Foods of the World Forum Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Food Groups > Beverages
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Rose-Cheeked and Blonde
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

This site is completely supported by donations; there are no corporate sponsors. We would be honoured if you would consider a small donation, to be used exclusively for forum expenses.



Thank you, from the Foods of the World Forums!

Rose-Cheeked and Blonde

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
TasunkaWitko View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 25 January 2010
Location: Chinook, MT
Status: Offline
Points: 9356
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TasunkaWitko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Rose-Cheeked and Blonde
    Posted: 20 July 2018 at 11:55
Last night, I brewed a rose-kissed Belgian Blonde ale from Brooklyn Brew Shop.



Called "Rose-Cheeked and Blonde," this beer is a typical Belgian Blonde with the addition of rose hips and petals, which are added during and at the end of the boil. Brooklyn Brew Shop describes this ale as "a breath of fresh air with a heady swirl of floral-toned aromatics that’ll make you blush.... Rose hips (the dried fruit of the rose plant) add just a touch of fermentable sugar and reddish colour, while the buds leave a heady, floral aroma." At 6.5% AV, I can imagine that it will pretty interesting once finished.

The recipe for this beer can be found in Brooklyn Brew Shop's BEER MAKING BOOK, and is also currently offered as a pre-packaged mix at www.brooklynbrewshop.com:

https://brooklynbrewshop.com/collections/beer-making-mixes/products/beer-making-mix-rose-cheeked-and-blonde

From what I can see, there is a slight difference between the two versions; the pre-packaged version, which I brewed last night, seems to employ torrified wheat, which is not in the recipe that is in the book. The written recipe, however, calls for Carapils. I have written Brooklyn Brew Shop inquiring about this difference, and will share their answer, assuming that I will get one. Aside from that, the beer is comprised mostly of Belgian Pilsner malt - boosted with an addition of clear Belgian candi sugar - with a little Aromatic malt tossed in for some great malty flavour and aroma. As for hops, this beer uses Styrian Golding hops to the tune of a little more than 21 IBUs; most of the hops are added at the beginning of the boil, with a small amount added right near the end for aroma. I am a big fan of Styrian Golding hops, which seem to turn up in of Belgian ales; they have a wonderful aroma that is earthy as well as spicy, and should be a great fit for this beer. Here is a more thorough description of this hop, which has both English and Austrian/Slovenian roots:

https://brooklynbrewshop.com/blogs/themash/hop-profile-styrian-golding

This brew was almost completely hassle-free, with no complications. I basically followed the instructions as outlined here:

https://brooklynbrewshop.com/pages/instructions-rose-cheeked-blonde

As noted, the brew went very well, with mash temperatures holding right about where I wanted them to, and no sticking during the sparge. The additions of hops, rose hips, Belgian candi sugar and rose petals at various points during the boil were all on schedule, and I got a nice cold break while chilling the wort down.

One noteworthy thing about this brew: I didn't have any actual "Belgian" yeast on hand, except some S33 from Fermentis; however, plugging that yeast into my Brewer's Friend app, I kept getting much lower ABV numbers, way off from what the recipe calls for. This, plus an inquiry that I made in the past about a similar beer (West Coast Golden Strong Ale), led me to decide to go ahead and use the "standard" yeast that comes with Brooklyn Brew Shop mixes. I believe that this yeast is from Munton's but do not know for sure. When I plugged Munton's into Brewer's Friend, the ABV numbers went right where they were supposed to be. Another consideration was the ambient temperature in our home this time of year, which is a little higher than I'd prefer. The "stock" yeast seems to do well in warmer temperatures, so I went with it and expect things to end up fine.

I took a peek at my beer this morning and fermentation is ramping up really nicely; soon, there will be a steady blip blip blip coming out of the blow-off tube, but I won't be there to listen to it as we will be out of town most of this weekend, during what will be the most active part of fermentation. When I get home on Sunday, I'll swap the blow-off tube for an air lock, then settle in for the wait until bottling. If anything worthy of note occurs, I'll post it here.

As always, I invite discussion on this beer and this brew; if anyone has any questions or comments, please feel free to post them here, and I will do my best to address them.

More as it happens, etc. & c....

Ron
If you are a visitor and like what you see, please click here and join the discussions in our community!
Back to Top
Sponsored Links


Back to Top
HistoricFoodie View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group


Joined: 21 February 2012
Location: Kentucky
Status: Offline
Points: 4940
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HistoricFoodie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 July 2018 at 18:49
Wow, Ron. From the title I thought, "better not let the beautiful Mrs Tas find out."

