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Someone Had a Good Idea: Big Brew 2000

© John Gorton

I'm not a big fan of the American Homebrewing Association (AHA). It seems to me that any association for homebrewers ought to have its leadership democratically elected and representing its members. And the AHA, while moving slowly in that direction, has a long way to go. With that prejudice in the open, the AHA does have a terrific event coming up on May 6, 2000, which is the 12th Annual National Homebrewing Day.

The event is called the AHA Big Brew 2000. On that day, thousands of people from all over the world will make a Sierra Nevada clone from the same recipe. Last year, there were 2000 registered homebrewers participating from over 8 countries. And that was making a milk stout, not a popular or easy beer to make. This year, I predict many more people will participate, registered and unregistered. It's a great chance to introduce your friends and family to the hobby of homebrewing.

The recipe may still be adjusted, so be sure to check out AHA's web site for any last minute changes. The last version that I saw looked like a good one, and addressed complaints from people who aren't used to all grain efficiencies of more than 75 percent. AHA is also providing a recipe for extract brewers.

"All Grain Recipe for 5 gallons:

6.5 gallons water (2.5 mash, 4 sparge) 1 T gypsum (unless using hard water) 9lb. U.S. two row malt 1/2 lb U.S. crystal malt 60 L 1/2 lb U.S. dextrin malt 1 oz Perle hops (bittering or first wort hop) 1/2 oz Cascade hops (flavor) 1/2 t Irish moss 1/2 oz Cascade hops (aroma) 1 oz Cascade hops (dry hop) Wyeast 1056 liquid ale yeast

Instructions:

Mash grains in water at 152° F for 60 minutes. Raise temperature to 168° F by draining mash tun, heating liquid to 180° F. Recirculate. Sparge with 168° F water with gypsum. Bring to wort boil. Add bittering hops. Boil 80 minutes. Add Irish moss and flavor hops. Boil 9 minutes. Add aroma hops. One minute later, turn off kettle. Chill. Transfer to fermenter. Pitch yeast and aerate. Do a two-stage fermentation. Add dry hops to secondary fermenter before racking. Bottle with 3/4 cup corn sugar or keg and force-carbonate when complete. Share with friends when ready.

Big Brew 2000, Nearly Nirvana Pale Ale Extract with grain recipe for 5 gallons: 5 gallons water (1 1/2 steep and boil, 3 1/2 added) 1/2 lb U.S. crystal malt 40 L 1/2 lb U.S. crystal malt 20 L