Owyhee Canyon Mayfly Pale Ale

Pale wings over a green canyon pool

An American pale ale named for the Owyhee River, caramel malt and citrus hops at 5.4%, for long afternoons on the water.

Brewed to order

Owyhee Canyon Mayfly Pale Ale shows a pale morning dun mayfly resting on rippled blue water, a fish's shadow drifting below. The label runs navy and teal, with pale yellow wings and cream lettering.

ABV: 5.4%
IBU: 34
Colour: 14SRM
OG to FG: 1.0531.012

American pale ale, 5.4% ABV
34 IBU, copper-amber at 14 SRM
Cascade and Centennial, dry hopped four days
Pale morning dun mayfly on blue water
Caramel malt with a dry, bitter finish

In the glass

14SRM

Caramel and toasted bread up front, grapefruit and pine through the middle, a dry bitter finish

Serve: 45°F in a shaker pint
Alongside: Grilled trout, green chile burgers, sharp cheddar

A pale morning dun mayfly sits on the surface, yellow wings up, rings spreading around its legs. Under it, a fish's shadow hangs in the blue. Navy and teal frame the scene, with cream letters across the top.

It pours a warm copper-amber. Caramel and toasted bread come first, then grapefruit and pine, and the finish stays dry and bitter. Open one when the hatch slows and the canyon walls turn gold.

Crystal 120L is the one to watch. Six ounces brings the colour and a dark caramel edge; much more and the beer turns heavy. Weigh it, then weigh it again.

The numbers

5.4%Alcohol by volume

(1.053 − 1.012) × 131.25

34Bitterness, IBU

Bitterness only means anything against the style. This one is a American pale ale.

14Colour, SRM

The swatch above is this number on the standard reference ramp, not an impression of it.

Gravity1.053 down to 1.012 — 77% apparent attenuation.

Details

River: Owyhee River
Style: American pale ale
ABV: 5.4%
Tasting notes: caramel malt, toasted bread, grapefruit, pine, floral hops
Colors: navy blue, teal, pale yellow, cream

Make it yourself

A home brew day set up in a garage: kettle steaming on a burner, mash tun and chiller beside it.

At a glance

Style: American pale ale
Gravity, OG → FG: 1.053 → 1.012
ABV: 5.4%Derived from OG and FG
Bitterness: 34 IBU
Colour: 14SRMdeep amber
Difficulty: Second batchthe dry hop and the crystal malt balance ask for a little practice
First pint: 35 daysFrom brew day, including conditioning
Brew day: 2 h 30 minKettle on to kitchen clean. The rest is the yeast.
You supply: brew kettle, mash tun, wort chiller, fermenter with airlock, hydrometer, thermometer, sanitiser, keg or bottling setup
Written for: 5 gal (18.9 L)
Efficiency assumed: 72%Brew-in-a-bag, full-volume. House guidance

Grain bill

4 malts · 10.38 lb for 5 gal

Piles of pale, amber and dark malted barley on a wooden bench beside a scale.

Milled grain, weighed for each batch size. The percentage is each malt's share of the grist and stays the same at every size.

Malt	% of grist	12-pack batch · 1.25 gal	Classic · 5 gal	12×12 batch · 15 gal
Pale 2-row	77.1%	2 lb (0.91 kg)	8 lb (3.63 kg)	24 lb (10.89 kg)
Munich	9.6%	4 oz (113 g)	1 lb (0.45 kg)	3 lb (1.36 kg)
Crystal 60L	9.6%	4 oz (113 g)	1 lb (0.45 kg)	3 lb (1.36 kg)
Crystal 120L	3.6%	1.5 oz (43 g)	6 oz (170 g)	1.13 lb (0.51 kg)
Total grain	100%	2.59 lb (1.18 kg)	10.38 lb (4.71 kg)	31.13 lb (14.12 kg)

Hop schedule

5 additions · 60 min boil

Whole green hop cones and hop pellets on slate, one cone split to show the yellow lupulin.

Pellet hops, weighed in grams. Boil times count down to the end of the boil, so 60 minutes means the first thing in the kettle.

Hop	Use	Time	12-pack batch · 1.25 gal	Classic · 5 gal	12×12 batch · 15 gal
Centennial	Boil	60 min	3.5 g (0.13 oz)	14 g (0.5 oz)	43 g (1.5 oz)
Cascade	Boil	15 min	7.1 g (0.25 oz)	28 g (1 oz)	85 g (3 oz)
Cascade	Whirlpool	20 min	7.1 g (0.25 oz)	28 g (1 oz)	85 g (3 oz)
Cascade	Dry hop	4 days	7.1 g (0.25 oz)	28 g (1 oz)	85 g (3 oz)
Centennial	Dry hop	4 days	7.1 g (0.25 oz)	28 g (1 oz)	85 g (3 oz)

Yeast and pitch

American ale yeast · 1 dry pack for 5 gal

American ale yeast (Safale US-05). Pitch at 64°F.

