Bluebonnet Brewoff Competition - 2022

[Oleson M.D.]

We at Bel Air Brewing were blessed, i.e., got lucky with 5 beers that made it to the mini Best Of Show judging round, two in the BOS round, and two gold Medal, 1st Place winners.

Our entries were:

1. German Pilsner (42 points) mini BOS
2. Festbier (39 points) BOS judging round - 1st Place Gold
3. Schwarzbier (39 points) mini BOS
4. English Barleywine (38 points) BOS judging round, 1st Place Gold
5. Vienna Lager (41 points) mini BOS
6. Imperial Stout ( 32 points)

We would be happy to share the above recipes, if anyone is interested. Our German Pilsner was probably the best of the bunch. We are surprised it did not place. But they lump so many sub-categories together, so it is a challenge at best as I am not only competing against other German Pils (5D), but all of the beers in the Pale Bitter European Lager category, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D,

 

[rburrelli]

Congratulations on another good showing. Keep it up.

 

[Oleson M.D.]

Thank you! There were 1,267 entries, 3,800 bottles of beer, from 24 states.

My Imperial Stout was not thick enough, or heavy enough, even though it was at 10.4% ABV. A brewing friend told me it needs to be like 40 weight motor oil. That is what the judges are looking for.

One judge commented it was more like a strong porter, or a stout.

 

[GilSwillBasementBrews]

I’d be interested in the festbier or barley wine recipe if you’d care to share. Or any of those recipes for that matter. They all sound good.

 

[Oleson M.D.]

I’d be interested in the festbier or barley wine recipe if you’d care to share. Or any of those recipes for that matter. They all sound good.

Ok, stand by. I will publish these later today.

 

[lumbergh]

+1 for festbier

 

[monkeymath]

I'm not actually familiar with brewing competitions, but that does seem like a wonderful result. Congratulations!

I'd be most interested in the Schwarzbier and maybe the Vienna Lager (not that I'd ever had one). Thanks!

 

[Oleson M.D.]

Ok...here ya go:

Winter Warmer
English Barleywine
OG = 1.116
FG = 1.033
ABV = 10.44%
IBU = 52

5 gallons

20 lbs Ireks Pale Malt
3 lbs Ireks Vienna Malt
3 lbs Ireks Munich Malt
1 lb Ireks 40*
1 lb Briess 20*
1 lb Ireks 60*
1/2 lb Special B

2 Hour Boil
Hops = 4 oz Willamette 6.0% AA, full 120 minutes

Safale S-04 English Ale Yeast, 5th generation harvest

 

[Oleson M.D.]

Gelbgold
Festbier

OG = 1.059
FG = 1.030
ABV = 5.3%
10 gallons
16 lbs Weyermann Floor Malted Bohemian Pilsner
8 lbs Ireks Munich

3 step infusion mash:
120* 40 minutes
146* 40 minutes
160* 30 minutes

Mash out @ 170

90 minute boil

2.5 oz Mt. Hood Hops full 90 minutes

Diamond Lager Yeast - 6th generation
ferment @ 50 - 52F

 

[Oleson M.D.]

Dark Knight
Schwarzbier

OG = 1.055
FG = 1.015
ABV = 5.35%

10 gallons
14 lbs Weyermann Floor Malted Bohemian Pilsner
3 lbs 60* Crystal
1 lb Carabohemian
1/2 lb Briess Chocolate
4 lbs Ireks Munich Malt

3 step infusion mash:
113 30 minutes
146 15 minutes
158 15 minutes

60 minute boil

2.5 oz Willamette Hops - full 60 minutes

Diamond Lager Yeast - 2nd generation

Ferment @ 50-52F

 

[monkeymath]

Gelbgold
Festbier

OG = 1.059
FG = 1.030
ABV = 5.3%
10 gallons
16 lbs Weyermann Floor Malted Bohemian Pilsner
8 lbs Ireks Munich

3 step infusion mash:
120* 40 minutes
146* 40 minutes
160* 30 minutes

Mash out @ 170

90 minute boil

2.5 oz Mt. Hood Hops full 90 minutes

Diamond Lager Yeast - 6th generation
ferment @ 50 - 52F

Are you sure about those numbers? 50% attenuation seems awfully low.... ?

 

[Oleson M.D.]

Vienna Lager
10 gallons

OG - 1.057
IBU - 28
ABV - 4.94%

20 lbs Ireks Vienna Malt
2 lbs Weyermann Carared

18 gallons water, filtered
10 gallons - Mash
8 gallons - HLT

2 oz Mt. Hood Hops - FWH
2 oz Mt. Hood Hops - 20 minutes

75 minute boil

W-34/70 Yeast, 9th generation

Ferment temp - 54 F

 

[Oleson M.D.]

Are you sure about those numbers? 50% attenuation seems awfully low.... ?

My OG estimate was 1.060…forgot to take an actual reading.

Starting Brix - 14.7
Final Brix - 8.2

My numbers show 5.3% ABV.