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.