41 replies to this topic

[BrewerGeorge]

This is for a brewpub, right? IMO, if you don't already have a blonde ale, you need one. Not Belgian blonde, IMO, the funk can turn people off. You're looking for a beer for the "partners" to drink. That is, somebody came to the pub on purpose because they like your beers. Odds are, they brought a partner along that may not be as beer-savvy. The blonde is for those folks. American wheat is a possible substitution for this role as well.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

This is for a brewpub, right? IMO, if you don't already have a blonde ale, you need one. Not Belgian blonde, IMO, the funk can turn people off. You're looking for a beer for the "partners" to drink. That is, somebody came to the pub on purpose because they like your beers. Odds are, they brought a partner along that may not be as beer-savvy. The blonde is for those folks. American wheat is a possible substitution for this role as well.

I guess this is why almost every brewpub has either a blond, hef, golder lager, or some combination of these.

[Sidney Porter]

This is for a brewpub, right? IMO, if you don't already have a blonde ale, you need one. Not Belgian blonde, IMO, the funk can turn people off. You're looking for a beer for the "partners" to drink. That is, somebody came to the pub on purpose because they like your beers. Odds are, they brought a partner along that may not be as beer-savvy. The blonde is for those folks. American wheat is a possible substitution for this role as well.

+1 (my only concern with the wheat is the cloudiness, but it has more cross over appeal.)At a lot of brewpubs the blonde ale, light lager is the top selling or one of the top selling beers. The lager ties up tank space but both of them are inexpensive from an ingredient point of view, and because of the lower alcohol people tend to drink more. Assuming you sell you beers at the same price point this could be good for profits.I don't know you house yeast but I would go with a simple american blonde. I understand you use undersized equipment if you have the fermentation space it might be worth your while brew high gravity and dillute in the fermenter. Ferment cool to keep the esters out of it.In my opinion brewing a light lager ties up the tank space longer than it is worth, the people drinking the American light lager would just as well drink the blonde.A brewpub that I go to their light lager is their top selling beer followed by their IPA. They do have a small selection of bottled BMC, (Bud, Mich ultra, and I think landshark). It is not on the menu and not advertised. The staff sells their own beer first, if people insist on one of the others they get a sampler of the light lager along with the BMC. They sell less than 2 cases a week. We are in a similar, although not to the degree of St L, with having a AB brewery in town there is some loyalty. The concept of a brewpub is not as foreign to people any more, so even BMC drinkers go with the when in Rome point of view, and are willing to drink something close to the style, when in the brewpub setting.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

In my opinion brewing a light lager ties up the tank space longer than it is worth, the people drinking the American light lager would just as well drink the blonde.

This is def true - your average beer drinker doesn't even know the difference between ale and lager, nevermind the fact that they won't be able to taste the difference.

[ChefLamont]

This is for a brewpub, right? IMO, if you don't already have a blonde ale, you need one. Not Belgian blonde, IMO, the funk can turn people off. You're looking for a beer for the "partners" to drink. That is, somebody came to the pub on purpose because they like your beers. Odds are, they brought a partner along that may not be as beer-savvy. The blonde is for those folks. American wheat is a possible substitution for this role as well.

I agree. I would even throw a cream ale on the possible list. I have found that a well-made cream ales is one of the best "gateway beers" you can make.

[ChicagoWaterGuy]

What is your current beer menu?

[EWW]

What is your current beer menu?

If you look at his sig I think you might get a good idea of what he is doing there. My opinion is that STL has plenty of light beer of the ordinary variety - do something different with the light beer if the powers that be will let you.

[djinkc]

What is your current beer menu?

These are the usual beers and sometimes something special

[Deerslyr]

What's the motivation for brewing a light beer and what does light mean to the boss? Color? Taste? Calories? ABV?

+100 Make sure you and your boss are on the same page in terms of what is meant by "Lite Beer". Set aside a half hour or so to rationally explain your concerns. Let him know that any attempt to brew a "Bud Lite" type beer would likely fall flat (no pun intended) in the eyes of the drinkers. Let him know what the alternatives are that you CAN brew that would be appealing to the target audience. Plenty of great suggestions here. I myself am in the middle of a primary ferment of my NFP Cream Ale No. 2. My wife tells me last night she wants to throw a party, so I say "well, I'll have to make another batch of beer because that's only 2 cases worth". She say's "OK". I'll likely do the same thing because, while I do like Cream Ale, I don't want to offend the palates of our guests. Sit down with your boss for a few minutes and discuss the options without compromising your integrity (and I mean that in terms of what you can brew, not how you go about talking with your boss). Best I got for ya.

[BrewerGeorge]

These are the usual beers and sometimes something special

Well, then I take back what I said before. Looks like you have all the "newbie" bases covered with the cream ale and wit. (That looks like an outstanding menu, BTW.) I'm a bit confused about what the boss wants. I'd guess you'll have to have a longer talk with him. If it's just low calorie, I think his expectations might be a bit unrealistic.

[weave]

How about a lower gravity version of the cream ale? It is already light in color and flavor. Drop the ABV and calories and you have your light beer.

[Patrick C.]

Ditto. You don't even have to brew anything new, just cut the 1984 Golden Ale with water. Adding 15% water would give you 20 IBU and 4% alcohol. It's on the high end of the IBU scale for a 'Lite', so you might try adding some sugar to balance it (not to the recipe, to the serving tank). Or maybe some Lime flavor...

[ChefLamont]

Or maybe some Lime flavor...

Ouch. Oh no you didn't. :)If boss means light as in calories, maybe a brittish mild or 60/- with the pitch of "who says a light beer needs to be thin and dull".

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Ouch. Oh no you didn't. :)If boss means light as in calories, maybe a brittish mild or 60/- with the pitch of "who says a light beer needs to be thin and dull".

If the boss is trying to target the people I think he is this won't work. Too much color scares the unwashed masses

[Patrick C.]

The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that 4 parts Golded Ale + 1 part Lime flavored Club Soda = Win for the light beer crowd. Mix up a keg and see how it goes.

[ChicagoWaterGuy]

Why not try making a beer from the second runnings of your Imperial Czech Pilsner? Make a small beer. It would be light and dry.

[djinkc]

These are the usual beers and sometimes something special

Thought I would give you guys some idea of what I meant by "sometimes something special" From STLhops.com.........08/19/09 Mattingly Peek-a-Brew Line UpAugust 19, 2009 Beer News 2 Comments The Mattingly Brewing Company may now be producing full scale productions of beer, but that doesn’t stop them from showing off what’s yet to come.Tonight, Head Brewer Drew Huerter will be offering his Cranberry Witbier.Here’s a list of what to expect over the next few weeks:8/19 Cranberry Witbier8/26 Papaya Witbier9/2 Date Dubbel9/9 Sour Cherry Dubbel9/12 Biere From Mars *Special Saturday Peek* Biere de Mars with Brettanomyces wild yeast9/16 Sour Cherry Stout Porter9/30 Brandy Oak Stout Porter

[chuck_d]

Papaya Wit? That sounds amazing! Mattingly doesn't bottle do they?

[djinkc]

Papaya Wit? That sounds amazing! Mattingly doesn't bottle do they?

Nah, corner neighborhood brewpub. Taps only, growlers sometimes I think.Can't imagine where he gets off doing something like that........

[MolBasser]

Kolsch.BrewBasser