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Munich Helles BierMunchers “Helles Belles” (Munich Helles, AG)

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Gonna brew this one tomorrow with halertau. Didn't find time to make a starter this week, made it this morning. Debating whether it's worth pitching since I usually decant. I made the starter with extra light DME, but this is a delicate beer. Should I pitch the whole 1L starter of WLP029 or save it for a brew Tues (when i can decant) and pitch nottingham?

EDIT: Problem solved; I forgot about my wheat pale fermented with WLP029 that I will transfer to secondary (dryhop) and pitch slurry. I usually dryhop right in the primary and toss yeast when i rack to the keg. My starter will be ready for a brew on Tuesday. I'm thinking altbier or a hoppy session...
 
I want to make this one soon. I like the idea of brewing it more like an ale since I've never prepped for lager temps before.

My question is I'd like to save a little money on buying another yeast strain. What do folks think about using WLP036 alt yeast for this one? I mean I know I'll get beer, but would this strain really take it out of the Helles range?
 
I was shocked at how dark this turned out compared to when I transferred it into the fermentor. I was also surprised at how hoppy the hydrometer sample was. Then it dawned on me that this was probably the IPA that I brewed the same day and I had labelled the fermentors wrong. If anyone has always wanted to know what this beer would taste like dry hopped with 1.5 oz of Centennial, I'll be able to tell you in a couple of days. I got it off the hops after 3 days. The hydrometer sample didn't seem to have too much hops presence, but until it's carb'ed I won't be able to give an accurate review.
 
Its my first time brewing a psuedo-lager. Do I need to do a diacetyl rest? Warm back up to room temp for a few days? Or can I keg after 2-3 weeks and lager? I'm fermenting at roughly 52degrees. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
Its my first time brewing a psuedo-lager. Do I need to do a diacetyl rest? Warm back up to room temp for a few days? Or can I keg after 2-3 weeks and lager? I'm fermenting at roughly 52degrees. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

What yeast are you using?
Would be a bit cold for an ale yeast.

thanks Kevin
 
If you are going to use the Kolsch yeast I would ferment it at about 60 deg f then transfer to a keg and and condition it for 2 to 3 weeks.

+1 - I just kegged 5 gallons of this last weekend, very tasty! The kolsch yeast performs well for this grain bill. I fermented this one in my basement which was about 59/60 ambient - Came out pretty clean with just a little bit of sulfur to it. After a week of cold conditioning it's starting to clear and the residual sulfur has pretty much faded. 1 more week and this beer will be as clean as a lager!
 
hey guys, im about to brew this recipe this weekend but a larger batch of it (250L or 66gal).
I have some issues though because scaling the recipe in Beersmith got the software to tell me I need 9 packages of WLP029 with a 4L starter each, meaning a total of 36L starters. that sounds alot to me..
The guy at the local store who sells ingredients to most microbreweries near Montreal said 4 packages with a 2L starter each should do but I dont know what to think..
Anyone who has brewed this recently with WLP029 can give me some advice?
Thanks!
 
hey guys, im about to brew this recipe this weekend but a larger batch of it (250L or 66gal).
I have some issues though because scaling the recipe in Beersmith got the software to tell me I need 9 packages of WLP029 with a 4L starter each, meaning a total of 36L starters. that sounds alot to me..
The guy at the local store who sells ingredients to most microbreweries near Montreal said 4 packages with a 2L starter each should do but I dont know what to think..
Anyone who has brewed this recently with WLP029 can give me some advice?
Thanks!

Never did a batch that big but I would do one pack to every 10 gallons with 2L starter each. Just my thoughts

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Are you using a stored starter? If so Mr Malty says you new a 21L starter with 14 vials. You could start with a 2L starter and 1 vial. Then step it to a 5L starter then to a 11L starter then to a 21L starter. That way you wouldn't spend $70+ on yeast alone. Just an FYI German brewing schools teach a 4 fold increase when you are propagating yeast.

What about dry yeast? Would be 17 packs.
 
Brewed 10 gallons of this yesterday. Split the batch into 5 fermenters. Pitch a slurry of 029 from a blonde into one and have it bubbling away @ 62 degrees. Got the other half in the 50 degree fermentation chamber with some WLP833. We'll see how the kolsch version compares to a lager version in a month or so.
 
