Small Beer Recipes BIAB

       

                                                                             By Mike Retzlaff

When a “spent” mash is not available, one option in all-grain brewing is to pursue a recipe in BIAB.  These recipes are for 3 gallon batches and are based on 75% brewhouse efficiency.  Read Greg’s article (Brew In A Bag) for everything you need to know.  You’ll find BIAB to be an easy way to step up from syrup and into all-grain brewing.  It is a super way to utilize these recipes; even if you are an all-grain brewer already.   As in almost all home brewing, there are lots of options.

Belgian Table Beer    

  • English or Belgian Pale Ale malt               1# 8 oz.
  • Belgian CaraMunich                                      2.5 oz.
  • CaraPils or CaraFoam                                     2.5 oz.
  • Hallertau hops ~4.2% aa  (15 min.)            0.5 oz.
  • Hallertau hops ~4.2% aa     (5 min.)           0.5 oz.
  • S-33, T-58, or Wyeast #3522

Mash temp.  154 oF – 90 min.
60 min. boil
OG  1.016     (1.2% abv)    
FG   1.007    
IBU  ~12    
Color  4.5o SRM    
CO2  2.1 – 2.5 volumes

Grätzer     (Grodziskie)

  • Weyermann Oak smoked wheat malt    3# 7 oz.
  • Sterling hops ~6% aa  (60 min.)                  0.5 oz.
  •           ~6% aa  (5 min.)                      0.5 oz.
  •           ~6% aa  (1 min.)                     1.0 oz.
  • US-05, S-33, or Wyeast #1010

Mash temp.  154 oF – 90 min.
60 min. boil
OG 1.030     (2.75% abv)   
FG  1.009    
IBU  ~ 28    
Color  3.4o SRM    
CO2  2.5 – 2.7 volumes

Scottish Light    60 Shilling Ale  

  • English Pale malt                    3#
  • English Crystal 50/60           1.9 oz.
  • Black Patent malt                 1.9 oz.
  • Light Roast barley                1 oz.
  • Brown sugar                           1.9 oz.
  • Fuggles, Glacier, or Goldings hops @ ~5% aa 0.5 oz. (60 min.)  + 0.5 oz. (5 min.)
  • S-04 or Wyeast #1728

Mash temp.  155 oF – 90 min.
60 min. boil
OG  1.031     (2.9% abv)   
FG   1.009    
IBU  ~22    
Color  14o SRM    
CO2  1.6 – 1.9 volumes

Draught Style Irish Stout

English Pale malt                              2#  5.5 oz.

  • Black Patent malt                                    2.5 oz.
  • British Chocolate malt                           2.5 oz.
  • Light Roasted barley                                 5 oz.
  • Flaked barley                                               4 oz.
  • Quaker Rolled Oats                                   4 oz.
  • Glacier or Goldings hops  ~5% aa 1 oz. (60 min.)  + 1 oz. ( 5 min.)  
  • S-04, S-33, or Wyeast #1084

Mash temp.  155 oF – 90 min.
60 min. boil
OG  1.030     (2.9% abv)   
FG  1.008    
IBU  ~43    
Color  31o SRM    
CO2  1.2 – 1.5 volumes

Sexy Sadie Blonde Ale

  • US 2 Row barley malt                     2#   12 oz.
  • Pale Wheat malt                                         8 oz.
  • Fuggles hops  ~5% aa (30 min.)  1 oz.
  • US-05 or S-04

Mash temp.  154 oF – 90 min.
60 min. boil
OG  1.029     (2.75% abv)   
FG  1.008    
IBU  ~26    
Color  2.2o SRM    
CO2  2.4 – 2.6 volumes

The yeast strains listed are simply suggestions.  S-33 is the EDME strain, S-04 is the Whitbread B strain, US-05 is the “Chico” strain and the workhorse of American home-brewing.  The Wyeast strains are well documented.  Just pick one; they all work well. 

Hallertau hops can be replaced by almost anything because of the low IBUs involved.  Sterling is like a heavy duty Saaz hop and has definite prominence in the finished beer.  I’ve had great results with Glacier in place of English hops.

You’ll marvel at the simplicity of these beers and will always want to have a few bottles of Small beer on hand!  They also give you a great opportunity to hone your brewing skills and to develop new techniques. 

Have fun

*nota bene (Ref. Small Beers and Brewing Small & Session Beers)

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