BlueHouseBrewhaus
Well-Known Member
So I've been brewing Christmas presents for my brothers and brothers-in-law. I've asked each of them what their favorite brew is. One brother-in-law said he fell in love with Monteith's Summer Ale when he was in New Zealand last year. I've found two somewhat clone-ish recipes but they don't seem to be quite right and I'd like to do better.
Here is what my research has found so far.
"Made with lightly kilned malts, ginger and rata honey."
"A refreshingly spiced, bright gold beer with a real flavoursome zest. First we chose four different malts to give a smooth heart, then we carefully brought the beer through the brewhouse and spiced it gently with a single hop variety. With the addition of traditional spices and the finishing touch of a little rata honey"
Tasting notes from various sites indicate a strong ginger note and there is always a mention of the "rata" honey, whatever that is. Several tasters also detected orange peel and a citrusy light hop flavor. A few sites allude to local NZ hops. I'm thinking Riwaka, which is listed as having citrus and grapefruit notes. Of course, I can't find it on the US so I'll have to order it from NZ.
So here's what I have so far.
4 lb UK 2-row malt
2 lb German Wheat malt
1 lb Torrified Wheat
12 oz Crystal 20
.5 oz Riwaka - 45 min
.5 oz Riwaka - 10 min
2 oz Ginger root - 10 min
1 lb Honey - 10 min
1 oz Sweet Orange Peel - 5 min
Mash 60 min at 148F
Wyeast 1056
OG 1.048
FG 1.008
6 SRM
13 IBU
5.2% ABV
Not sure what 4 malts would give a "smooth heart". Seems like a summer ale would have wheat but I'm not sure. Maybe sub pils for the wheat? Just used a generic yeast. Any other suggestions?
So waddya think?
Here is what my research has found so far.
"Made with lightly kilned malts, ginger and rata honey."
"A refreshingly spiced, bright gold beer with a real flavoursome zest. First we chose four different malts to give a smooth heart, then we carefully brought the beer through the brewhouse and spiced it gently with a single hop variety. With the addition of traditional spices and the finishing touch of a little rata honey"
Tasting notes from various sites indicate a strong ginger note and there is always a mention of the "rata" honey, whatever that is. Several tasters also detected orange peel and a citrusy light hop flavor. A few sites allude to local NZ hops. I'm thinking Riwaka, which is listed as having citrus and grapefruit notes. Of course, I can't find it on the US so I'll have to order it from NZ.
So here's what I have so far.
4 lb UK 2-row malt
2 lb German Wheat malt
1 lb Torrified Wheat
12 oz Crystal 20
.5 oz Riwaka - 45 min
.5 oz Riwaka - 10 min
2 oz Ginger root - 10 min
1 lb Honey - 10 min
1 oz Sweet Orange Peel - 5 min
Mash 60 min at 148F
Wyeast 1056
OG 1.048
FG 1.008
6 SRM
13 IBU
5.2% ABV
Not sure what 4 malts would give a "smooth heart". Seems like a summer ale would have wheat but I'm not sure. Maybe sub pils for the wheat? Just used a generic yeast. Any other suggestions?
So waddya think?