Yeast	12-pack batch · 1.25 gal	Classic · 5 gal	12×12 batch · 15 gal
American ale yeast	1 dry pack	1 dry pack	3 dry packs

One pack per 5 gal, and one more above 1.060 OG in a batch over 3 gal. Never fewer than one. House guidance

Water

8.08 gal into the mash for 5 gal

Full-volume brew-in-a-bag: all the water goes in at the start and there is no sparge. Volumes are the total to heat, so the kettle has to hold the mash and still leave room to boil: the 12-pack kit sells a 5 gal stockpot and the 12×12 kit a 30 gal kettle for that.

Water	12-pack batch · 1.25 gal	Classic · 5 gal	12×12 batch · 15 gal
Into the mash	2.11 gal (8 L)	8.08 gal (30.6 L)	19.74 gal (74.7 L)
Boiled off	0.5 gal (1.9 L)	1.25 gal (4.7 L)	1.25 gal (4.7 L)
Held by the grain	0.21 gal (0.8 L)	0.83 gal (3.1 L)	2.49 gal (9.4 L)
Left as trub	0.15 gal (0.6 L)	1 gal (3.8 L)	1 gal (3.8 L)
Into the fermenter	1.25 gal (4.7 L)	5 gal (18.9 L)	15 gal (56.8 L)

Boil-off, grain absorption and trub are typical figures for a stovetop pot and a propane kettle, not measurements of your own gear. Brew once, note what you end up with, and adjust. House guidance

Water profile Moderately hard water with a sulfate-leaning balance keeps the hops crisp and the finish dry.

Mash

152°F · 60 min

The mash turns starch into sugar. Hold the temperature steady and the beer finishes the way the recipe intends.

Rest152°F for 60 minutes
Strike waterHeat to 162°F; the grain cools it to the rest temperature. House guidance
Mash-outRaise to 168°F and hold 10 minutes, then lift and drain the bag. House guidance

Mash inthis rest keeps the body round enough to carry the crystal malt
Mash outit stops conversion and loosens the sugars for the sparge

Boil

60 min · 3 hop additions

Hops go in on a countdown from the end of the boil. Early additions give bitterness; late ones give aroma.

Length60 minutes
60 minCentennial
20 minCascade (whirlpool)
15 minCascade
15 minA kettle fining (whirlfloc or Irish moss) clears the beer if you have one. House guidance

Chillto 64°Fpitch cool so the yeast stays clean

Also on the recipe's brew-day card:

Whirlpool20 min at 180°Fcooler water pulls aroma without piling on bitterness

Fermentation

4 steps · 2 dry hop · first pint in 35 days

A glass fermenter of amber beer with foam on top and an airlock.

The recipe's own schedule, in order. Temperature control matters more than almost anything else on this page.

7 days at 64°F
3 days at 68°F
Dry hop on day 8
Cold crash to 36°F for 2 days

Dry hopCascade, 4 days
Dry hopCentennial, 4 days

First pint 35 days from brew day.

Packaging and carbonation

2.4 volumes CO₂ · bottle or keg

Plain aluminium cans and a small keg on a workbench beside a priming-sugar measure.

Target 2.4 volumes of CO₂.

Bottling	12-pack batch · 1.25 gal	Classic · 5 gal	12×12 batch · 15 gal
Corn sugar to prime	1.03 oz (29 g)	4.12 oz (117 g)	12.37 oz (351 g)
12 oz bottles it fills	12	50	144

Dissolve the sugar in a little boiled water, stir it gently into the beer, then bottle. The amount is worked out for 68°F, the warmest the beer got while it fermented.

Kegging Set the regulator to 10.2 psi at 38°F.

Kegging instead Skip the bottles with 3 × 5 gal ball-lock kegs, 1 × 5 lb CO₂ tank, 1 × dual-gauge regulator, 1 × gas and beer lines with picnic taps: the kegging upgrade for the 15 gal home brewery, $594.

Brewer's notes

3 tips

Weigh the Crystal 120L carefully, because a little extra turns the beer muddy and sweet.From the recipe
Add the dry hops once the airlock slows, so the yeast can clean up any grassy notes.From the recipe
Keep the fermenter out of light and steady at 64°F for the first three days.From the recipe

A fermenter, airlock, siphon, hydrometer, thermometer and bench capper. — The kit

Every kit size

Ingredients only

Ingredient kit · 12-pack batch

$23.61

$1.97 a bottle

Grain milled, hops bagged per addition, yeast, priming sugar and 12 caps, for 1.25 gal.

Includes Pale 2-row · Munich · Crystal 60L · Crystal 120L · and 10 more

Every item in this kit · 14 items

Ingredients

Pale 2-row$4.582 lb (0.91 kg) · Milled to order
Munich$0.654 oz (113 g) · Milled to order
Crystal 60L$0.724 oz (113 g) · Milled to order
Crystal 120L$0.271.5 oz (43 g) · Milled to order
Centennial (60 min)$1.503.5 g (0.13 oz)
Cascade (15 min)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
Cascade (whirlpool, 20 min)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
Cascade (dry hop, 4 days)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
Centennial (dry hop, 4 days)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
American ale yeast$6.491 pack · Dry yeast
Milling and kitting$31

Packaging

Corn sugar for priming$0.401 oz · Primes to 2.4 volumes of CO₂
Crown capsIncluded12

Guide

Printed brew guideIncluded1

Ingredient kit · 12×12 batch

$166.95

$1.16 a bottle

Grain milled, hops bagged per addition, yeast, priming sugar and 144 caps, for 15 gal.

