Toning my beer ABV down

[Nicks90]

I always aim for a 5% brew when doing my recipes, on the understanding that is I bollocks up my efficiency I'll still get about 4.2-4.5%, or if I surprise my self I'll get 5.5
Happy medium!


Also cannot wait to get my hands on the new Tool album

 

[Gavin Callaghan]

I do exactly that. Just after making a blonde ale which should be less than 4%, can sit in the garden and knock it back all day. Also have a 6% red citra ipa bottled if i fancy wrecking the house.

I'd really like to make kölsch on a regular basis but I haven't worked out the ins and outs of lagering! early days though

 

[Honk]

I do an occasional stronger beer to put aside for aging but most of my beers tend to be 4.5 to 5%.
I can turn these round quickly, around 2 weeks grain to glass and I can have several pints and avoid a hangover the next morning. For me that's preferable to sipping a stronger beer.

 

[dad_of_jon]

um what are these strange brews of under 5% that you talk of? Isn't that pop

 

[Honk]

This thread caused me to dig out a bottle of one of my stronger beers, it's around 8% and brewed 14 months ago, it's a historical beer from Ron Pattisons book, it's good, it gets better every time I sample it, but for everyday drinking (or Friday to Sunday drinking in my case) I think I'm going to stick to something more sessionable. Currently working on a session IPA recipe version 1 all gone, version 2 currently drinking, version 3 in the fermenter to be kegged tomorrow or Tuesday. Though maybe I should think about doing something stronger for the dark winter evenings/ Christmas

 

[samale]

I normally aim around the 5-6 % anything higher I starting blowing bubbles after 4 beer. I haven't mastered the sipping and taking your time part yet.

 

[Nicks90]

Never worked that one out either.
I drink at a set speed. So if I start at 3pm I'm a gibbering wreck by 8...
Normally I crack my first one after tea and by bedtime I'm done!

 

[cushyno]

Never worked that one out either.
I drink at a set speed. So if I start at 3pm I'm a gibbering wreck by 8...
Normally I crack my first one after tea and by bedtime I'm done!

You seem to be perfectly calibrated. Tea 'til bed has got to be optimum drinking schedule.

 

[DavidDetroit]

um what are these strange brews of under 5% that you talk of? Isn't that pop

I've seen a few forum members that prefer 3% ABV or something like that which is fine. To each his own, right?
Me? I'm not lighting the pilot unless that puppy is going to be 9% or better. I posted something, somewhere, about my next five: 10%, 11%, 11%, 9.8%, 12%. Plus I think I can coax that sub-ten beer a few points higher without negatively effecting the recipe. It's an English Old Ale so I'm going to be careful since the recipe I've been using is delicious.

 

[Zephyr259]

I have a mix of strengths generally and this year has been mostly lower abv beers kicking about between 4 - 5.5% with the exception of a 6.5% Maibock. My raw wheat was planned for 4.8%, then I got a much higher efficiency which put it to 5.8%, then the yeast attenuated much higher and it ended up as 6.2%, so not the light refreshing summer beer, but still way too drinkable.

Due to that "accident" I've ran out of anything sub 6% so it's time to brew a big batch of 4% bitter and either a dry stout or a mild to get some easier going beer back in stock.