Batch #21 - Firecracker Ale

Nothing like a good Firecracker Ale to ring in the 4th of July!  I brewed this batch last year as an extract brew before I had the all-grain setup up and going.  It was an interesting beer that is a good easy drink on a hot summer day.  The interesting part of this brew is the kicker added to it during the boil.

That's right, Red Hots!  It gives the beer a reddish hue and a little subtle zip.  This year I converted that recipe to all-grain.  Here is that recipe:

Batch Size - 5 gallons

Grains

10 lbs - Pale 2-Row

1 lbs 8 oz - Crystal 20L

12 oz - Torrified Wheat

4 oz -Flaked Barley

Color and Flavor
1 lbs - Red Hots Candy

Hops
1.2 oz - Centennial (60 min)
1.73 oz - Liberty (20 min)

Yeast

Wyeast 1056 - American Ale - Target 625 billion cells

The brew schedule was as follows:

Mash

1.25 q water/lb
75 min at 150 degrees
Mashout to 170 degrees for 10 min
Sparge for approx 1 hour

Boil

60 min boil
Final 60 min - Add Centennial and Red Hots
Final 20 min - Add Liberty
Final 15 min - Add Whirfloc

Fermentation

Primary - 14 Days @ 64
Keg Condition - 14 Days

Here are the specs on this brew:

IBU's -47.6
Color - 5.9 SRM
Calories - 195 per 12 oz
Estimated OG - 1.059
Actual OG - 1.056
Estimated FG - 1.012
Actual FG - 1.010
Estimated ABV - 6.2%
Actual ABV - 6.0%

We drank this over the 4th of July weekend and it was a hit!  We didn't drink the whole keg as the crown was not huge, but that is fine as it will give me some left that I can bottle and hang onto.