Galaxy Pale Ale

Galaxy hops are one of the more popular ones with home brewers and apparently it’s the most popular hop to come from Australia. It’s flavor is strong tropical fruit and citrus. I always associate Galaxy with a strong peach flavor.

With its high hop oil concentration, it works well as a dual-purpose hop, whether as a bittering or flavor/aroma addition to the beer.

This recipe is a single-hop APA using Pilsner and Vienna malts, and a touch of Munich for added color. It produces a nice sweetness balanced and not an overpowering backbone for the bold hop character. It intentionally doesn’t use any dry-hop additions as prefer a more balanced hop flavor without grassy notes. The yeast choice is WLP013, as this ferments it to a nice round body with noticeable esters but nothing crazy.

Recipe

American-Style Pale Ale

Volume 25 l
OG 1.05
FG 1.015
IBU 35
ABV 4.59 %

Fermentables

2.5 kg

Barke Pilsner Malt

Germany Weyermann

45.21 % GP 23
2.5 kg

Vienna

Netherlands The Swaen

45.21 % GP 23
0.53 kg

Barke Munich Malt

Germany Weyermann

9.58 % GP 4

Hops

15 g

Galaxy | First Wort 60min

Australia

Pellet AA 13 % IBU 18
25 g

Galaxy | Boil 10min

Australia

Pellet AA 13 % IBU 11
25 g

Galaxy | Boil 5min

Australia

Pellet AA 13 % IBU 6
15 g

Galaxy | Whirlpool 20min

Australia

Pellet AA 13 % IBU 0

Yeast

1 pkg

WLP013 London Ale Yeast

White Labs

Attenuation 71.0 %

Process

I start by measuring out 2.5kg of Pilsner and Vienna malts. Add a bit of Munich for color. I prefer adding Munich in place of crystal for color, the taste contribution is more pleasant IMHO

Sweat and burned calories turn into wonderfully milled malt

This will work just fine in the malt pipe

Doughing in crushed malt, making sure everything is mixed well. When the malt is crushed properly it will flow nice and clear

Adding to the mash 1/2 tsp of CaCl2 and another 1/2 tsp of CaSO4

1/2 tsp Phosphoric acid to the 32L RO water

Mash temperature is set to 66C, the initial strike temperature ended up a little too high

Galaxy hops 2019 harvest, the aroma is fantastic

100g of Galaxy hops measured out before boil

In the last 10 min I throw in one of these Protafloc tablets to improve hot break formation

Boil end. I added the 0 minute hops addition before cooling it down to 80C and adding the whirlpool addition for a 20 min steep

I collected wort for a mini yeast starter, I’ll be propagating it throughout the week for another beer next Sunday

For this beer, I’m harvesting WLP023 yeast from the other fermented that has been fermenting now for a week

This is when I add oxygen to the fermenter after pitching yeast

After two weeks in primary, I’m transferring the beer to a keg for conditioning

Closed transfer, using CO2 to push beer through

The beer pre-conditioning stage. Fruity, citrus, peach, passion fruit and mango. A promising taste and aroma.

Results

Tasting notes:

Appearance

Medium amber with a little haze. Moderate creamy head that lasts a while

Nose

Tropical fruit, peach and subtle breadiness from the malt

Taste

Mild bitterness up front, followed by citrus and tropical notes. Slight malt character and noticeable esters

Mouthfeel

Medium body with moderate carbonation, finishes with a citrus bitterness

Summary

A nice single hop beer. Balanced on the palate and does a good job showcasing Galaxy, but without grassy hop character. For a bigger hop punch, one could add some dry hopping