So the Mrs. requested I make something she would enjoy – a.k.a. – light and fruity. I decided to try making a Peach Blonde Ale. Brewday was this past Saturday.

This is based off an apricot blonde ale recipe I found. I am substituting peaches for the apricots, and I am leaving out the fruit extract addition called for at bottling. I would rather the fruit flavor be too subtle than too much. I can always increase it for the next time it is made. The peaches will be added on Tuesday.

Since this is such a light ale, I opted to use bottled water for this to avoid any off-flavors my high bicarbonate water could impart. The only other potential issue is that my temperatures during the mash dropped more than I anticipated – 4 degrees. I think the smaller grain amount left more head-space in the mash tun and as a result – heat loss. I will have to get some foam to fill that space up prior to the hefeweizen being brewed this upcoming Saturday.

Here are the details:
Batch size 5 gallons
Boil size 6.1 gallons
Boil time 60 minutes
Grain weight 8 pounds
Efficiency 75%
Original gravity 1.051
Final gravity 1.010 (est.)
Alcohol (by volume) 5.4%
Bitterness (IBU) 11
Color (SRM) 3.9°L
Yeast
Dry Yeast
Fermentis
S-04
English Ale
Grains/Extracts/Sugars
8 pounds
2 Row Base
37ppg, 1.5°L
7 pounds
85.7%
Crystal 10L
35ppg, 10°L
1 pounds
12.5%
Hops
1 ounce
Cascade hops
3.2%, Pellet
1 ounce
Additions
48.05 ounces
Peaches
Flavor
48 ounces
Irish moss
Fining
1 teaspoon
Mash
60 minutes, 7.6 gallons
Strike
Target 154°F
3 gallons
166°F
60 minutes (+0)
Sparge
Target 170°F
4.6 gallons
175°F
Boil
60 minutes, 6.1 gallons
Cascade hops
3.2%, Pellet
1 ounce
60 minutes (+0)
Irish moss
Fining
1 teaspoon
15 minutes (+45)
Wort chiller 15 minutes (+45)
Ferment
14 days @ 60-72°F
Peaches
Flavor
48 ounces
11 days (+3)

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