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Good Brew

Alton Brown

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

Show: Good EatsEpisode: Amber Waves

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (39)

  • Cook Time:

    1 hr 25 min

  • Level:

    Easy

  • Yield:

    5 gallons

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Times:

Prep
1 hr 0 min
Inactive Prep
24 min
Cook
1 hr 25 min
Total:
2 hr 49 min
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Ingredients

  • 4 gallons plus 1 pint spring water
  • 1 (7-pound) bag of ice
  • 1/2 pound crystal grain, milled
  • 7 pounds light liquid malt extract
  • 1-ounce Cascade hops
  • 1 3/4 ounces Kent Goldings hops
  • 1/2 teaspoon Irish moss
  • 1 vial British Ale yeast
  • 3/4 cup Priming sugar, boiled with 1 pint water for 5 minutes

Hardware:

  • 1 large pot that will hold at least 3 gallons water
  • Probe thermometer
  • Colander
  • Metal mesh strainer
  • Cheesecloth
  • 2 (7-gallon) fermenters, 1 with a spigot and 1 with an air lock
  • 6 feet of plastic tubing that will fit the spigot
  • Bottling tube
  • 2 cases plus a couple of bottles of 20-ounce Grolsh style bottles
  • Bottle brush
  • Long metal spoon
  • Unscented household bleach

Directions

It is very important to sterilize all equipment that will come into contact with the beer. Also the hops, yeast, and Irish moss need to be kept refrigerated until use. Begin by sterilizing your equipment that you will use to boil the mash; the pot, metal spoon, probe of the probe thermometer, colander and strainer, including the fermenter. To sterilize everything put 2 ounces of non-scented household bleach and 3 to 4 gallons of water into the fermenter. Place other smaller items in the solution to soak. The items that are too large to fit into the fermenter can be sterilized by pouring the solution in the fermenter into and over these items and then thoroughly rinsing all equipment, including the fermenter.

After sterilization is complete you can begin brewing beer by adding 2 gallons of spring water as well as the 1/2 pound milled grain to your pot and turn the burner on to medium high. Place the probe thermometer into the pot and set the temperature to 155 degrees, once the liquid reaches 155 degrees set a timer for 30 minutes. In the meantime soak the container of liquid malt extract in warm water; it will aid in removing it from the container. After the grain has cooked for 30 minutes add 1 gallon of water and the liquid malt extract and bring to a boil stirring so that the extract does not burn on the bottom until dissolved. The liquid will foam up to the top; when it does this, turn the heat off and let it settle then turn the heat back on and bring to a boil. Let it foam again and turn the heat off, let it settle and turn the heat back on and add the hops. Add 1-ounce of the Cascade hops and 3/4-ounce of Kent goldings hops and boil for 10 minutes. Next add 1/2 teaspoon Irish moss and boil for 5 minutes. Now add the last hops, 1-ounce Kent Goldings, cover, turn off the heat and let sit for 5 minutes. Meanwhile put the last gallon and 1 pint of water as well as the bag of ice into the fermenter and fit the top with the colander and mesh strainer. Strain the mash into the fementer and allow to cool to 80 degrees before pitching the yeast. Once the mash is cooled to 80 degrees it is now safe to add the yeast, shake the vial until the liquid is well mixed and then add to the fermenter. Cover with the lid and put airlock in place. Put into cool dark place to ferment for 7 to 10 days.

Attach the siphon on the spigot and transfer beer from one fermenter to the second one. Add the sugar/water mixture. Bottle using the wand. Cap and place into a cool dark place for another 10 to 14 days.

Open and enjoy.

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Read more Comments & Reviews (39)

Comments & Reviews

  • recipe Good Brew
    Gary McMurrayt, PA 07-20-2009

    Flag

    NIce to bring HomeBrewing to the public!

    Rated: 3 stars out of 5
    I've been homebrewing for 20 years, and Alton's recipie/method is similar to my first brew, except for the ICE. Why go to... the bother to use bottled spring water and then finish it with 7 pounds of frozen water from whearabouts unknown? Just don't. Put your brewpot in the sink and keep changing the water until it's cool. If it's winter, sit it outside in the snow. I'd like to see "Amber Waves 2" where he goes into all grain brewing. It's easy, and you can do it with "multi-taskers" laying around the house. I doubt it will happen, Alton sort of showed his cards in "Amber Waves" and he's probably not a realy homebrewer.Read more
  • recipe Good Brew
    John Ham Lake, MN 06-24-2009

    Flag

    Review the recipe! I made it, I tasted it, I liked it!!

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    Alton got me interested in brewing my own beer when I watched the ?Amber Waves? episode of Good Eats. I started reading more... information about home brewing and decided to try it. I think everyone has their own style for home brewing. This is a recipe review, NOT a critique of Alton?s brewing technique. This recipe turned out great, my wife loves this beer and I will be making it again. It took a little longer to ferment, 14 day?s, I think my basement is rather cool. I did check specific gravity to know if fermentation was complete and to know how much alcohol by volume I would have. I used 20L crystal malt and removed it after the steep, rather than let it stay in during the boil. It?s a good looking great tasting beer, slightly sweet, with citrus flavors, nice aroma and very refreshing. Good Brew! Thank you Alton!Read more
  • recipe Good Brew
    Ian Bothell, WA 06-12-2009

    Flag

    question

    Rated: 4 stars out of 5
    I noticed that there were a lot of different crystal malts to choose from, i was wondering which one would tast the best for... this beer?Read more
  • recipe Good Brew
    Elmer Addison, IL 04-24-2009

    Flag

    Chart

    Rated: 4 stars out of 5
    Does anyone have a copy of the chart (or similiar) that was used at the beginning of the show that outlined the different... beer styles? Thanks.Read more
  • recipe Good Brew
    Dave Covington, WA 01-13-2009

    Flag

    The world is full of bums who say you are not good enough. Ignore them!

    Rated: 5 stars out of 5
    A tip of the hat to Alton for putting brewing in front of so many people from an experienced craft brewer. Anyone who... brews according to this recipe will likely get good results. From there you can refine your craft. Brew on! Read more
  • recipe Good Brew
    Anonymous 02-04-2008

    Flag

    Not to beat a dead horse but . . .

    Rated: 1 stars out of 5
    If you watched this show and thought - "I can do that, it looks like fun!" you're right. But for anyone who has never... brewed a batch of beer in their life, forget everything you learned on this show and go read a reputable book on homebrewing or go ask the person working at your local brew shop. Like all of the Good Eats episodes this one was informative and entertaining, but like a few episodes Alton tackles a culinary area in which he obviously lacks a real understanding of the process.Read more
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