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Not-So-Common Common | 5 Gallon Beer Recipe Kit | Extract

Not-So-Common Common | 5 Gallon Beer Recipe Kit | Extract

Please select from the following option(s) to see pricing and availability.
Pre-Milled: 
Description

  • A modern take on the traditional California Common beer style
  • Includes Northern Brewer and Norcoe blend hops
  • Estimated ABV: 4.3%
  • Estimated IBUs: 38-43
  • Makes 5 gallons of finished beer

A modern twist on an American classic!

California Common is a unique beer style dating back to the days of the California Gold Rush, when brewers on the west coast incorporated caramel malts and additional hop character into their lager beers, helping mask the effects of warmer fermentation owing to a lack of available refrigeration. The resulting beer was a jack-of-all-trades: malty and full-bodied enough for a winter evening, but also hoppy and dry enough for the hottest California afternoon.

Here at MoreBeer! we love the classics, and Cal Common is no exception. But we’re a long way from 1849 and it’s time to give this classic, nearly forgotten beer style a chance to step into the modern age. To do that, we’ve combined the Northern Brewer hops that typify California Common with the Simcoe® hops that are so prevalent in today’s California IPAs, creating our first ever hop blend, “Norcoe.” The resulting beer is still a delicious jack-of-all-trades, but with a hop profile that’s at the same time common, and not Common at all!

  • Makes 5 gallons
  • Estimated Original Gravity: 1.040-1.048
  • SRM (Color Range): 9
  • IBUs: 38-43
  • Estimated Alcohol Percentage: 4.0-4.6%

Our recipe kits DO NOT include grain bags, yeast or priming sugar. To find our yeast recommendations, choose your preferred kit option above and then select the drop-down menu under “Yeast Options”.  For more info, click on the recommended yeast(s) below in the “You Might Also Need” section below. All grains will come milled, unless you select unmilled base malts.
 

Simcoe® is a registered trademark owned by Yakima Chief Hops, LLC.


 

Community Q&A

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Browse 2 questions Browse 2 questions and 6 answers
Why did you choose this?
MoreFlavor Store
Liked the cali common so thought I’d try this next
Douglas S on Jan 5, 2023
Brewer this one several times
brian p on May 11, 2022
Liked the cali common so thought I’d try this next
Douglas S on Jan 5, 2023
Good product at a good price
Thomas Gariety on Aug 22, 2022
Brewer this one several times
brian p on May 11, 2022
I haven't brewed a common before, and the code from free beer friday seemed like the perfect opportunity to give it a try
bruce c on Feb 7, 2022
Used before
Char M on Dec 3, 2021
I like the style
Rance A. Hitt on Aug 7, 2021
Out of the blue
Guest G on Aug 6, 2021
Have brewed this before and loved it.
Thom S on Aug 2, 2021
price
Shawna f on Jun 11, 2021
Third brew nice and carmelly but still significant hop profile with
Keith S on Apr 1, 2021
Gift request
Michael B on Dec 17, 2020
Wanted something lighter to balance out my kegerator.
Alfredo D on Oct 2, 2020
Wanted to try a new twist
j on Jun 28, 2020
cheap option for inexperienced brewers
Isaac M on May 14, 2020
Trying new recipe
Vincenzo D on Sep 10, 2019
Sounds Delicious
Gary V on Jul 6, 2019
Love the style
shawn r on Jun 17, 2019
Love this recipe
David price on May 24, 2019
Enjoyed previous commons, try a new one
Jacob W on Mar 24, 2019
VALUE
DAVID C on Feb 8, 2018
I am learning all grain brewing and wanted an inexpensive recipe to try
eric a on Jan 13, 2018
Sounded good and good reviews from brewers too
David C on Jan 12, 2018
Good product at a good price
Thomas Gariety on Aug 22, 2022
I haven't brewed a common before, and the code from free beer friday seemed like the perfect opportunity to give it a try
bruce c on Feb 7, 2022
Will California white labs be a good yeast choice?
jeremy b on Nov 20, 2019
BEST ANSWER: Hello Jeremy, the California Ale White Labs Yeast is an ale yeast not lager. You'd still get a great beer if you used this strain but it would no longer be a California Common. The White Labs yeast we recommend for this kit is the San Francisco Lager. If you have any further questions about this kit, please don't hesitate to contact our customer service team! 1-800-600-0033 or info@moreflavor.com
WLP810 San Francisco Lager - White Labs Yeast
WLP810 San Francisco Lager - White Labs Yeast
Does "unmilled base malts only" mean that it doesn't come with the crystal malt? I've ordered this before but have never noticed that in the description in my cart.
David price on May 22, 2019
BEST ANSWER: Hi David - If you select 'Unmilled' then only the base malts will be unmilled, the specialty grains will always come pre-milled in our kits.
Reviews

4.9 / 5.0
7 Reviews
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Star
6
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Rated 4 out of 5
Wish I had chosen lager yeast...but next time.
Good clean session beer...just like the other lower cost all grain kits you could easily make this a base-beer to build off of. Followed the instructions exactly and hit OG/FG easily...use Calidry yeast...fast to ferment...fast to finish. Went quickly on tap.
October 4, 2021
Purchased
over 2 years ago
Rated 5 out of 5
Love the norcoe hops
Love it. Made 10 gallons as is, added Munich 20 and some roasted barley for another 10 gallons. Veritile base.
May 15, 2019
Purchased
over 4 years ago
Rated 5 out of 5
I like this beer
Mashed at 153. Used San Francisco lager yeast. Let sit in keg for 3 weeks at 60 degrees after fermentation. Really good hop flavor and aroma and creamy head.
January 9, 2019
Purchased
over 5 years ago
Rated 5 out of 5
Its good
Used US-05 on it, hopped in the keg. 5/5 will make it again.
June 4, 2018
Purchased
over 5 years ago
Rated 5 out of 5
I love this beer. And the price makes it even better.
April 9, 2018
Purchased
over 6 years ago
Rated 5 out of 5
Really good session beer
I did this with US-05 and it plays more like a session IPA or a Pale, but a really good one. Norther / Simcoe blend is great, not too piney and well balanced. Came out super clear with malt flavor and color like a common just a bit more hop flavor. I'm interested in trying it again with WLP810.
November 6, 2017
Rated 5 out of 5
Not-So-Common Common in a good way!
The Wyeast 2112 gave this beer lager like characteristics. Mashed this recipe at 153 F and held the fermentation temp at 64 F. Tested positive on a friend who dislikes hoppy/bitter beers. I am not a fan of Northern Brewer as a flavor or aroma hops. The Simcoe addition seemed to reduce the harshness from the NB hops while maintaining balanced flavor. It's a little more like a pale ale in a good way. I am going to make this kit for fall 2017 and not mess with the lager yeast for an Oktoberfest.
January 31, 2017