Cascadian Dark Ale

As I have said before, I love dark beer, and I have been fascinated by an American style beer called a Cascadian Dark Ale.

Many of the ingredients are almost impossible to source in South Africa, so when I found an example of the style, being brewed with Coopers Kits, I had to try it. This beer finished at 1056. Yeast was pitched at 21 deg Celsius.

The recipe requires:

• Coopers Dark Ale Kit x 2
• Coopers Light Dry Malt x 1
• Cascade Hops
• Summit Hops
• Safale US-05 Yeast

The method requires the following:

1. Two days before brew day create a yeast starter using the Safale US-05. I prepared a 1.2 litre starter as it would end as a high gravity beer.

2. On brew day, add both cans of Coopers dark ale to warm water.

3. Sterilise all equipment properly.

4. Add the DME to a large pot, and add 2 litres of water, and bring to the boil.

5. Add the two cans to the fermenter.

6. Add 30g each of the Cascade hops and summit, and boil for 5 minutes.

7. Strain the boiled DME / Hops into the fermenter, and rinse with clean water.

8. Top up the fermenter to the 23 Litre mark.

9. Pitch both the yeast starter and both the packets of yeast.

10. Fit the airlock and seal the fermenter.

Below are some pictures from brew day.