Northwest Pale Ale: Mr. Beer's Hoppy Secret

Mr. Beer's Northwest Pale Ale is a classic American craft-style beer. It has a rich amber colour, a full malt character, and a refreshing woodsy hop aroma. The beer is highly rated by customers, who describe it as having a clean bite and a genuine craft classic taste. The beer-making kit comes with everything you need to brew your first batch, including a fermenter, bottles, a can of brewing extract, carbonation drops, and a no-rinse cleanser. The brewing process is simple and efficient, taking less than 30 minutes, and the beer is ready to drink in as little as three weeks.

The Northwest Pale Ale's hoppy aroma

Mr. Beer's Northwest Pale Ale is a classic American craft-style beer with a refreshing woodsy hop aroma. The beer is a rich amber colour with a full malt character and a clean bite, making it a standout craft classic.

The Northwest Pale Ale is highly rated by customers, who describe it as having a "great taste" and a "nice flavour". It is also said to be easy to craft, with simple and easy-to-follow instructions. One reviewer, who gave the beer five out of five stars, said: "I have found it to be a good summer or fall beer. It is not too heavy or too filling to have 2 or 3 at a sitting. Overall good quality beer and a very easily-made beer for beginners."

Another reviewer, who also gave the beer five stars, said: "I expected a standard pale ale that I might use as a base for experimenting next time around (add a little fruit, play around with some hops alternatives, etc.). What I didn't anticipate is the inherently sophisticated and slightly fruity flavour I obtained just by following the basic instructions."

The Northwest Pale Ale is designed for brewing two-gallon batches and is formulated and produced by master brewers at Coopers Brewery in Australia. The beer is ready to drink in as little as three to four weeks.

The beer's colour

The Mr. Beer Northwest Pale Ale is a rich amber colour. It is a classic US craft-style pale ale with a full malt character. The beer has a highly refreshing woodsy hop aroma and a clean bite, making it a standout and a genuine craft classic.

The beer's amber colour is a result of the combination of malted barley and hops used in the brewing process. This combination also contributes to the beer's full malt character and refreshing aroma. The Mr. Beer Northwest Pale Ale is designed to be a straightforward brewing process that removes the difficult aspects of homebrewing without compromising on quality.

The colour of the beer is an important aspect of its overall presentation and appeal. The rich amber hue is inviting and suggests a full-bodied flavour. It also adds to the beer's visual appeal, making it more enticing to consumers. The colour can also influence the perception of taste and flavour, as it is often associated with specific flavour profiles in craft beers.

The brewing process, including the selection of ingredients and their proportions, plays a crucial role in achieving the desired colour. The malted barley and hops used in Mr. Beer Northwest Pale Ale contribute to the amber hue, creating a visually appealing and flavourful craft beer.

The Mr. Beer Northwest Pale Ale's colour is a testament to the brewers' attention to detail and their commitment to creating a high-quality craft beer. The amber hue is a result of careful ingredient selection and brewing techniques, contributing to the beer's overall character and appeal. It showcases the brewers' expertise and their dedication to delivering a superior drinking experience.

The ingredients

Mr. Beer's Northwest Pale Ale is a classic American craft-style beer. It is a rich amber colour with a full malt character. The beer has a refreshing woodsy hop aroma and a clean bite, making it a standout craft classic.

The Northwest Pale Ale Complete Beer Making Kit comes with everything one needs to get started brewing. The kit includes a compact, lightweight fermenter modelled after the design of professional brewing equipment, eleven 25oz reusable and shatterproof bottles, a can of brewing extract, a no-rinse cleanser, and unique carbonation drops. The brewing extract is a concentrated form of all-natural malted barley and hops.

The specific ingredients in the Northwest Pale Ale HME are not disclosed by Mr. Beer, but the product is said to be formulated and produced by master brewers at Coopers Brewery in Australia using the highest quality and all-natural barley and hops. The beer is also said to have a subtle centennial hop flavour that is easily complimented with any combination of added hops.

