May is officially upon us—the sunsets are drawing earlier, the rain is rolling in, and it’s time to reach for the firestarters and rug up for the daily commute. It’s the time of year we naturally start seeking out darker, richer, malt-forward flavors to take off the chill. And just as the real Eastern Brown Snake vanishes into its burrow for winter brumation, it is the perfect moment to bring a different kind of beast into your brewery with our Eastern Brown Snake American Brown Ale recipe kit. This brew welcomes the colder weather with an inviting, deep mahogany pour and a thick tan head. Upfront, your senses are hit with a striking punch of bright grapefruit, resinous pine, and citrus woods. Take a sip, and it slaps you with complex layers of rich toasted bread, dark caramel, and a smooth hint of dark chocolate, before snapping shut with a firm, crisp, hoppy bitterness that cleans up the finish beautifully. At a deceptively smooth 5.9% ABV, it is beautifully balanced, assertively hoppy, and dangerously easy-drinking. The snake might be hiding for the winter, but this is one seasonal brew you'll want to welcome into your glass.
Brew Happy! Cheers!
#brownale #eastern #brownsnake #brumation
Eastern Brown Snake | American Brown Ale
Recipes on Brewing Software:
an All Grain American Brown Ale by Dermott Dowling complying with the Brewers Association 2025 guidelines.
Vital Stats:
- 1.056 OG
- 1.011 FG
- 42 IBU
- 32.5 EBC
- 5.9 % ABV
- BU/GU 0.75
- Batch Volume: 23L
- 60 minute boil
- Single Infusion Mash - 72% Efficiency Mash Efficiency 75%
Malt:
- 4.50 Kg Joe White Traditional Ale (78%)
- 0.40 Kg Gladfield Aurora Malt (7%)
- 0.40 Kg Gladfield Medium Crystal Malt (7%)
- 0.30 Kg Gladfield Light Chocolate Malt (4%)
- 0.20 Kg Gladfield Brown Malt (4%)
5.80 kg Total Grist - 100%
Hops:
Amount Hop Time Use Form AA IBU
- 20 g Centennial 60 min Boil Pellet 9.9% 26
- 20 g Cascade 15 min Boil Pellet 7.6% 8
- 25 g Cascade 5 min Boil Pellet 7.6% 4
- 25 g Centennial 5 min Boil Pellet 9.9% 5
- 50 g Cascade 3 days Dry Hop @Day 7 Pellet 7.6% 0
- 35g Centennial 3 days Dry Hop @Day 7 Pellet 9.9% 0
Yeast:
Dry | Fermentis
- Fermentis by Lesaffre | SafAle™ US-05 Yeast 2 x 11.5g Sachets or
Liquid | Bluestone Yeast
- BSY-A010 San Diego Bluestone Yeast x 1 Pitch
Aids:
Mash pH Water Adjustments: (based on our typical default GWW Water profile)
Method:
1. Preparation (Day Before or Brew Day Morning)
- Clean and Sanitize: Everything. Seriously. Sanitize your fermenter, chilling equipment, hydrometer, mash paddle, and any spoons or hoses that will touch the beer.
- Hops Prep: Measure out all your hops into labeled containers. This hop schedule has a lot of moves; being organized is essential.
- Water Preparation: If you are using GWW (Greater Western Water) or similar soft water, prepare your salt additions now.
2. Yeast Prep:
- Dry (US-05): (Recommended) Remove the sachets from the fridge and allow them to come to room temperature. You can pitch them dry.
- Liquid (A010): (Optional, but good practice) Remove from the fridge 2-4 hours before pitching. Smacking/shaking isn't always necessary for modern Bluestone pitches, but warming is.
3. Mashing
- Strike Water: ~17.5 Litres.
- Mash Temperature: Target 66°C for 60 minutes. This mid-range temperature strikes the perfect balance—it leaves enough unfermentable sugars for a rich, velvety mouthfeel, but keeps it fermentable enough so it doesn't finish cloyingly sweet.
- Sparge: Sparge with hot water (~76°C) until you hit your pre-boil target volume (usually around 27-28 Litres depending on your system's boil-off rate).
4. The Boil & Cellar
- Boil Time: 60 minutes. Add your hops strictly according to the schedule above.
- Chilling: Cool the wort as quickly as possible to 18°C, transfer to your sanitized fermenter, aerate well, and pitch your US-05 or liquid BSY-A010.
- Dry Hopping: On day 7 of fermentation (or once your gravity readings have stabilized for 2 days), drop in your remaining 50g of Cascade and 35g of Centennial. Leave them in the fermenter for 3 days before cold crashing, packaging, and carbonating.
Your beer will be ready to enjoy responsibly when fully carbonated! Pour yourself a pint and enjoy an Eastern Brown Snake | American Brown Ale fireside and/or in the company of great mates!
Sauces of Brewspiration:
What’s in the box:
|
SKU |
Title |
Category |
Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
4.50 Kg Joe White Traditional Ale (78%) |
Malt |
1 |
|
| USH-CASC-100G | Cascade US Hops |
Hop |
1 |
| USH-CENT-100G | Centennial US Hops |
Hop |
1 |
| 40719 | Fermentis by Lesaffre | SafAle™ US-05 Yeast |
Yeast - Dry* |
2 |
| BSY-A010 | BSY-A010 San Diego Bluestone Yeast |
Yeast - Liquid* |
1 |
*Indicates items included only with specific variants.