Honey Blonde Bombshell - Iceberg Edition

[GasMD30]

Here is my newest beer, a light Blonde Ale brewed with iceberg water!
It's name is derived from the style of beer, and that this beer uses honey malt in the mash and honey for priming.

Efficiency 70%
OG 1.040
FG 1.006
IBU 16
ABV 4.5%
SRM 3
Batch Size 1.0 gallons

Grain Bill
Pale 2-Row 1.5 lb 93%
Gambrinus Honey Malt. 0.1 lb 6%

Hops Schedule
Hallertau (AA 6.7%) 0.13 oz 60 min

Yeast
Safale US-05

Adjunct
Whirlfloc tablet 1/4 tab 15 min

Mash @ 154°F for 60 min
Batch sparge 170°F
90 minute boil


When I brewed this I had a bit of boil over so I did not reach my target OG. I finally tasted it today and it was awesome. Light, vibrant straw yellow. As much as some may criticize, it tasted like a macrobrew with some tropical undertones. The girlfriend really liked it! Once I get this perfected it will be my go-to easy drinking summer beer! If only I could get more bergy bits to make this....

One hit against it is that it had zero head retention, and minimal head to start. Any suggestions?

[sleepyjamie]

I did a similar recipe

Pale malt
10% flaked wheat
10% honey malt
3% carapils

60 min hallertau
15 min hallertau
0 min hallertau

18 ibu


Add some carapils next time


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GasMD30]

Thanks Jamie, exactly the advice I was looking for.

[Tony L]

More hops usually equals more head retention. Your recipe don't have much in that dept. Carapils or wheat malt do add some foam but usually those are fixes for low protien iirc when making a lager beer.

I can't see where you would get, ah crap, I see. You are doing 1 gallon batches. I was wondering about 16 IBU's with that amount of hops.

I see that you are unhappy with your brew. Please drop it off to me for proper disposal.

[GasMD30]

Now now Tony.... Unhappy is my hefeweizen that tasted like Mr. Clean... This is goes down smooth!

I did have some boil over (you turn around for one minute and bam!) that lost me some hops. That might attribute to the low head. If I add carapils next time, I'm sure it'll be frothy deliciousness.

[Tony L]

If I add carapils next time, I'm sure it'll be frothy deliciousness.

I wouldn't count on it. Carapils will help but it isn't the total solution.

There have been a lot of papers written on foam stability and creation so don't be disappointed or discouraged if it takes a lot of trial and error before you find the head you are looking for.

[LiverDance]

Split a bottle of this with Chalmers this evening, great beer! Especiallyh for the 2.9% posted on the tag! had a lot of flavor for that small a beer, keep up the good work and send more beer

[GasMD30]

Thanks! First iteration of the recipe. It will definitely get better. I will have to find more bergy bits to make more!

I appreciate the feedback and virtual high five!