Girly Ale

[earthwormgaz]

Ay up,

Any ideas for a girly ale? The Mrs tried some of that Carling lime shandy (raddler I think the German's call it) and actually liked it, so I might be able to brew something she'd drink.

I'd need to start from a base of a pale ale I'd think, and then add fruity hops and maybe actual fruit? She likes elderfower stuff so that might be an idea if it's in season.

 

[bobsbeer]

Rasberry might be interesting. Then of couse is the Kriek beer with cherry.

 

[Baz Chaz]

There's a number of fruit beers available in Belgium, MrsC tried quite a few on our visits and rather liked them, so why not, if you like 'em :thumb:

I managed to get through rather a lot of Leffe while we were there :drunk:

 

[Buzzing]

EWG,

I don't know if the Elderflower would make a "Girly" Ale.

I used dried Elderflower steeped as a strong tea in some of my previous brews, and even though it imparts a smooth character to the product, it does have quite a distinct flavour, but not what I would deem a "Girly" flavour.

If I had to make a "Girly" Ale, I'd use some Chamomile Tea in it, or maybe even some Mullein Flowers. Both will give it a "honey" flavour with floral aroma notes.

The best "Girly" brew I ever made was actually a Cider with some Mullein flower tea. And on a hot summers day, I must admit, it went down damn nice.

 

[calumscott]

So my not very scientific study of what my SWMBO likes:

most stouts
american hopped pale ales
pilsner
ciders of all types

and dislikes:

bitter bitters

I reckon the key attributes from that are:

- not too bitter
- lots of fruity flavours and aromas
- fizzy
- chilled

So I would go for a nice light pale ale, easy on the bittering, heavy on the dry hop with some citrussey american stuff, a fruit kicker of some kind maybe, make sure it's well racked and crystal clear and give it way more fizz than you would normally, lager priming rates.

I think I'll have a crack at that when I (finally) get the new house and brewery... :thumb:

 

[Dave1970]

my Mrs, who's normally a lager/white wine girl quite liked a Citra heavy pale ale that I did, which kind of fits with what CalumScott says. She'd probably have liked it more if I'd force carbed it in a corny so it was clearer and fizzier.

 

[calumscott]

Wouldn't it be hillarious if THBF managed to pull off what the commercial beer industry has been trying to do for decades and getting the SWMBOs of the world drinking good beer and cider instead of industrial wash alcohol, sugar and artificial flavouring...?

 

[graysalchemy]

Wouldn't it be hillarious if THBF managed to pull off what the commercial beer industry has been trying to do for decades and getting the SWMBOs of the world drinking good beer and cider instead of industrial wash alcohol, sugar and artificial flavouring...?

Why would they want that?

Thats all they produce anyway :lol: :lol:

 

[BrotherMalice]

My wife loves IPA - sadly so do I, less for me to drink

 

[calumscott]

Wouldn't it be hillarious if THBF managed to pull off what the commercial beer industry has been trying to do for decades and getting the SWMBOs of the world drinking good beer and cider instead of industrial wash alcohol, sugar and artificial flavouring...?

Why would they want that?

Thats all they produce anyway :lol: :lol:

No idea...

I seem to recall that it was the Greene Kingey types who were trying to grab that market share off the alcopop producers. But, I think we'll find that when it comes to beer they failed because they wouldn't be able to justify the cost of producing a brand new proper beer of sufficient quality and style to get over the considerable barrier that the younger ladies (proto-SWMBOs?) have to the concept of beer/ale.

The difference now of course is that we are on the "up-curve" (to use an utterly horrid business-land expression) of the craft-brew groundswell and the craft model is based on quality, lower volume, higher margin sales. They *could* acheive it if they believed there was an exploitable market.

We might just proove that there is. :thumb:

 

[Swift Pint]

Wouldn't it be hillarious if THBF managed to pull off what the commercial beer industry has been trying to do for decades and getting the SWMBOs of the world drinking good beer and cider instead of industrial wash alcohol, sugar and artificial flavouring...?

Why would they want that?

Thats all they produce anyway :lol: :lol:

Thats the thing. The recent attempts by the big companies to crack the female beer drinking markets have all gone down the same patronising route a la THIS, rather than going for flavour etc. I guess the Carling Zest going for a similar approach, with the happy coincidence that it falls into the new 2.8% tax bracket... :whistle:

Personly I'd get your SWMBO to try loads of different beer styles and go from there. Obviously if she does like the Carling Zest, then go down that route with something pale & fruity.

Over time I've made my gf try lots of different beers and discovered actually she likes most styles, especially the following:
IPAs - as long as they arent citrusy
Wheat beers & dunkelweis
Bocks, doppel bocks
Saisons
Sour beers.
Although she particulalry doesnt like:
Roast flavours, stouts, porters etc.
Too much citrussy hops.

I think a lots of it boils down to just having decent flavour, although this is very subjective!
A lot of people who arent into beer think its either going to be freezing cold fizzy crap, stale cask ale or guinness.

The key to cracking the female beer market is education and quality, but that doesnt really sit straight with the low cost high volume approach of the big producers...


Sorry for getting a bit OT!

 

[calumscott]

A lot of people who arent into beer think its either going to be freezing cold fizzy crap, stale cask ale or guinness.

True dat.

The key to cracking the female beer market is education and quality, but that doesnt really sit straight with the low cost high volume approach of the big producers...

It does fall in the model of the crafters though. It is true that the mass market beer has been reduced to a commodity output of homogenised, bland slop.

Maybe the rise of the craft brewers along with the enthusiast home brewers will start to get the message out there and turn some heads?

Nah, dreaming again...

 

[Swift Pint]

Maybe the rise of the craft brewers along with the enthusiast home brewers will start to get the message out there and turn some heads?

Lets hope so! :

 

[Asalpaws]

My Mrs was pretty happy with the Californian Lager I brewed, has the advantage of tolerating a fermentation temp about 19 degrees, which I get in my kitchen even today!