Imperial Red Ale
This is an amped-up version of the classic American Red Ale, featuring a full body and a rich, toasty-caramelly malt profile. Generous quantities of the highest quality American hops contribute their signature citrus aroma and a pleasant bitterness that lingers well into the finish. To purchase this kit, click here.
Statistics
Original Gravity 1.075
Final Gravity 1.019
Alcohol Content 7.0%
Ingredients
8 lb. Alexander’s Pale Malt Extract
1 lb. Muntons Light Dried Malt Extract
½ lb. Briess Crystal Malt 10° L
¼ lb. Weyermann Cara-Red
¼ lb. Dingeman’s Special B
½ lb. Briess Toasted Malt
2 oz. Thomas Fawcett Amber Malt
1 oz. Warrior Premium Hop Plugs (Bittering)
1 oz. Chinook Premium Hop Plugs (Flavoring)
1 oz. Columbus Premium Hop Plugs (Flavoring)
1 oz. Columbus Premium Hop Plugs (Finishing)
1 oz. Chinook Premium Hop Plugs (Finishing)
White Labs WLP090 San Diego Super Yeast
Procedure
A few hours before you begin to brew, prepare your liquid yeast according to the package instructions. We assume that you are familiar with basic homebrewing techniques, so these procedures are abbreviated.
1. Divide the cracked grains among 4 of the muslin bags (about ½ pound per bag) and add them to your brew kettle along with at least 1½ gallons of cold water (2 or 2½ gallons would be better, but avoid boil-overs!). Heat slowly.
2. Steep the grains in hot water (about 145° – 160°F) to extract flavor and color – do not allow to boil. After about 30 minutes, remove the grain bags and then bring the water to a boil.
3. Remove the pot from the heat and add the cans of malt extract and the bag of dried malt extract. Keep the kettle off the burner and stir until the malt extract is completely dissolved.
4. Put the pot back on the burner and bring it to a boil. Once boiling commences, place the Bittering hops into muslin bags (no more than 1 oz per bag), add them to the pot, and set your timer to boil for 1 hour. Keep an eye on the pot to avoid boil-overs.
5. After 45 minutes of boiling, add ½ teaspoon of Irish Moss, or 1 Whirlfloc tablet, to help clarify your beer (optional).
6. After 50 minutes of boiling, add the Flavoring hops (each in a muslin bags).
7. After 58 minutes of boiling, add the Finishing hops (each in a muslin bags).
8. After 60 minutes of boiling, turn off the heat. Put a lid on your pot and cool it in an ice bath (use your sink) for about 30 minutes. Remove the hop bags from the kettle.
9. Pour 2 gallons of cold water into your sanitized fermenter (or less, depending on your boil volume), add the cooled wort (the stuff in your pot), and top up with additional water to 5 gallons. Aerate the wort with vigorous stirring, rocking the fermenter, etc.
10. Make sure the wort is below 80°F before adding yeast. Take a hydrometer reading if desired. Add the yeast.
11. Store the fermenter where the temperature will be a fairly constant 65° – 70°F. Active fermentation may take only a few days, or it can last up to 2 weeks. A hydrometer reading is a great way to determine when the fermentation is done. Keep the beer in the primary fermenter until active fermentation is complete (no signs of active fermentation for the last 2 to 3 days).
12. When ready to bottle, siphon the beer into your sanitized bottling bucket, leaving sediment behind. Boil the priming sugar in 1-2 cups of water for a few minutes, gently stir into the beer, and bottle as usual.