Not Plato’s Brut IPA


RECIPE INCLUDES:

1 Can Classic American Light Brewing Extract

1 Packet Dry Brewing Yeast (under lid of Brewing Extract)

2 BrewMax Boosters

4 1/2 oz. Packet Cascade Pellet Hops

2 Muslin Hop Sack

1 Packet No-Rinse Cleanser

1 Packet Safale US-O5


YOU PROVIDE:

2 Beano Tablets

 

STEP 1: SANITIZING

Cleaning is an essential step in the brewing process because it kills microscopic bacteria, wild yeast and molds that may cause off flavors in your beer. YOU MUST CLEAN ALL EQUIPMENT THAT COMES IN CONTACT WITH YOUR BEER.

  • Fill clean your fermenter with warm water to the line mark 1 on the back. If your fermenter does not have a line mark 1 fill with 1 gallon of water. Then add ½ pack (about 1 tablespoon) of No-Rinse Cleanser and stir until dissolved. Once dissolved, the solution is ready to use.
  • Screw on the lid and swirl the fermenter so that the cleaning solution comes in contact with the entire interior of the fermenter, including the underside of the lid. Allow to sit for at least 2 minutes, and then swirl again.
  • Remove the lid and place underneath the spigot, open the spigot and fill the lid with the sanitizing solution. Close the spigot and pour out the cleaning solution from the lid.
  • Dispense all the sanitizing solution into a large bowl. Place your spoon, can opener, measuring cup and any other brewing utensils into the bowl to sanitize and keep them cleaned throughout the brewing process for at least 2 minutes in cleaning solution before using utensils. Anything that you will using during the brewing process needs to be sanitized.
  • After all surfaces have been thoroughly cleaned, do not rinse or dry the fermenter or utensils. Proceed immediately to the brewing process.


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.

  • Remove the yeast packet from under the lid of the can of Brewing Extract (you won’t be using this), then place the unopened can in hot tap water.
  • Place 2 packets of the Cascade pellet hops into a hop sack tying them closed, then trim away excess material.
  • Using the measuring cup, pour 4 cups of water into your clean 3-quart or larger pot, then open the 2 packets of BrewMax Booster and pour into the cool water and stir to dissolve. Increase your heat to medium-high. Continue stirring constantly to keep the sugar from scorching.
  • Once the solution is safely boiling add in your hop sack, allow this mixture to boil for 10 minutes stirring occasionally, then remove from heat.
  • While waiting for the boil to finish from step 4 place 2 more packets of Cascade pellet hops into a hop sack tying them closed, then trim away excess material
  • Once the 10 minutes has passed add the second hop sack with 2 packets of Cascade Hops. 
  • Open the Brewing Extract and pour the contents into the hot mixture in your pot. Stir until thoroughly mixed. This mixture of unfermented beer is called wort.
  • Fill your fermenter with cold tap water to the mark 1 on the back and add 2 Beano tablets. If using any other fermenter this would be approximately 1 gallon of water.
  • Pour the wort, including the hop sacks, into your fermenter, and then bring the volume of the fermenter to the mark 2 by adding more cold water. You'll leave the hop sacks in the wort for the duration of fermentation. (If you have a different fermenter top it off with cold water to the 8.5-liter mark)
  • Stir your wort mixture vigorously with your sanitized spoon or whisk.
  • Sprinkle the Safale US-05 yeast packet into the keg, and screw on the lid. Do not stir.
  • Put your fermenter in a location with a consistent temperature between 70° and 76° F (21°-24° C), and out of direct sunlight. Ferment for 14 days.
  • After approximately 24 hours, 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 & Carbonating 

After 14 days, you will know the beer is ready to bottle and carbonate by tasting a small sample. The beer should taste like flat beer. If the beer is sweet, make sure that it is in the correct temperature range 70°-76°F or 21°-24°C and let it ferment for a few days longer, but no longer than a total of 4 weeks.

  • When your beer is ready to bottle, fill a 1-gallon container with warm water, then add the remaining ½ pack of the No-Rinse Cleanser and stir until dissolved. Once dissolved, it is ready to use.
  • Distribute the cleaning solution equally among the bottles. Screw on caps (or cover with metal cap if using glass bottles) and shake bottles vigorously. Allow to sit 10 minutes, then shake the bottles again. Remove caps and empty all cleaning solution into a large bowl. Use this solution to clean any other equipment you may be using for bottling. Do not rinse.
  • Add 2 carbonation drops to each 740-mL bottle. For 1-liter bottles, add 2 ½ drops; for ½-liter bottles add 1 drop. Alternatively, you can add table sugar per the table below. For other bottle sizes see: http://www.mrbeer.com/help.
  • Holding the bottle at an angle, fill each bottle to about 2 inches from the bottle’s top.
  • Place caps on bottles, hand tighten, and gently turn the bottle over to check the bottle’s seal. It is not necessary to shake them.
  • Store the bottles upright and out of direct sunlight in a location with a consistent temperature between 70°-76°F or 21°-24°C. Allow to sit for a minimum of 14 days. If the temperature is cooler than suggested it may take an additional week to reach full carbonation.


Tip from our Brewmasters

After the primary carbonation has taken place your beer is ready to drink. We recommend putting 2 bottles in the refrigerator at first for 48 hrs. After 48hrs. give one a try and if it is up to your liking put the rest of your beer in the fridge. If it does not taste quite right, leave the bottles out at room temp for another week or so. Keep following this method until your brew tastes just how you like it. 

This process is called conditioning and during this time the yeast left in your beer can help clean up any off flavors. Almost everything gets a little better with time and so will your beer.