Low Alcohol Pale Ale
Style:
 Pale Ale
Brewed on:
03/31/09
Bottled on:
 04/15/09
 O.G. 1.036 F.G.  1.01  Abv.  3.4
 Ingredients:

Grains/Extract/Sugars
6.6 lbs Marris Otter
1.4 lbs Crystal 40   

Adjuncts/Random:

Hops:
0.25 oz Cascade @ 60
0.25 oz Simcoe @ 60
0.25 oz Simcoe @ 45
0.25 oz Simcoe @ 15
0.13 oz Cascade @ 15
0.5 oz Simcoe @ 2
0.5 oz Cascade @ 2
0.5 oz Simcoe @ Dry Hop
0.5 oz Cascade @ Dry Hop

Yeast:
Safale US-05
Brewing Notes: Transferred to secondary & added dry hops after 5 days. SG = 1.010
Tasting Notes: Sample 6/2/09.

Copper/orangey body. Thin white head with nice enough lacing. (3)

Nose is Grass, Mango, malt, that twang that appears so frequently in my IPAs - I'm unsure if its a brewing issue, or something with simcoes? I can't remember if it was in the 2 hearted clone. Bah to the grass. (6)

Flavor is mango, grassy, watery, toasty malt. Tastes kinda like the hop profile of Sierra Nevada with soda water mixed in. I like the malt but it needs to be more prominent - switch to an English Ale yeast next time? It tastes like something which was made in Ontario or a brewer who holds British session beers in high regard but doesn't quite "get it" (6)

Body is a bit thin, as to be expected in such a low ABV beer. (2)

Next time
- mash higher - MORE BODY! This should lead to more sweetness & less of that soda water feeling
- English Ale Yeast
- Forget the Cascades, do something cool like Amarillo mixed w. Simcoe (or straight Amarillo?)
- Boost body w. something. Unmalted wheat?
- Lower Carbonation

I'd probably give this an 11 or 12 overall - not a high score. But I'd like to improve this. It has potential, especially as a summer session beer.
     

 
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