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First Lager - Looking for Ideas
I got a chest freezer and temp controller for Christmas and I figure what better way to break it in than a lager. Not sure when I'll get around to it with work and the New England winter but I'm dead set on my next beer being a lager. I have some styles and recipes in mind but don't have my mind set on any of them and I'm looking for some inspiration. So my seasoned lager brewing brethren, any suggestions or tried and true recipes?
i've only done 2 lagers, because i do not have a dedicated lager fridge, I did the swamp cooler method. it worked out very nicely, but lagering for 8 weeks with 8 two liter bottles, rotating 4 in the freezer, and 4 in the cellar sink every three days was kind of a pain in the neck. However, they came out fantastic. I did a Bohemian pilsner, and Czech Pilsner. Both came out clean and clear, with the Czech being the more flavorful of the 2. However the Bohemian came out the best I think.
If I had to a lager now, I'd do a Maibock. It's the right time of year to make one, and it will be ready when it's supposed to be.
dopplebock!
Helles
dunkel
I just had a Helles that was sitting in my dad's fridge for over a year, and it was really good! He actually looked at the bottle after taking a sip to see if it was a "real" beer lol.
I should have known everyone would suggest something different. I'd like to brew a doppelbock but might hold off til a little later so I can brew a big one to age until next winter.
I thought about a Helles or Czech Pils. One of the best beers I've ever had was the Czech Pils from Moat Mountain Brewpub and I'm fortunate enough to know someone who can get me the recipe. But given that this is my first lager I might hold off on lighter colored lagers until I get a few under my belt.
So that brings us to Munich Dunkel and I'll also throw Vienna Lager into the mix. Anyone have a recipe for either of these styles?
Under the ingredients section in the BJCP profiles for these styles it just lists "noble hops". What German noble hops do you guys like using in your lagers?
I just ramped up my Munich Dunkel for its diacytl rest an hour ago.
It is 95% Munich 10 L
3.5% Carafa III
1.5% Chocolate
Tettnanger 21 IBU's
Wyeast 2206 Bavarian (3.5L starter)
I did a Hochkurz Double Decoction for the first time and it worked great.
I have never made this before so I don't know how good it is. I'll let you know.
Jamil has an episode on Munich Dunkels that might help you.
BTW, Palmer says to Lager 10 degrees under your Ferment temps:
"The temperature difference between the primary phase and the lager phase should be roughly 10°F.
Nominal lagering times are 3 - 4 weeks at 45°F, 5 - 6 weeks at 40°F, or 7 - 8 weeks at 35°F."
Saaz baby, gotta love the Saaz.
This Munich Dunkel is one smooth beer; I just started lagering it and I can't wait until it's finished. Right now the yeast is the dominant flavor, but the Munich is noticeable.
The Bavarian yeast has a hair perm (sulfur) and malty aroma, malty mid palate, and a slight metallic finish. I know this sounds weird, but it is good. Even during fermentation the sulfur didn't produce the rotten egg smell, just hair perm.
I'm thinking I'm going with Munich Dunkel. I had one on tap at the Harpoon Brewery last year that I think was great and have been wanting to brew one since.
Haha, hair perm aroma. I haven't heard that one before. I wonder if it'll disappear with lagering.
I need to download all of the lager shows from Jamil's show now. I only ever bothered to download the ales because that's all I brewed.
FirePitBrew wrote:
Haha, hair perm aroma. I haven't heard that one before. I wonder if it'll disappear with lagering.
I think it will dissipate with age. The starter tasted and smelled the same, so I'm not too worried. I kept a sample of the beer from the starter and it is much less noticeable now.
FPB
Did you brew your Dunkel yet?
I'm pretty happy with how mine turned out. The "hair perm" is completly gone and the metallic flavor is faint.
I don't have a fermentation chamber yet, and I wouldn't brew a lager again until I get one. I used the swamp cooler method, and it worked fine, but what a pain.
Nope, no brewin' yet. I'm actually in the process of buying a house so my hectic schedule just got crazier. I would like to brew one of the first weekends after the closing date so that I'll have beer ready to go once I'm done with the renovations and etc.
FirePitBrew wrote:
Nope, no brewin' yet. I'm actually in the process of buying a house so my hectic schedule just got crazier. I would like to brew one of the first weekends after the closing date so that I'll have beer ready to go once I'm done with the renovations and etc.
I have a house in chelmsford you can buy. Then you can come brew for me at my new place anytime.
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