Who'd a thunk you were talking about beer.
But we hae meat and we can eat
And sae the Lord be thanket
Back to Top
Margi Cintrano View Drop Down
Master Chef
Master Chef
Avatar

Joined: 03 February 2012
Location: Spain
Status: Offline
Points: 6357
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Margi Cintrano Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 July 2018 at 04:17
Ron, 

Racy name for a Belgium Beer !

Love it ..  

Sounds like a semi sweet for a dessert !  Perhaps a strawberry or rose wáter prepared dessert  !!!

Good luck with it ..  

Have a lovely weekend ..   

Volamos a Mediterraneo, un paraiso que conquista su gente u su cocina.
Back to Top
TasunkaWitko View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 25 January 2010
Location: Chinook, MT
Status: Offline
Points: 9356
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TasunkaWitko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 July 2018 at 08:34
Good morning, Brook and Margi ~

This should be a good one, I think. It is still fermenting, but I have high hopes for it. It is too early to tell for sure, but I believe it will be atypical Belgian Blonde with just a hint of rose accenting the aroma and taste. Should be great for a summer day, along with the lavender version that I will also brew.

More to come!

Ron
If you are a visitor and like what you see, please click here and join the discussions in our community!
Back to Top
Margi Cintrano View Drop Down
Master Chef
Master Chef
Avatar

Joined: 03 February 2012
Location: Spain
Status: Offline
Points: 6357
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Margi Cintrano Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 July 2018 at 16:15

How is it going  ?  

Keep us posted ..  

I shall be up in Costa Brava and Barcelona during August .. 

Shall keep in touch !!   

Have a lovely summer  Ron ..
Volamos a Mediterraneo, un paraiso que conquista su gente u su cocina.
Back to Top
TasunkaWitko View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 25 January 2010
Location: Chinook, MT
Status: Offline
Points: 9356
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TasunkaWitko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 July 2018 at 09:27
Good morning, folks - sorry for my tardy reply; things get pretty busy for me during the last week or so of each month.

Since my last post, I switched my blow-off tube for an airlock after the most active period of fermentation had passed. The beer looked really good, with a nice colour somewhere between butterscotch and toffee; it also smelled very good, and I think we're onto some good progress. The rose element seemed very subtle, as far as the aroma went; I'll wait until I've actually tasted it, but I am guessing that one could bring up the amount of rose hips and rose petals a bit, if they want to. I'll reserve judgment for later, where that is concerned.

I generally let my beers go in primary for 3 weeks before cold-crashing and bottling; however, since we expect to be out of town during that time, I may start the cold-crashing a few days early and bottle on the 3-week mark - we will see.

So far, so good - the base recipe for the Belgian blonde is a winner, for sure; I've found it to be a really special mix of malts that is very tasty and has an enticing aroma. The Styrian Golding hops seem to go perfectly with this grain bill, as well.

More as it happens, etc. &c....

Ron
If you are a visitor and like what you see, please click here and join the discussions in our community!
Back to Top
Margi Cintrano View Drop Down
Master Chef
Master Chef
Avatar

Joined: 03 February 2012
Location: Spain
Status: Offline
Points: 6357
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Margi Cintrano Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 July 2018 at 09:40
Sounds very progressive .. 

Good luck with it ..  

Would you serve this beer with appetisers or desserts or just an "apertif " drinking a beer  ?  

Volamos a Mediterraneo, un paraiso que conquista su gente u su cocina.
Back to Top
TasunkaWitko View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 25 January 2010
Location: Chinook, MT
Status: Offline
Points: 9356
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TasunkaWitko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 July 2018 at 09:47
Hi, Margi -

I didn't think of it until you mentioned it, but I think it would do very well as an apertif; there's something about the character of these Belgian blondes that seems to wake things up in the mind and palate.

Having said that, I am quite positive that it would also be a great beer for social drinking; conversation, playing cards etc.
If you are a visitor and like what you see, please click here and join the discussions in our community!
Back to Top
TasunkaWitko View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 25 January 2010
Location: Chinook, MT
Status: Offline
Points: 9356
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TasunkaWitko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 July 2018 at 15:49
It was quite a challenge to find an image that I was happy with to use as a label for this beer; in the end, here's what I went with:

If you are a visitor and like what you see, please click here and join the discussions in our community!
Back to Top
TasunkaWitko View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 25 January 2010
Location: Chinook, MT
Status: Offline
Points: 9356
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TasunkaWitko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 August 2018 at 13:21
I had been doing my best to leave this alone the past week or so, after the most active period of fermentation had slowed down (or so I thought). When I went to cold-crash the beer last night before bottling, I noticed that the fermentation had started up again and was quite active.

