Thursday, December 30, 2010

Vanilla Cinnamon Wheat Ale

Description:
A vanilla and cinnamon wheat ale to be blended with a maple brown ale to make a fusion French toast ale.

Ingredients:
3.3# Light Malt Extract
3.3# Wheat Malt Extract
1# Light Dry Malt Extract
1 1/4# Ground German Wheat
1 oz. German Tettnang Hop Pellets
Edme Ale Yeast (Safbrew S-33)
2 Vanilla Beans
3" Cinnamon Stick

Hop Schedule:
60 mins - German Tettnang
15 mins - Cinnamon Stick

ABV:
Starting - 12/30/2010 - 1.055 SG - 0.0% ABV
Racking - 1/15/2011 - 1.022 SG - 4.4% ABV 
Ending - 1/22/2011 - 1.020 SG - 4.7% ABV

Notes:
Mistakes - The wort got a little scorched by the electric stove used. Cinnamon was not present at all. Vanilla was a little strong even though it only soaked in pint of vodka for 1 week.
Changes - Bring down the boil a little or use flame to prevent scorching. Add another 3" of cinnamon. Use only 1 vanilla bean.

Tasting:
A: Pours a dark golden color with two fingers of lemon-white head. Head quickly recedes leaving behind a fairly decent lacing.
S: Smells of wheat and a sweet citrus. Alcohol and cinnamon are barely present.
T: Vanilla is prominent at first, it is young and sweet tasting in the middle and ends with slight bitter from the Tettnang and alcohol.
M: Light-medium bodied with a real smooth mouthfeel. It is pretty well carbonated.
D: As it has aged the vanilla has been less powerful and it has become pleasant to drink. The carbonation seems right and if the vanilla was a little less strong it would be very drinkable.