All-Grain - Marzen/Oktoberfest - Page 6

Brewskii · 12-05-2011, 01:02 PM

Ok... Finished primary ( checked at 5 days and there was no D at all).
Moved it to the carboy to secondary and at 21 days(14 days after primary) ramped it to 34 F which it reached today (dropping 2 deg per day).

A couple of days ago I noticed a few hazey flakey looking things on the surface that was otherwise clear along with a few small yeast globs. It's been 29 days since brewday and the move from primary to secondary has been 3 weeks ago. I am PRAYING this is not an infection.
Pulled a thief sample today and it tasted amazing and was clear, malty and not mouth coating as I would expect with diacetal.

Issue: It smelled strongly of Butterscotch and apples. More of AA than D. It tasted good; not sour or astringent at all.
Infected or expected?
This is a far as I have ever gotten with a lager so I don't know what I'm looking at here. I assume that it should taste a little not good or you'd be telling me to drink it rather than lager for another month and a half.

**Yooper** · 12-05-2011, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brewskii

Ok... Finished primary ( checked at 5 days and there was no D at all).
Moved it to the carboy to secondary and at 21 days(14 days after primary) ramped it to 34 F which it reached today (dropping 2 deg per day).

A couple of days ago I noticed a few hazey flakey looking things on the surface that was otherwise clear along with a few small yeast globs. It's been 29 days since brewday and the move from primary to secondary has been 3 weeks ago. I am PRAYING this is not an infection.
Pulled a thief sample today and it tasted amazing and was clear, malty and not mouth coating as I would expect with diacetal.

Issue: It smelled strongly of Butterscotch and apples. More of AA than D. It tasted good; not sour or astringent at all.
Infected or expected?
This is a far as I have ever gotten with a lager so I don't know what I'm looking at here. I assume that it should taste a little not good or you'd be telling me to drink it rather than lager for another month and a half.

If it smells of butterscotch and apples, I would think it wouldn't be ready for lagering. "Apples" tends to be acetaldehyde while butterscotch is usually diacetyl. My advise would be to do the diacetyl rest, and not rack until that's gone. However, since you've already racked and begun lagering, you can hope that it's NOT diacetyl or acetaldehyde and that it will go away with some time.

Brewskii · 12-06-2011, 07:28 PM

Thanks. Sorry to say I'm not going to see this one through.... "Flakes" was wishful thinking. It is a film on the surface (read: lactic infection).
30 days shot to hell!
I'm gonna do it one more time ( I am THAT confident that I'm going to love this beer) but it's gonna have to wait for the new year. I think I'm done with secondary too... At least on this one.
I picked up a new transfer hose and I'm gonna stay away from the palstic buckets for a while. That makes 3 times this year ( twice with this recipie if you can believe it).
Oh well.

Brewskii · 01-08-2012, 10:59 AM

Still a hazy film BUT.... Took a thief sample today and it is nothing short of AMAZING!
I had 2 brewing buddies taste it on new years and all agreed, it's really good and there are no evident off notes at this point.
I still will brew this again soon ( I love it that much) but was thinking about back- to back lagers to share the space in the fermentation freezer...
I love this beer

Brewskii · 01-23-2012, 12:36 PM

Bottled this last night. I guess I flaked a little...this beer is perfect in every way. This is a great recipe Yoop; Sorry if my technique leaves something to be desired.
Now that the lager fridge is empty, think I'll do a Doppelbock

**Yooper** · 01-30-2012, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brewskii

Bottled this last night. I guess I flaked a little...this beer is perfect in every way. This is a great recipe Yoop; Sorry if my technique leaves something to be desired.
Now that the lager fridge is empty, think I'll do a Doppelbock

Sound great! I don't make too many lagers, but I like having one on tap just to have something totally different than my typical IPAs and APAs. I am glad this came out so well for you!

Brewskii · 02-01-2012, 07:04 PM

Tasted today - 1 12 oz 'er to check how it's carbing. It only been 1.5 weeks and its carbed nicely already. This is clean as a whistle and has a wonderful maltyness that is in the nose as much or more than on the pallet. It's like sticking my head in my malt mill bucket and taking a big whiff.....
Crystal clear and really great beer

**Airborneguy** · 03-09-2012, 10:02 AM

We're using this recipe for our upcoming bi-monthly (sort of) group brew day. I'll definitely let you know how it goes. Thanks for this one!