Includes Pale 2-row · Munich · Crystal 60L · Crystal 120L · and 10 more

Every item in this kit · 14 items

Ingredients

Pale 2-row$54.9624 lb (10.89 kg) · Milled to order
Munich$7.773 lb (1.36 kg) · Milled to order
Crystal 60L$8.673 lb (1.36 kg) · Milled to order
Crystal 120L$3.251.13 lb (0.51 kg) · Milled to order
Centennial (60 min)$5.9943 g (1.5 oz)
Cascade (15 min)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
Cascade (whirlpool, 20 min)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
Cascade (dry hop, 4 days)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
Centennial (dry hop, 4 days)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
American ale yeast$19.473 packs · Dry yeast
Milling and kitting$81

Packaging

Corn sugar for priming$4.9612.4 oz · Primes to 2.4 volumes of CO₂
Crown caps$6144

Guide

Printed brew guideIncluded1

Complete home brewery

Complete home brewery · 12-pack batch

$217.43

$18.12 a bottle

Bought separately $238.97 · you save $21.54

All the equipment, then the ingredient kit, for 1.25 gal. Works on a kitchen stove.

Includes 5 gal stainless stockpot · Fine-mesh brew bag · 1.5 gal glass fermenter with drilled bung · 3-piece airlock · and 24 more

Every item in this kit · 28 items

Equipment

5 gal stainless stockpot$49.991
Fine-mesh brew bag$9.991
1.5 gal glass fermenter with drilled bung$17.991
3-piece airlock$2.491
No-rinse sanitizer, 4 oz$12.991
Hydrometer and test jar$15.991
Digital probe thermometer$14.991
Mini auto-siphon with tubing$13.991
Spring-tip bottle filler$5.991
12 oz amber bottles$16.9912
Wing capper$19.991
Brewery wash, 1 lb$9.991
0.1 g kitchen scale$14.991
Long stainless spoon$8.991

Ingredients

Pale 2-row$4.582 lb (0.91 kg) · Milled to order
Munich$0.654 oz (113 g) · Milled to order
Crystal 60L$0.724 oz (113 g) · Milled to order
Crystal 120L$0.271.5 oz (43 g) · Milled to order
Centennial (60 min)$1.503.5 g (0.13 oz)
Cascade (15 min)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
Cascade (whirlpool, 20 min)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
Cascade (dry hop, 4 days)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
Centennial (dry hop, 4 days)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
American ale yeast$6.491 pack · Dry yeast
Milling and kitting$31

Packaging

Corn sugar for priming$0.401 oz · Primes to 2.4 volumes of CO₂
Crown capsIncluded12

Guide

Printed brew guideIncluded1

Complete home brewery · 12×12 batch

$1,262.95

$8.77 a bottle

Bought separately $1,384.73 · you save $121.78

All the equipment, then the ingredient kit, for 15 gal. You supply a propane tank and water.

Includes 30 gal stainless kettle with ball valve and thermometer · 72 · 30 gal brew bag · 50 ft copper immersion chiller · and 27 more

Every item in this kit · 31 items

Equipment

30 gal stainless kettle with ball valve and thermometer$3991
72,000 BTU propane burner and stand$991
30 gal brew bag$44.991
50 ft copper immersion chiller$1291
7.9 gal fermenting buckets with lids and airlocks$89.973
No-rinse sanitizer, 32 oz$32.991
Brewery wash, 4 lb$34.991
Hydrometer and test jar$15.991
Refractometer$29.991
Digital thermometer$24.991
½" auto-siphon with tubing$24.991
Bottling buckets with spigots$55.982
Bottle filler$5.991
12 oz amber bottles (6 cases)$119.94144
Bench capper$59.991
Mash paddle$24.991
Digital scale$24.991

Ingredients

Pale 2-row$54.9624 lb (10.89 kg) · Milled to order
Munich$7.773 lb (1.36 kg) · Milled to order
Crystal 60L$8.673 lb (1.36 kg) · Milled to order
Crystal 120L$3.251.13 lb (0.51 kg) · Milled to order
Centennial (60 min)$5.9943 g (1.5 oz)
Cascade (15 min)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
Cascade (whirlpool, 20 min)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
Cascade (dry hop, 4 days)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
Centennial (dry hop, 4 days)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
American ale yeast$19.473 packs · Dry yeast
Milling and kitting$81

Packaging

Corn sugar for priming$4.9612.4 oz · Primes to 2.4 volumes of CO₂
Crown caps$6144

Guide

Printed brew guideIncluded1

The creator

Sunny

@sunny

Strips it fast and stays for the grab.

See everything by @sunny

Remixes

1 remix of this

@sunny

Where this came from

river beer · made October 7, 2026

1 remix

25 — from 1 remix, at the Derby's published weights, since October 7, 2026. Views are not counted.

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