Carp Ale

Category: Pale Ale

Recipe Type: Extract

Ingredients

• Fermentables:

  • 3 lbs Munton & Fison light DME (Dry Malt Extract)
  • 3 lbs Munton & Fison amber DME
  • 1 lb crystal malt

• Hops:

  • 2.6 oz Fuggles hops (4.7% alpha = 12.22 AAU) – boil
  • 1 oz Kent Goldings hops (5.9% alpha = 5.9 AAU) – boil

• Other:

  • 1/4 tsp Irish moss

• Yeast:

  • 1 pack Brewer’s Choice #1098 (British ale yeast)

Procedure

1. Yeast Preparation:

   • Break the seal of the yeast pack ahead of time and prepare a starter solution about 10 hours before brewing.

2. Steeping:

   • Bring 2 gallons of water to a boil with the crushed crystal malt.
   • Remove the crystal malt when the boil starts.

3. Boiling:

   • Fill the pot to 6 gallons and add the light and amber DME.
   • After boiling for 10 minutes, add 2.6 oz Fuggles hops.
   • At 55 minutes into the boil, add a pinch (1/4 tsp) of Irish moss.
   • At 58 minutes, add 1 oz Kent Goldings hops.
   • Total boil time is 60 minutes.

4. Cooling and Fermentation:

   • Cool the wort rapidly using an immersion chiller or an ice bath to about 80°F (27°C).
   • Transfer the cooled wort to your fermenter and pitch the Brewer’s Choice #1098 yeast.
   • Ferment at a temperature suitable for your chosen ale yeast (typically around 65-70°F / 18-21°C) for about a week.

5. Secondary Fermentation:

   • Rack the beer to a secondary fermenter and let it ferment for another 5 days.

6. Kegging/Bottling:

   • Once fermentation is complete, keg the beer or bottle it with priming sugar to carbonate.
   • If bottling, allow the bottles to carbonate at room temperature for about 2 weeks before refrigerating and enjoying.

Variations

1. Citrus Infusion:

   • Add the zest of one orange or lemon to the boil during the last 10 minutes for a citrusy twist.

2. Spicy Kick:

   • Add 1 tsp of crushed black pepper or 1 diced jalapeno to the boil for a spicy variation.

3. Honey Addition:

   • Replace 1 lb of amber DME with 1 lb of honey for a smoother, slightly sweeter finish.

4. Dry Hopped:

   • Add an additional 0.5 oz of Kent Goldings hops to the secondary fermenter for a more pronounced hop aroma.

By following these steps and experimenting with variations, you can create a unique version of Carp Ale that suits your taste preferences. Enjoy your brewing journey!