Homebrew Grass Cutter (365 Day 47)

By scot in 365 Days of American Craft Beer, Home Brewing on Monday, January 17th, 2011

Does it get anymore American craft beer than having a home brew? I believe this is the fifth batch of this particular beer I have brewed (maybe fourth). With the last three batches I have tried goofing around with the recipe a bit: tinkering, muddling, and dabbling with some spices and fruits.

Originally it was just a straight wheat ale. My wife and neighbors like it but I though it was okay. The beer needed more fruitiness, especially orange, as this was the desire of the beer. Eventually I started brewing it with coriander and orange zest in the last five minutes of the boil. The aroma during fermentation was outstanding: orange and more orange. But, alas, everything that comes out in the fermentor, is gone for good from the beer when it comes to aroma. These batches had a touch more orange juiciness but I still was curious.

This last batch of Grass Cutter Wheat Ale had an addition of orange zest in secondary (actually in primary after fermentation was done). The result is just about dead on of what I wanted to create over a year ago. I am very satisfied with this beer as it sits now. I am still in the process of conversion to all-grain (waiting for the weather to warm up), so this was still made with dried malt extract. I am looking forward to the next two beers that are fermenting right now. Enjoy!

Useless Fact: A male gypsy moth can smell a female gypsy moth in heat up to a mile and a half away.