I thought to myself, Oh no - infection or wild yeast!

However, I don't see any telltale signs of that, and the beer smells incredibly wonderful; also, I remembered that this has happened before when using Brooklyn Brew Shop's yeast, so my guess (hope) is that this is nothing to be concerned about.

We are going to be gone on a trip next week, so I will "let it ride" and take a look at how it is when I get home.

More as it happens, etc. &....

Ron
If you are a visitor and like what you see, please click here and join the discussions in our community!
Back to Top
TasunkaWitko View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 25 January 2010
Location: Chinook, MT
Status: Offline
Points: 9356
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TasunkaWitko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 October 2018 at 10:01
Please don't ask me why, because I don't know...but this beer has been cold crashing for almost two months. I finally got it bottled last night, so that it can work its carbonation magic while I am in Australia. I added a small amount of yeast, just in case the extended cold-crashing was detrimental to the yeast that was already there.

I'm using European 33cl bottles now, so I was easily able to get 10 bottles from this batch, with just enough left over for a small sample. Even though the beer is not carbonated yet, I was able to get a sense of what is to come, and it is sure going to be good, I think. There is a nice, rich, almost addicting maltiness to the beer, but it is very well-balanced by the hops. The rosehips and rose petals do provide a very slight, reddish tint, and do contribute in a subtle way to the aroma and the taste of the beer, giving it a hint of what seemed to me to be an almost apple-like quality; not much, just a whisper.

I'll know more when the beer has carbonated and conditioned a bit, but I think I will like this.

Ron
If you are a visitor and like what you see, please click here and join the discussions in our community!
Back to Top
TasunkaWitko View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 25 January 2010
Location: Chinook, MT
Status: Offline
Points: 9356
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TasunkaWitko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 January 2019 at 14:35
I've been able to try this beer twice now, and have really enjoyed it.



The colour and clarity were very good, in my opinion, mostly due to the extended cold-crashing and the fact that the beer sat for two months after bottling before I managed to get my labels on it. The beer poured pretty well and had good lacing, but I would have preferred a little more head than shown above (the second bottle was much better). When I bottled this beer, I was going for a "medium" carbonation, but a little more probably would have been ideal.

The rose aspect of it was pretty subtle; it was there on the nose - just a whisper - and I could detect it in the finish, as well, in the form of a nice, little bite at the end...just barely enough to be unique but not enough to make you cringe at all. When I make this again, I might double the rose petals and/or rose hips; but I wouldn't do much more than that, as I wouldn't want to over-do it. As it is, it is pretty close to being "just right."

These are all just little details, however; the bottom line is that I really enjoyed this ale. The malts that are used in this beer really produced a very tasty end result and the hops were definitely a good choice. The over-all effect of both the aroma and the flavor resulted in a very drinkable beer that left you wishing there was just a little more in the glass.

My second sample of this was just as good, and had an even smoother mouthfeel, for whatever reason:



In reality, the beer was much more clear than this photo indicates, and I am not sure what happened - but the taste was just as good as the first one.

My dad, whom I share all of my beers with, also enjoyed this one. He was a big fan of Brooklyn Brew Shop's Bruxelles Blonde, and this one was at least as good, in his opinion, except for the lower carbonation, which was my fault.

I gave away two bottles to work colleagues, and have two left each for myself and my father. I'll try to get some more details as far as the characteristics of the beer, but it was definitely a good one.

I haven't yet brewed the Lavender or Chamomile versions of this beer, since I'm waiting until it is closer to springtime, but I am guessing they will be very good, as well.
If you are a visitor and like what you see, please click here and join the discussions in our community!
Back to Top
TasunkaWitko View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 25 January 2010
Location: Chinook, MT
Status: Offline
Points: 9356
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TasunkaWitko Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 February 2019 at 10:33
Since my post above, I've tried this beer once again and currently have a bottle left. It continues to be a great beer and I am enjoying it quite a bit.



At this most recent tasting, I had a better chance to evaluate the carbonation level; in my opinion, it is just fine in that regard, and I have no complaints. It seems to me to be carbonated correctly or possibly very slightly "under" - however, the smooth, gentle mouthfeel allows me to get a better appreciation of the malt and hop combination, so I like it the way it is. It is more carbonated than a hefeweizen, but not as carbonated as a BMC type fo beer, so I'm going to call it good, just the way it is.

The rose continues to be subtle, but it is definitely on the nose and in the finish - I like it, and any more would possibly be too much.

As I said above, I have one of these left, and will probably have it this weekend.
If you are a visitor and like what you see, please click here and join the discussions in our community!
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.125 seconds.