West Coast Uncommon Beer Kit

Your Label Peelers West Coast Uncommon Original Beer Kit never sits on a shelf. Your grains are crushed to order. Your ingredients are packed fresh and you don't pay for a flashy box. It's all about providing you with the freshest ingredients for you to make your best beer.

Your Label Peelers Original West Coast Uncommon Beer Kit is the California Imperial Steam Style. It offers a unique flavor experience of sweet and smoky malt balanced with a hint of citrusy hops. On the nose, you'll notice aromas of caramel and toffee, while your taste buds will be delighted by a smooth and creamy texture with a slightly bitter finish. The beer has a light copper color and a medium body that pairs perfectly with a variety of dishes. Enjoy this flavorful beer and its unique blend of sweet and smoky malt that will tantalize your senses.

• SG: 1.070-1.080
• FG: 1.014-1.022
• ABV: 6.5-7.5%

INGREDIENTS 

• 2 lb 2-Row Pale Malt
• 1 lb Carapils Malt
• 1 lb 20L Crystal Malt
• 7 lb Light DME
• 2 oz Northern Brewer Pellet Hops (Bittering-60 min.)
• 1 oz Cascade Pellet Hops (Finishing-15 min.)
• 1 oz Cascade Pellet Hops (Aroma-steep)
• 1 Pack Burton Water Salts
• 1 teaspoon Irish Moss (Optional Clarifier-Sold Separately)
• 1 Vial White Labs WLP810 (San Francisco Lager Yeast)
• 5 oz Corn Sugar (Priming)

 DIRECTIONS

Crush all grains and put in large grain bag. Put in pot with 2 gallons of warm water. Slowly bring water to 160 degrees and let steep for 30-40 minutes. Remove grains and sparge with warm water, add water salts and bring to near boil. Remove pot from heat and add malt extracts. Then put back on heat and bring to a rolling boil. When boiling, add bittering hops and boil for 45 minutes. Then add Irish Moss (Optional Clarifier-Sold Separately) and Finishing hops. Boil for an additional 15 minutes. When 1 hour boil is complete, remove pot from heat. Add the Aroma hops and cover pot. Let sit for at least 15 minutes. Transfer hot wort into primary and top off with cold water to bring volume to 5.5 gallons. Cool to 75 degrees and pitch yeast and mix well. Ferment in primary for 7-10 days at 60-66 Degrees. Transfer to 5 gallon glass carboy, topping off should not be necessary because of initial volume. Let sit in carboy for 2 weeks at fermenting temps and then, if possible, Cold Store-Lager at 40-50 Degrees for another 2 weeks. Bottle with priming sugar and let sit for at least 1 month at 60-66 Degrees but is best after aging for 3 months. Enjoy!

Beer Making Equipment Kits

If you are making a beer kit for the first time, an equipment kit is a great and low-stress way to get all the equipment you need to make your West Coast Uncommon. 

This Brewer's Best Equipment Kit is top of the line and comes complete for a beginner brewer.

• Equipment kit includes: 
• 6.5 Gallon "Ale Pail" Primary Fermenter with Grommeted Lid 
• 6.5 Gallon "Ale Pail" Bottling Bucket with Spigot 
• Easy Clean No-Rinse Cleanser 
• Auto-Siphon 
• 5 Gallon Glass Carboy 
• Plastic Paddle
• Carboy Brush
• Hydrometer
• Liquid Crystal Thermometer
• Bottle Brush
• Black Beauty Capper
• Econolock
• Drilled Bung
• Lab Thermometer
• Bottle Filler
• Siphon Hose with Shut-off Clamp
• IO-Star
• 20 qt. Brew Pot
• Equipment Instructions

Sanitizer and Spray Bottle

Good sanitation practices are absolutely fundamental to good beer making. Five Star San is the premier sanitizer you will need to make your West Coast Uncommon beer kit. A great practice for extra protection is to have a spray bottle filled with sanitizing solution so you can re-sanitize everything that touches or goes near your beer. Sanitation is much more difficult with beer than wine because beer has a higher pH. Wine's high acidity makes bacterial infection less likely but with beer, one small mishap can cost you your batch. 

Bottles

When your West Coast Uncommon is done, you will need bottles. This standard 12 ounce bottle is a good choice. You will need 54 for a 5 gallon batch. Bottles do not come with caps.

Carboys   

The 5 gallon carboy pictured here is the standard size for any beer kit. If you have never worked with a carboy, it is important to know they should not be moved full without a carboy handle or a carrier. 

Brew Pots

The pot pictured is an 8 gallon pot that is perfect for any beer kit or a standard 5 gallon batch. 

Wort Chillers and Thermometers

Wort Chillers and Thermometers are long term investments. It is important to chill your West Coast Uncommon wort quickly. The quicker you chill it the stronger the cold break will be. You also need a good thermometer that reads fast temperature fluctuations.  

Siphons

Auto-siphons are a great luxury item to have in your brew equipment. Once you have one you will never go without it again. Don't forget to use a heavy duty sanitizer to clean it since you don't want to replace it as often as hoses. A good sanitizer for that job is Five Star San. 

Fermenters

The fermenter pictured here is standard for a 5 gallon beer kit.

Hoses

 Many people reuse their hoses for far too long. Replacing your hoses often or even using as single use items is highly recommended with beer making. Hoses are very hard to clean and beer is very susceptible to bacterial infection. You do not want to risk losing your West Coast Uncommon over a few feet of unsanitary hose. 

Funnels

Pouring your wort into a carboy can be tricky. Use a big funnel made just for the job. They even have different mesh screens to remove particles. 

Airlocks

It is recommended to replace airlocks often. Because they never physically touch the beer, the sanitation risk is too often overlooked. Bacteria can spread without physical contact in a closed environment and plastic stubbornly harbors bacteria.   

Stoppers and Bungs 

Bungs and stoppers should also be periodically replaced. They can dry out and harbor bacteria. 

 Carboy Brush

Keeping your carboy clean before and after use is key to avoid bacterial infection in your beer. A carboy brush is a great tool to get into those nooks and crannies. 

Stainless Steel Carboy and Bottle Washer

Stainless Steel Carboy and Bottle Washer is a convenient way of cleaning your bottles and/or carboys.  This high quality tool will come in handy.  Hooks up straight to your faucet with the bottle washer adapter (#4804) and puts out plenty of pressure to clean those stubborn stains from beer bottles that have been sitting around. 

Capper

When you bottle your West Coast Uncommon, you will need to cap your bottles. This capper is inexpensive, easy to use and does not require attaching to a counter. It has a magnet to hold the cap in place.  

 DID YOU KNOW

Steam beer was the first uniquely American beer style. It was developed in San Francisco during the 19th century.