brewing for a wedding - need yeast help!

[DonRikkles]

Hi everyone - my sister-in-law is getting married at the end of June and I've got a brew day set up for mid-May to make two 3-gal batches for the rehearsal dinner. I've got a simple, easy-drinking, tasty (I think) recipe in the works, but I want to brew them with two different yeasts, one per 3-gal batch. To the greatest extent possible, I want to match the character of yeast to that of the bride and the groom.

Here's the recipe:
OG: 1.050
FG: 1.010
IBU: 34.9
ABV: 5.2

5 lb 2-row
.75 lb wheat malt
.5 lb crystal 40
.25 rye malt

Mash @ 150 for 60 mins

.33 oz Columbus @60
.2 oz cascade @15
.1 oz citra @ 15
.2 oz cascade @ 5
.1 oz citra @ 5
1/2 tsp each of ginger and grapefruit zest @ 1 min

Yeast - I'm set on Wyeast 1056 - American Ale (one of my standards) for the bride. For the groom, I'd like something with some funky character (yet still pleasing to non-beer drinkers). I was thinking of German Ale/Kolsch WLP 029 or even something like Irish Ale Wyeast 1084 or Ringwood Wyeast 1187.

Any thoughts on the yeasts or the base recipe? I think this idea can be really cool if executed properly.

 

[lumpher]

dude, i ain't feelin that recipe at all

 

[Brewmex41]

Have you considered dry hopping the Citra? I'm doing that to my summer ale.

 

[bottlebomber]

dude, i ain't feelin that recipe at all

Me neither... Personally I wouldn't consider brewing something for an event that I hadn't made before.

 

[Brewmex41]

My lhbs has 1 gal carboys for 5 bucks. You could brew up 2 gallons, and pitch a different yeast into each one.
The smaller volume takes a little less time to attenuate, so you could try it out first.

 

[DonRikkles]

Ok, so I've taken some of your advice. I've retooled and have come up with this. It's an amber beer. What do you think:

3 Gal
OG: 1.052
FG: 1.012
SRM: 16.7
IBU: 33

5 lb 2-row
12 oz rye
.8 oz crystal 40
.25 oz crystal 20
.25 oz chocolate malt
.25 oz flaked barley

.5 oz Northern Brewer @ 60
.25 oz Bramling Cross @ 15
.25 oz Saaz @ 15
.25 oz Bramling Cross @ 5
.25 oz Saaz @ 5

Mash for 60 minutes at @ 152

Ferment with WLP 004 - Irish Yeast.

I think this recipe will work much better. Thoughts?