Brewed 10 gallons of this today. Pitched Wyeast's Munich Lager going to give it about 12 hours to get going then move into the lager chamber at 48-52 degrees. I'm super excited!\
 
I just have to say thankyou BierMuncher for this awesome recipe. Brewed 5 gals for a crawfish boil and it was a big hit. I'm not usually a light beer drinker, but I loved this beer. Planning to brew again shortly...
 
So after 14 days at 50 degrees I did about four days at 68 for the dialectal rest. On Saturday I moved the beer to a secondary and stored in an empty fridge. I also tasted it and I have to admit I really want to drink this right now. Exactly what I'm looking for during the summer months. A nice light beer with flavor! Oh well.

I need five gallons in a month so I'll keg half and leave the other half in cold storage till Mid July.
 
Brewed 10 gallons of this yesterday. Split the batch into 5 fermenters. Pitch a slurry of 029 from a blonde into one and have it bubbling away @ 62 degrees. Got the other half in the 50 degree fermentation chamber with some WLP833. We'll see how the kolsch version compares to a lager version in a month or so.


Let us know how it turns out. The wl 833 is my favorite yeast for my lagers. It has a nice malty backbone that is perfect for a Helles.


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Brewed this yesterday. End up with a 1.043 OG. Used 1 tablet of whirlfloc for a 5 gallon batch and the hydrometer sample was frikkin clear. Can't wait to try this one!

helles.jpg
 
Made a double batch (two 6 gallon) and used WhiteLabs WPL029 German Ale/ Kolsch Yeast for the first 6 gallons which turned out great! The other half is still lagering with WHiteLabs WPL860 Munich Helles Yeast which I can't wait to try. Thanks for the recipe! The pic goes on my tap handle.

Helles Belles.jpg
 
i made this two weeks ago and its been sitting in primary for the full two weeks, going to rack it today into secondary, then keg it this weekend. I havent stopped craving Helles since this time last year when I spent 3 glorious nights in Munich. Hopefully this one comes close to it. This will be my 4th German style beer, and I've used BeerSmith to create a Munich water profile. When talking with the people in Munich, they claim that its the minerality of the water that makes the beer...lets hope so! Cheers! :mug:

HotlantaGuy
***HackerPschorr Weiss clone on tap/Helles Belles in Primary/Secondary/Graduation Ale in Secondary. Next up: HackerPschorr Weiss clone V2, Kolsch, Steveriski's RIS w/ bourbon barrel & vanilla beans
 
Just purchased the Tower of Power....and this will be my first brew with it!!

I'm also using WLP860 Munich Helles yeast and laggering.

Since I can step mash, any suggestions on temps/times?

Protein Rest: 122° F for 20 minutes
Beta Sacch’ Rest: 149° F for 30 minutes
Alpha Sacch’ Rest: 158 F for 30 minutes
Mashout: 170° F for 10 minutes


Does that look good?
 
Just kegged it.End up at a FG of 1.007. will put on gas in the basement until I have a free spot in the keezer.
 
I'm planning on a double brew day in a couple weeks - brewing this and an Oktoberfest. Would I have any negative effects if I followed the fermentation schedule of the Oktoberfest?

65 degrees - 1 week
60 degrees - 2 weeks
crash cool for 3 days @39
 
Just purchased the Tower of Power....and this will be my first brew with it!!

I'm also using WLP860 Munich Helles yeast and laggering.

Since I can step mash, any suggestions on temps/times?

Protein Rest: 122° F for 20 minutes
Beta Sacch’ Rest: 149° F for 30 minutes
Alpha Sacch’ Rest: 158 F for 30 minutes
Mashout: 170° F for 10 minutes


Does that look good?

If you aren't using floor malted or undermodified malts I would just go to a Beta Sacch rest for 40min then the Alpha for 20 min.
 
Thanks Crazy Irishman. I ended up keeping it simple. I mashed in at 154 for 90 minutes and a 10 minute 170 Mash-out. Hit ALL my numbers....very excited about this beer.
 
Thanks Crazy Irishman. I ended up keeping it simple. I mashed in at 154 for 90 minutes and a 10 minute 170 Mash-out. Hit ALL my numbers....very excited about this beer.

Sounds like it will be a good beer. I normally do my helles with the above mash schedule. But I just use Pilsner and a touch of melanioden malt.
 
48 hrs on the gas, taste is really good but the beer is cloudy, wonder if I should gelatin it or just let it go...
 
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