This Belgian Blonde emphasizes the Czech and French hops Celeia and Strisselspalt with late kettle and dry hop additions for both. The usual phenolic and spicy flavors of White Labs 550 Belgian Ale Yeast are downplayed using a cool 62 degree fermentation temperature to make ample room for a dry, hoppy finish.  Keg-conditioned with a fresh pitch of champaign yeast.

Inspired by Vinnie Cilurzo's "Yvan the Great" from Sierra Nevada's 2014 Beer Camp series.  Good stuff.  Cheers!

• 8 lbs American Pale 2-Row
• 3 lbs U.K. Maris Otter Malt
  
• 0.25 lbs Acidulated Malt
• 1 ounce Brewers Gold @ 60 minutes
  
• 1 ounce Styrian Celeia @ 15 minutes
• 1 ounce Styrian Celeia @ 5 minutes
• 1 ounce Strisselspalt @ 5 minutes
• 0.5 ounce Styrian Celeia dry hop - 7 days
• 0.5 ounce Styrian Celeia dry hop - 3 days
• WLP550 Belgian Ale Yeast in a 1.5 liter starter
• Keg-conditioned with a fresh pitch of Red Star Dry Champaign Yeast and 5 oz corn sugar
  

I entered three beers into the 2015 National Homebrew Competition this year.  The ESB was 1st place in the first round of judging focused on the N. California Region.  Not a large field in English Pale Ale category (16 entries) but still proud to have made a beer good enough to get this far.  Onto Nationals in San Diego!

Full first round results can be found here: http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/competitions/national-homebrew-competition/winners/