Brown Bag Special - ARCHIVED
Click here for printable instructions.
STORY:
While we often focus our efforts on bold and popular craft beer recipes here at Mr. Beer, we’re not so terribly highbrow. We can all admit to consuming some Old English, Colt 45, Steel Reserve or Mickey’s at a backyard kickback at one time or another. So we thought we’d craft our own malt liquor recipe for homebrewers who want something strong and malty to drink. Since we all recognize that 40 oz. malt liquor bottles are handed to you in a brown bag, we thought we’d name this one the Brown Bag Special.
PROFILE:
A result of a Mr. Beer experiment, this clear, golden-colored beer was intended to be a close representation of the classic “malt liquor” style, but it ended up drinking like a top shelf craft beer. The liberal addition of corn adjuncts gives this beer a malty grain aroma and sweetness that is slightly balanced by the addition of Nugget hops. While this beer is easy to drink, a slight warming from the alcohol will remind you to please drink it in moderation because this isn’t your average lager.
SIMILAR TO:
Mickey’s Malt Liquor
Olde English 800
RECIPE INCLUDES:
- 2 Classic American Light (Yeast under lid - You won’t be using this.)
- 2 Pouches Booster
- 1 Packet 2-Row Brewers Malt (4 oz.)
- 1 Packet Flaked Corn (4oz, you'll only use 2oz.)
- 1 Packet Nugget Pellet Hops (1/2 oz.)
- 1 Saflager S-23
- 2 Muslin Sacks
- 1 Packet No-Rinse Cleanser
PLEASE NOTE: If you are not going to brew this recipe right away, we recommend that you refrigerate the packets of grains to preserve freshness
YOU'LL PROVIDE:
- Thermometer for Steeping/Mashing - Range up to 175°F (found here)
Additional Information
- OG: 1.084 (approx.) -- FG: 1.022 (approx.)
- Suggested conditioning time is 3 to 6 weeks.
- Flavor: Malty
- ABV (alc/vol): 8
- SRM (Color): 4
- IBU (Bitterness): 14
- BJCP Style: N/A
Fermentation |
Carbonation |
Bottle |
Total Brewing Time |
|
| 3 Weeks | 3 Weeks | 3 - 6 Weeks | = | 2 - 3 Months |
Click here for printable instructions.
Brown Bag Special Instructions
RECIPE INCLUDES:
- 2 Classic American Light (Yeast under lid - You won’t be using this.)
- 2 Pouches Booster
- 1 Packet 2-Row Brewers Malt (4 oz.)
- 1 Packet Flaked Corn (4oz, you'll only use 2oz.)
- 1 Packet Nugget Pellet Hops (1/2 oz.)
- 1 Saflager S-23
- 2 Muslin Sacks
- 1 Packet No-Rinse Cleanser
PLEASE NOTE: If you are not going to brew this recipe right away, we recommend that you refrigerate the packets of grains to preserve freshness
YOU'LL PROVIDE:
- Thermometer for Steeping/Mashing - Range up to 175°F (found here)
Additional Information
- OG: 1.084 (approx.) -- FG: 1.022 (approx.)
- Suggested conditioning time is 3 to 6 weeks.
- Flavor: Malty
- ABV (alc/vol): 8
- SRM (Color): 4
- IBU (Bitterness): 14
- BJCP Style: N/A
Fermentation |
Carbonation |
Bottle |
Total Brewing Time |
|
| 3 Weeks | 3 Weeks | 3 - 6 Weeks | = | 2 - 3 Months |
STEP 1: SANITIZING
Follow the steps outlined in your Mr. Beer Kit Instructions. (You can find a copy of these instructions to download by visiting our help desk.)
NOTE: BE SURE TO SANITIZE EVERYTHING THAT WILL COME INTO CONTACT WITH YOUR BEER.
STEP 2: BREWING
Brewing beer is the process of combining a starch source (in this case, a malt brewing extract) with yeast. Once combined, the yeast eats the sugars in the malt, producing alcohol and carbon dioxide (CO2). This process is called fermentation.
- Using a measuring cup, pour 6 cups of water into your clean 3-quart or larger pot.
- Add the grains to the Muslin Grain Sack, mixing them well, and bring your water up to above 155 degrees F.
- Add the grain sack to the hot water and steep for 30 minutes between 155-165 degrees.
- Carefully lift the grain sack out of the pot and place into a strainer/colander. Rinse the sack over the pot with 1 cup of hot water. Let drain. Do NOT squeeze the grain bag. Discard grain bag.
- Remove the yeast packet from under the lids of the Brewing Extracts (you won’t be using these), then place the unopened can in hot tap water.
- Place the pellet hops into the hop sack tying it closed, then trim away excess material.
- Bring grain water to a boil, add in hop sack, and then remove from heat.
- Slowly stir in the pouches of Booster until all is dissolved.
- Open both cans of Brewing Extract and pour the contents into the hot mixture. Stir until thoroughly mixed. This mixture of unfermented beer is called “wort”.
- Fill keg with cold tap water to the #1 mark on the back.
- Pour the wort into the keg, and then bring the volume of the keg to the #2 mark by adding more cold water. Stir vigorously with the spoon or whisk.
- Sprinkle the Saflager S-23 yeast packet into the keg, and screw on the lid. Do not stir.
- Put your keg in a location with a consistent temperature between 45° and 60° F (7°-15° C) and out of direct sunlight. Ferment for 18 days.
- On the 18th day, bring the beer up to room temperature (68-75) to sit for 3 more days before bottling.
- Approximately 24 hours after adding the yeast, you will be able to see the fermentation process happening by shining a flashlight into the keg. You'll see the yeast in action in the wort. The liquid will be opaque and milky, you will see bubbles rising in the liquid, and there will be bubbles on the surface.
Your fermentation will usually reach its peak in 2 to 5 days (this is also known as “high krausen”). You may see a layer of foam on top of the wort, and sediment will accumulate at the bottom of the fermenter. This is totally normal. Complete fermentation will take approximately 2 weeks.
After high krausen the foam and activity will subside and your batch will appear to be dormant. Your beer is still fermenting. The yeast is still at work slowly finishing the fermentation process.
Step 3: BOTTLING AND CARBONATING
Follow the steps outlined in your Mr. Beer Kit Instructions. (You can find a copy of these instructions to download by visiting our help desk.)