Nelson Pale Ale...

NELSON PALE ALE...

2.5 Gallons
O.G. 1.049
F.G. 1.012 (last sample taken at dry hop kegging)

MASH:
73.7% (4 lbs. 3.3 oz) 2-Row
26.3% (1.5 lbs.) White Wheat
Mash at 152 F for 60 min

BOIL:
.25 oz. of Warrior at 60 min for 30 IBUs

WHIRLPOOL:
2.00 oz. Nelson Sauvin for 10 min.

FERMENTATION:
100 ml. dense slurry of Wyeast 1318 2nd generation

DRY HOPS:
3 oz. Nelson Sauvin in serving keg


Tasting Notes:

Color: The slight pale yellow/orange color as the last try but a little darker.  It has a nice white head.  I like the look of this version better.

Aroma: I get a whiff of fresh hops initially....grapefruit, peach, spice like with an excellent white wine finish to the aroma. Very good.  The wheat shows through and combines nice with the hops.  Carbonation was a bit low (sample taken on day two) and the aroma didn't punch as the last version but as it carbs I suspect it will.

Mouthfeel: The body of the beer is good but has a slight thinness that I think the carbonation will help.  It leaves a lasting pithy dry feeling.

Flavor:  Repeat of the the last version: "I've never had gooseberry's but if this hop is what they are like I'm sure I'd enjoy them. It's got this unique drying bitterness...spicey but not strong like a Saison spiciness....just a touch...like finely ground pepper. Earthy....grapefuit....very dry finish that fades quick. Delicate. Juice."  This version may be a bit thinner due to the higher alcohol.  I'd suspect it finished at 1.010 making it just north of 5% abv.

Overall: I like this beer a lot.  Although the hops popped better in the first version and I think its due to the quality of the hops for this batch.  I had three different bags of these hops from different sellers.  One bag wasn't worth using, the second was OK and the third was excellent.  Since the second  one was a 4 oz. bag that I had just purchased I saved 3 oz. of that one for the dry hopping and put the one good bag which was an ounce in the whirlpool with an ounce from the 4 oz. bag.  I've really been paying attention to the quality of my ingredients over this last year and have found that the variations are many.  I've since purchased a new 8 oz. bag and hope to brew this again soon.