My Tribute To Hank Hill: Hi-Brau

I was watching King of the Hill tonight. In this particular episode, Hank's beloved Alamo beer is replaced by Hi-Brau. I started thinking about this "Hi-Brau" beer and what it should taste like.

First off, it should be an economical beer. Not the cheapest in the isle, but maybe third or fourth. Like many economical beers, it should have little malt or hop flavor or aroma. The predominant flavor should be carbonation.

There should be a gimmick on the can, like "Pilsener", so people will buy it because it sounds like quality.

Thus, I give you - Hi-Brau SMASH. I think I upped the IBU's a little too much, but you can easily cut it down.

Let me know what you think!

Beer: Hi Brau
Style: American Pilsener
Type: All grain
Size: 5.5 gallons Color: 3 HCU (~3 SRM)
Bitterness: 33 IBU OG: 1.061 FG: 1.014 Alcohol: 4.7% v/v (3.7% w/w)

Grain: 10 lb. Pilsner
Mash: 75% efficiency
Boil: 60 minutes SG 1.051 6.5 gallons

Hops: 1 oz. Cascade (6% AA, 60 min.)
1 oz. Cascade (6% AA, 30 min.)

Might want to specify the use of PROPANE. It's god's gas.

Yeah, I'd definitely do a full boil using only the finest Strickland Propane...

1061 pretty high to the generic BMC theme.

IrregularPulse said:

1061 pretty high to the generic BMC theme.

Click to expand...

Agreed. It needs some work. After I posted, I was thinking about replacing some of the Pilsner malt with rice extract. I think that should help bring the color down a little.

Personally I like it. I would actually brew it. Not sure it could pass as a pilsner at that high OG, but I like the idea of a SMASH using Pils and Cascade. I love cascade as a flavor hop in lower gravity beers and the lower AA% would work well. I'm just shooting from the hip now. I may be Druck. I better go check...

hmmm.... but how does this hi-brau stack up to duff?

Actually, it would be interesting if someone could get ahold of the actual Hi Brau recipe. Hi Brau was actually brewed some time ago by the Jos. Huber brewing co of Monroe, Wisconsin.