Cigar For Lighter Beer Styles

[rodwha]

West coast IPAs are very dry. Mashed real low and many times brewed with a grist of just base malt to help dry the beer out.

How low of a mash temp is typically used? I've generally pushed for about 153* and I use about 5% crystal malts for color and a mild flavor contribution, though initially I was using about 15%.

[HIM]

How low of a mash temp is typically used? I've generally pushed for about 153* and I use about 5% crystal malts for color and a mild flavor contribution, though initially I was using about 15%.

90min mash at 148-150f does well. 152f is sort of the compromise for alpha and beta amylase with the former working at higher temps and the latter at the lower end of the sachh range. While the beta will work at lower temps it takes longer without the alpha helping chop up the starches so a longer mash is needed for full conversion.
I think your spot on with the crystal though. 5% is a good amount to help with color and head retention without adding much in the way of body.

Back on topic of the OP... I think lighter sticks should pair well with lighter flavored beers. While a west coast pale is pretty light I'd say they're big on flavor and can easily dominate a milder stick. But something less assertive like a blonde, hef, cream, or a helles lager are probably easier to balance if the two profiles go well together.

[rodwha]

CI carries them too! Wish I could get a single of them though as I'd like to try various ones. But that reminds me of the Stones You Can't Always Get What You Want...

[TreySC]

I thought they did a sampler with all the varieties.

[rodwha]

I didn't notice one, but sometimes I'm oblivious to the obvious being one of those ADD guys. Funny that I notice the abstract unusual things instead...

Then again CI has made things more difficult than they ought to be in my opinion in that searching for a brand won't bring up all they have but only their 5 pack samplers and boxes for the most part.

[rodwha]

I don't get much bitterness from them.

Having been brewing beer and dabbling with the hop additions I see that reducing the hop additions in the beginning of the boil and adding to the latter (flavor/aroma) reduces what I perceive as bitter Dalits having the same IBU levels.

I guess I can't say I don't detect the bitter, but that it's overrided by the flavor that I don't notice the bitter upfront per se.

[Billb1960]

Cigar Bandits carries the sampler for $29. So does Cigar.com

[dbach11]

Cigar Bandits carries the sampler for $29. So does Cigar.com

Drew Estate Smoking Monk Taster Pack - Cigar.com

[Demuths1770]

im sure if you called ci they could also make a 5 pack sampler dont really know why they dont have one. May be something to look into @Trish_at_CBid

[rodwha]

I'm thinking of getting a 5 Vegas Gold to see. The one I was given was a bit mild.