Gravity:
1.021
ABV (standard):
7.01%
IBU (tinseth):
38.82
SRM (morey):
16.05
Fermentables
Amount Fermentable PPG °L Bill %
5 lb Liquid Malt Extract - Light 35 4 71.4%
Steeping Grains
Amount Fermentable PPG °L Bill %
0.25 lb Brown 32 65 3.6%
0.25 lb Caramel / Crystal 80L 33 80 3.6%
1 lb Victory 34 28 14.3%
0.5 lb Biscuit 35 23 7.1%
Hops
Amount Variety Time AA Type Use
0.25 oz Cascade 60 min 7 Pellet Boil
0.5 oz Cascade 20 min 7 Pellet Boil
0.5 oz Mount Hood 45 min 4.8 Pellet Boil
0.5 oz Mount Hood 15 min 4.8 Pellet Boil
0.25 oz Cascade 5 min 7 Pellet Boil
Hops Summary
Amount Variety AA Type
1 oz Cascade 7 Pellet
1 oz Mount Hood 4.8 Pellet
Other Ingredients
Amount Name Time Type Use
2 lb blue Spruce tips/twigs 20 min Other Boil
1 tsp Irish Moss 15 min Fining Boil
2 each blue spruce tips/twigs 3 min Other Secondary
Yeast
Fermentis / Safale - Safbrew - Specialty Ale Yeast T-58
Attenuation (avg):
72%
Flocculation:
Medium
Optimum Temperature:
59°F - 75°F
Starter:
No
Notes
add twigs to secondary for 3days?

not sure about spruce extract
This recipe is not shared.
Last Updated: 2012-10-22 16:49 MDT

2

The APA is a lot less hoppy than I like mine, but it should be OK. I’m not sure what you were going for with the Pale Ale malt. It needs to be mashed - it’s not really going to do anything for you as a steeping grain. The Victory needs to be mashed as well if you’re looking to convert it enzymatically, but you will extract some flavor by steeping it, so that should be fine.

I haven’t done a spruce ale before, but I have to think that the citrusy Cascade flavor/aroma would probably clash a bit. I’d either ditch the Cascade late hops altogether, or maybe go for something piney like Chinook or Simcoe instead.

3

good to know about the pale ale malt, i used the victory in my last IPA, as steeping grain.

one of the guys at the LHBS mentioned that he uses English pale ale malt as a steeping grain with extract beers with decent success

4

I have heard it is actually better to get the spruce tips from the fresh growth in the spring. Supposedly they aren’t as harsh/bitter tasting.

5

I run screaming from the room when I hear “spruce ale.”

Bad experience.  Many years ago.  Still scarred.

6

that was my thought and i have a massive blue spruce in my front yard.

7

[quote]I run screaming from the room when I hear “spruce ale.”

Bad experience.  Many years ago.  Still scarred.
[/quote]

I hear ya. The worst beer I ever made was a Cranberry / Spruce Black Lager for Christmas. I used extract for both the cranberry and spruce. It was awful. It tasted like pine sol that had already been used to clean the floor  :o

8

I like Alaskan Brewing’s winter ale which has sitka spruce and there a few other commercial varieties that are pretty good.

9

I hear ya. The worst beer I ever made was a Cranberry / Spruce Black Lager for Christmas. I used extract for both the cranberry and spruce. It was awful. It tasted like pine sol that had already been used to clean the floor  :o

[/quote]

Yes. Pine Sol was the descriptor.

I must have kept a bottle for 10 years.  No one would drink it.

10

With great results IMO, I took red cedar berries…(juniper aint much different) yeah the
stuff that tastes/smells like Gin.  I put about 1/2 oz of them in the freezer to freeze
and bust the plant cell walls…then in the BK with the bittering hops for my summer saison.
This does work and no pinesol stuff…it adds a great bittering dimension.

11

Likewise.