All-Grain - Sorta like Prima Pils...

**CharlosCarlies** · 12-09-2009, 02:32 AM

Recipe Type: All Grain
Yeast: Nottingham
Yeast Starter: No
Batch Size (Gallons): 5.5
Original Gravity: 1.051
Final Gravity: 1.008
IBU: 33.6
Boiling Time (Minutes): 90
Color: 3.6
Primary Fermentation (# of Days & Temp): 14 days @ 58F
Additional Fermentation: 7 days @ 38F
Secondary Fermentation (# of Days & Temp): 7 days @ 68F
Tasting Notes: Crisp, dry, and very tasty. Well balanced w/ a slight emphasis on the hops.

This is a somewhat "american-ized" German Pilsner, but it is still within style (ignoring the Nottingham of course!). The FWH added a really nice, smooth bitterness and the late additions give it a distinct but subtle Saaz aroma that is just oh so wonderful!

W/o sounding too biased, this is honestly one of the best pilsners I've ever had. Definitely the best recipe I've ever come up with (probably more because of its simplicity).

Obviously this would work well w/ a lager strain, and that's one of the next things on my list...but I've long been a proponent of using Notty at the bottom of its temp range because it's cheap, easy, and produces some fantastic beers IMO. I might push it even further next time, but fermented at 58F this thing is clean as a whistle. I dare you to tell me it doesn't taste like a lager!

Recipe: Pilsish Ale
Brewer: Chad
Asst Brewer:
Style: German Pilsner (Pils)
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (35.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 5.50 gal
Boil Size: 7.39 gal
Estimated OG: 1.051 SG
Estimated Color: 3.6 SRM
Estimated IBU: 33.6 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 75.00 %
Boil Time: 90 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item % or IBU
9.50 lb Pilsner (2 Row) Ger (2.0 SRM) 95.00 %
0.50 lb Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) 5.00 %
1.00 oz Saaz (US) [5.80 %] (90 min) (First Wort Hop) 22.5IBU
1.00 oz Saaz [3.50 %] (20 min) 7.0 IBU
1.00 oz Saaz [3.50 %] (10 min) 4.2 IBU
1.00 oz Saaz [3.50 %] (0 min) -
1 Pkgs Nottingham Dry Yeast

----------------------------

Single infusion @ 148F for 60 min.

**CharlosCarlies** · 12-09-2009, 02:39 AM

And for anyone that cares, my water is approximately like this:

Ca: 100 ppm
Mg: 15 ppm
Na: 10 ppm
S04: 20 ppm
Cl: 20 ppm
CaCO3: 300 ppm

**Walker** · 12-09-2009, 02:50 AM

I'm sorry.. I can't see anything except your avatar.

**Picobrew** · 12-09-2009, 02:54 AM

I was thinking of doing something like this with a Kolsch yeast based on the Bohemian Pilsner recipe from Brewing Classic Styles. Nottingham is pretty clean but isn't lagery at all right? Maybe I could do a side-by-side with nottingham and see how that goes. I have very soft water here, very close to pilsen profile.

Edit: just read your notes, sounds like you think it is pretty damn lagery. Sounds good to me. I'm doing a blonde w/ some nottingham at about 62 right now. I really like notty, but haven't gone into the 50s with it. Garage is 52 right now and house is 62.

alcibiades · 12-09-2009, 02:57 AM

how long did you boil that pilsner malt for? I get mixed results when i search, some say 60 min some say 90. I think I'm going to brew a beer like soon, I need something for my non IPA friends.

**CharlosCarlies** · 12-09-2009, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Maybe I could do a side-by-side with nottingham and see how that goes.

Definitely worth it IMO. It's a lot of fun tasting two identical batches w/ different yeasts. I did this w/ a Munich Helles expecting the WLP029 to be cleaner, but I actually ended up liking the Notty batch quite a bit better. They both came out quite clean, but the Notty was a little drier and had less of the "bready" aroma that I seem to always get from the WLP029.

FWIW, I fermented both @ 60F. At 58F, this batch seems even cleaner, and I would say it absolutely tastes lager-like. I'm kind of curious how low it will go though so I might have to test that out on the next batch.

**CharlosCarlies** · 12-09-2009, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walker

I'm sorry.. I can't see anything except your avatar.

I have EYES you know!

Quote:

how long did you boil that pilsner malt for?

90 min...however, that's only because I've always read that's what to do w/ Pilsner. I've yet to test out the differences myself, but I figure an extra 30 min can't hurt right?

Quote:

I think I'm going to brew a beer like soon, I need something for my non IPA friends.

I'm having my dad (ML drinker) test it out tomorrow, but I'm expecting him to think there is too much bitterness even though the FWH does smooth it out a lot IMO. You could probably back off on the late additions as well if your friends aren't hop lovers.