The brewing process

Step 1: Cleaning and Sanitation

Cleaning is crucial in brewing as it eliminates microscopic bacteria, wild yeast, and moulds that can cause off-flavours in the beer. Here are the steps to clean and sanitise the equipment:

• Fill the clean keg with warm water up to line mark 1, then add half a pack of No-Rinse Cleanser and stir until dissolved.
• Screw on the lid and swirl the keg so that the cleaning solution covers the entire interior, including the underside of the lid. Allow it to sit for at least 2 minutes, then swirl again.
• To clean the spigot, open it fully and let the liquid flow for 5 seconds before closing it.
• Pour the remaining solution from the keg into a large bowl and place your spoon/whisk, can opener, and measuring cup into the bowl to sanitise them. Leave them immersed in the cleaning solution for at least 2 minutes before using.
• After cleaning all surfaces, do not rinse or dry the keg or utensils. Simply put the lid back on the keg and proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Brewing

In this step, a starch source (in this case, a malt brewing extract) is combined with yeast to initiate the fermentation process. Here are the detailed steps:

• Remove the yeast packet from under the lid of the can of brewing extract, then remove the label from the can. Place the unopened can in hot tap water.
• Using a clean measuring cup, pour 4 cups of water into a 4-quart or larger pot. Bring the water to a boil, then remove it from the heat.
• Open the can of brewing extract from the bottom and pour the contents into the pot. Stir until thoroughly mixed; this mixture is called the wort.
• Fill the keg with cold water up to line mark 1. The water should be cold (40-55°F/4-12°C) and preferably bottled spring water or filtered tap water.
• Pour the wort into the keg and add more cold water until the volume reaches line mark 2. Mix vigorously with a plastic spoon/whisk without scratching the inside of the keg.
• Sprinkle the entire yeast packet into the keg and screw on the lid. Do not stir.
• Let the fermenter sit for 10-14 days in a cool, dark place with a temperature between 68-78°F/20-26°C. The ideal temperature range is 70-72°F / 21-22°C.

Step 3: Bottling and Carbonating

After 10 days, taste a small sample to check if the beer is fully fermented and ready for bottling. If it tastes like flat beer, it is ready; if it's sweet, let it ferment for another 4 days (14 days total). Here are the steps for bottling and carbonating:

• Fill a 1-gallon container with warm water and add the remaining half pack of No-Rinse Cleanser, then stir until dissolved.
• Distribute the cleaning solution equally among the bottles, screw on the caps, and shake vigorously. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then shake again before emptying the solution into a large bowl.
• Add 2 Carbonation Drops to each 740-mL bottle. For 1-liter bottles, use 2.5 drops, and for 500-mL bottles, use 1 drop. Alternatively, you can add table sugar according to the provided table.
• Hold the bottle at an angle and fill each one to about 2 inches from the top.
• Place the caps on the bottles, hand-tighten them, and gently turn the bottles over to check the seal.
• Store the bottles upright, out of direct sunlight, in a location with a consistent temperature between 70°-76°F or 21°-24°C. Let the beer sit for a minimum of 14 days; if the temperature is cooler, it may take an additional week to reach full carbonation.

Tip from Mr. Beer's Brewmasters:

After the primary carbonation, the beer is ready to drink. However, they recommend putting one bottle in the refrigerator for 48 hours to taste and determine if it needs more time to condition. Conditioning helps the yeast left in the beer to clean up any off-flavours, and with time, your beer will taste even better!

Customer reviews

Mr. Beer's Northwest Pale Ale has received generally positive reviews from customers. Many reviewers have praised the beer's taste, describing it as "delicious", "great", and "better than expected". One reviewer mentioned that the beer had a sophisticated and slightly fruity flavor, while another noted that it was not too heavy or too filling.

The ease of brewing has also been highlighted in several reviews, with some customers finding the instructions clear and easy to follow. One reviewer commented that the process was very easy and "went very smoothly", while another appreciated the simplicity of the brewing process, stating that it only took them 15 minutes to prepare the wort.

Some reviewers have also mentioned the appearance of the beer, describing it as having a rich amber color and a creamy head.

However, there are a few negative reviews, with some customers expressing disappointment with the taste and value. One reviewer felt that the beer was "not particularly flavorful", while another mentioned that the results were "unimpressive" and "not even good".

Overall, Mr. Beer's Northwest Pale Ale seems to be well-received by the majority of customers, with positive comments about the taste, ease of brewing, and appearance of the beer.

Frequently asked questions