Lightning Strike Summer Ale

  • HoppyHoppy
  • FruityFruity
  • CitrusCitrus
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The UK Golden Ale style (or Summer Ale) appears to have emerged in the mid 1980’s - with its origin attributed to a beer known as Summer Lightning, brewed by Hopback Brewery in Wiltshire, England. The brewer’s intention to produce a style of ale (5%ABV) with the refreshing characteristics and drinkability of lager with the added dimension of zesty hop aromatics was met with resounding success! Roger Protz, renowned beer author, once said “If I had to draw up a list of 10 world classic ales, it would include Summer Lightning.” So it’s no surprise that Summer Lightning became a multi-award winning ale and now has many commercial imitators. The recipe we have developed is an ‘easy to make’ interpretation of the cask version of Summer Lightning, with more malt and the addition of Northern Brewer hops this brew will achieve an even bolder result.

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Recipe Contains

1 × Canadian Blonde (1.7kg)
3 × Light Dry Malt (500g)
1 × Carbonation Drops (250g)

You'll Need

1 × 25g East Kent Golding Hops
1 × 25g Northern Brewer Hops
1 × 11g Lallemand Nottingham Dry Yeast

Beer Style: Ale

Colour (EBC): 8
Volume: 23L
Difficulty: Intermediate

ABV 5.4%

Alcohol by Volume

28 IBU

International Bitterness Units

EBC 8

Colour

This Recipe

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Ingredients

1 x 1.7kg Coopers Canadian Blonde
3 x 500g Coopers Light Dry Malt
1 x 25g East Kent Golding Hops
1 x 25g Northern Brewer Hops
1 x 11g Lallemand Nottingham Dry Yeast
1 x 250g Coopers Carbonation Drops

Mix

In a good sized pot (around 8 litres) bring about 500g of Light Dry Malt to the boil with 5 litres of
water.
Add half of the East Kent Golding Hops and boil for 5min then remove from the heat.
Add the remaining East Kent Golding Hops and all of the Northern Brewer Hops, cover and let sit for
about 25min.
Set the pot in a cold/ice water bath to cool then strain into a fermenting vessel.
Add the Canadian Blonde and 1kg of Light Dry Malt, stir to dissolve then top up with cool water to
the 20 litre mark and stir thoroughly.
Check the brew temperature and top up to the 23 litre mark with warm or cold water (refrigerated if
necessary) to get as close as possible to 18C.
Sprinkle both the Nottingham and brew can yeast then fit the lid

Home Recipes LIGHTNING STRIKE SUMMER ALE

Lightning Strike Summer Ale

The UK Golden Ale style (or Summer Ale) appears to have emerged in the mid 1980’s - with its origin attributed to a beer known as Summer Lightning, brewed by Hopback Brewery in Wiltshire, England. The brewer’s intention to produce a style of ale (5%ABV) with the refreshing characteristics and drinkability of lager with the added dimension of zesty hop aromatics was met with resounding success! Roger Protz, renowned beer author, once said “If I had to draw up a list of 10 world classic ales, it would include Summer Lightning.” So it’s no surprise that Summer Lightning became a multi-award winning ale and now has many commercial imitators. The recipe we have developed is an ‘easy to make’ interpretation of the cask version of Summer Lightning, with more malt and the addition of Northern Brewer hops this brew will achieve an even bolder result.

Lightning Strike Summer Ale
Beer Style Ale
Flavour Profile Hoppy, Fruity, Citrus
Alcohol Content 5.4%
Colour (EBC) 8
Bitterness (IBU) 28
Volume 23L
Difficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

1 x 1.7kg Coopers Canadian Blonde
3 x 500g Coopers Light Dry Malt
1 x 25g East Kent Golding Hops
1 x 25g Northern Brewer Hops
1 x 11g Lallemand Nottingham Dry Yeast
1 x 250g Coopers Carbonation Drops

1. Mix

In a good sized pot (around 8 litres) bring about 500g of Light Dry Malt to the boil with 5 litres of
water.
Add half of the East Kent Golding Hops and boil for 5min then remove from the heat.
Add the remaining East Kent Golding Hops and all of the Northern Brewer Hops, cover and let sit for
about 25min.
Set the pot in a cold/ice water bath to cool then strain into a fermenting vessel.
Add the Canadian Blonde and 1kg of Light Dry Malt, stir to dissolve then top up with cool water to
the 20 litre mark and stir thoroughly.
Check the brew temperature and top up to the 23 litre mark with warm or cold water (refrigerated if
necessary) to get as close as possible to 18C.
Sprinkle both the Nottingham and brew can yeast then fit the lid

2. Brew

Ferment temperature should be as close to 18C if possible.
Fermentation has finished once the specific gravity is stable over 2 days.
Expected readings should finish around the 1010 – 1014 mark.

3. Bottle

Gently fill clean PET bottles to about 3cm from the top.
Add 2 carbonation drops per bottle and secure the caps (use only one carbonation drop for bottles
intended to be stored for a longer period).
Store the bottles upright in a location out of direct sunlight at or above 18C

4. Enjoy

After at least two weeks, check for sufficient carbonation by squeezing the PET bottles.
Bottles kept unrefrigerated should improve with age.
When ready to drink, chill the bottles upright.
The chilled beer may be poured into clean glassware, leaving the sediment behind.
Expect the alcohol content to be approximately 5.4% ABV

Common Questions

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