Batch #10 - Super Bowl American Pale Ale

Today's brew is an American Pale Ale.  Was looking for something with a lower ABV, and a bit lighter, for the Super Bowl.  My previous brews have been a bit strong, which is fine if you sit down for one or two.  However Superbowl Sunday will be an entire day of eating, playing cards, watching football, and drinking a beer.

Here are the details:

Grains
9.5 lbs - 2-Row
1.9 lbs - Crystal Malt 40L
1.9 lbs - White Wheat Malt
.95 lbs - Flaked Barley
.95 lbs - Flaked Maize

Hops
4 oz - East Kent Goldings
3 oz - Cascade

Yeast
Wyeast 1056 - American Ale

The brew schedule was as follows:

Mash
60 min at 154 degrees
Heat to 170 degrees
Sparge for approx 1 hour

Boil
60 minute boil
Start - Add East Kent Goldings
45 min - Add Cascade
50 min - Add Whirfloc

Here are the specs on this brew:

IBU's - 55.99
Color - 7.2 SRM
Calories - 132 per 12 oz
Estimated OG - 1.043
Actual OG - 1.036 (ouch)
Estimated FG - 1.010
Estimated ABV - 3.93%
New Estimated ABV from OG - 3.01%

Though the brew day went smooth, for some reason I fell way under my normal 83% efficiency, and came in at 73%.  In writing this post I just realized my mistake....argh!  My recipe in my software was based on a 10 gallon batch side rather than my usual 12 gallon size (is what I target post boil).  After entering the new numbers in, my software shows me at 88% efficiency.  This much more in line with what I thought I'd see because everything went very well today.

What this means in that my recipe was off, with the new 12 gallon size my specs are:

IBU's - 48.64
Color - 6.4 SRM
Calories - 112 per 12oz
Estimated OG - 1.034
Actual OG - 1.036
Estimated FG - 1.011 (with California Lager yeast)
Estimated ABV - 3.01%
New Estimated ABV - 3.27%

Couple of points of note.  The brew supply shop was out of any and all types of American Ale yeast, I think everyone got brew kits for the holidays.  I had to substitute California Lager yeast. I'm told the Three Floyds crew use this yeast a lot, so I'm going to ferment at 60 degrees.  Unfortunately though the attenuation is lower on this yeast.  I also realized later I also only used 8.5 lbs of 2-Row, a mistake I made in measuring.  Looks like today was full of mistakes!  This is how we learn I suppose.  I was going after a light brew, looks like I went really light!

On a positive note, we sampled Batch #7 and people today really liked it.  It is a mellow, smooth brew. It is still carbonating, and it seems to be smoothing out more and more, but it was good to drink today.  I also worked out a new recipe for the next banana beer, not sure when we'll brew it but I have it ready to go.