Festbier BierMuncher's OktoberFAST Ale (AG)

[DagoBrewer]

I just kegged this a couple days ago. It's been carbing in the keezer for 48 hours. Tasted a sample yesterday and it has more of an Apple-ish off flavor to it, so I think it's still pretty green (I hope). I brewed it on 9/18. OG was 1.055. FG was 1.028 which I was a little surprised by. I thought it would have been lower since it's been done with primary for a couple weeks. Fermented steady at 68F in a conical. Purged trub a couple times. Will keep it chilling for a couple weeks and taste along the way and hope for improved flavor profile. Certainly not a bad tasting beer, just has some maturing to do. Anyone else get that apple flavor at first?

I had a couple batches end around 1.020 as well. Seemed a bit green fur the first few days in the keg but treated great after about a week.

 

[DagoBrewer]

Tasted great*

 

[hio3791]

Finally got around to making this. Took the day off, made an 11 gal batch, followed the recipe exactly and got 1.055. I like these beers in late fall so I'm looking forward to it.

9 day fermentation, 2 day cold crash, kegged yesterday. FG was 1.020. Higher than I'm used to but I mashed at 156 and used S04. Nonetheless, hydro sample was fantastic. Looking forward to enjoying once carbonated. Planning on enjoying during trick or treat!

 

[u81doughboy]

Tapped the keg this evening and it's almost empty. Everyone gave it rave reviews, even the non beer drinkers. Thank you BierMuncher for the great recipe!

 

[woodmansee]

I've got a question about this one. I did 5 gallons on October 1st. Went a little heavy on the boil and I think my efficiency was higher than anticipated and ended up with ~4.5 gallons at an OG of 1.068. Fermented with 05 but it only got down to 1.020. Cold crashed it with gelatin and transferred to a keg last Sunday. Tried a couple samples since then and it is very sweet. Almost to the point of cloying. I think it's sweeter than any commercial example I've had this year at least. Just wondering if this is how this recipe is meant to taste or did I just not hit it quite right? I think I will enjoy it and I'm sure it will come together a little more as it ages but it just isn't quite the easy drinking beer I was hoping for. Albeit mine is definitely higher gravity than the recipe calls for

 

[bonecitybrewco]

I've got a question about this one. I did 5 gallons on October 1st. Went a little heavy on the boil and I think my efficiency was higher than anticipated and ended up with ~4.5 gallons at an OG of 1.068. Fermented with 05 but it only got down to 1.020. Cold crashed it with gelatin and transferred to a keg last Sunday. Tried a couple samples since then and it is very sweet. Almost to the point of cloying. I think it's sweeter than any commercial example I've had this year at least. Just wondering if this is how this recipe is meant to taste or did I just not hit it quite right? I think I will enjoy it and I'm sure it will come together a little more as it ages but it just isn't quite the easy drinking beer I was hoping for. Albeit mine is definitely higher gravity than the recipe calls for

Mine is about the same. 1.020 and OG of 1.060-65 ish. Give it some time to mature and it will develop.

 

[azdavid]

Mine was at 1.059 but I got down to 1.016. I felt just as you do very sweet. I bottled mine on 9/24/16 now a little over 4 weeks later it has matured and turned into a very balanced and quite enjoyable brew.
Just give it the time it deserves. You won't be disappointed.

 

[hio3791]

Tapped the keg last night. Beautiful copper color, carbonation is perfect with lasting head. Strong biscuit, bready, grainy flavors. Very malty and at 1.020, it's thicker than I'm used to. Hops balance the beer just enough so that they are unnoticed.

Glad I made 10 gal!

 

[bolus14]

Anybody think they get a good amount of caramel/toffee flavor or more towards breast/grainy?

 

[HawleyFarms]

Anybody think they get a good amount of caramel/toffee flavor or more towards breast/grainy?

I definitely didn't get a lot of bready/grainy flavor but I changed up the malt bill a little bit. Everyone who has tried it has told me they love how much caramel flavor it has.

 

[DagoBrewer]

Anybody think they get a good amount of caramel/toffee flavor or more towards breast/grainy?

Man im gettin both! I finished at 1.020 from 1.065 or so and it's got that super grain/biscuit nose and very caramely and sweet on the tounge! Im glad the co2 adds a bit if bitter zing to it tho, i think I'll mash lower next time i brew this. Maybe 152.

 

[hio3791]

View attachment 1478520863830.jpg

The malt profile of this beer is much more complex than Sam Adams Oktoberfest. The SA seems more one dimensional and the hops remind me too much of Miller Lite.

In a blind test, my wife picked and preferred my beer. That's good enough for me!

 

[HawleyFarms]

Well I have to say, my most recent version of this turned out amazing. Wasn't this exact recipe, but everyone that has tried it has decided it was my best beer ever. Keg is nearly kicked. Ended up with about 92% efficiency on this batch so I ended up fermenting a gallon of it on Kölsch yeast as well and, as soon as I get some more co2, we will be testing that version as well side by side the s04 batch.

 

[WhoDatDad78]

Brewed this in September 2016 for my 1st all grain. I have 9 bottles left. Not bad, I added too much crystal, pretty malty and sweet. What I learned: stay below the 10% mark with crystal malt.

View attachment 1484442729330.jpg

 

[smagic14]

Always a great brew! Thanks again for this recipe!

View attachment 1484453921352.jpg

 

[WhoDatDad78]

Always a great brew! Thanks again for this recipe!

Go Pack Go! Pulling for them today to get a W.

 

[wh7699]

Is the tempereture of Fermentation too high?
Did you put yeast out of the Fermenter When the Secondary Fermentation？Will the yeast dissolve?

 

[HawleyFarms]

Is the tempereture of Fermentation too high?
Did you put yeast out of the Fermenter When the Secondary Fermentation？Will the yeast dissolve?

??

 

[makisupapolice14]

Is there a preferred recipe for this beer for 5.5 gallons?

 

[jmcquesten]

Is there a preferred recipe for this beer for 5.5 gallons?

Just half the original recipe. I've done it.

 

[makisupapolice14]

Getting ready to do this soon. Has anyone tried safale k97 German ale yeast instead of so4? I know from experience k97 should be fermented a bit cooler and lagered for a
Few weeks to clear but it finishes nice and attenuates low. Wondering if I mashed a bit high if k97 would dry this beer out a tad more and give a bit more of a true German character. Thoughts?

 

[GurraG]

Making Oktoberfast with K-97 is on my shortlist. Will probably happen in the fall. I haven't made it with S04, so I won't be able to compare and contrast, but K-97 has worked fine for me in Kölschs and Alts. If you go ahead and brew the Oktoberfast with K-97, let us know how it turned out!

 

[z-bob]

I've used K-97 a few times, fermented in the upper 60's and then dropped-out with gelatin with no cold treatment. (If I don't use the gelatin, I get a ton of sediment in the bottles) The beer has a nice character and it's clear, but not sparkling clear like with other yeasts or a very long settling time. Nice dry finish even with very malty beers.

 

[liam_skeggs]

Hello,
My LHBS doesn't stock Aromatic malt. What would be a suitable replacement? I was thinking caramunich 1 but i would appreciate a second opinion.

Many Thanks

 

[peanasky]

Hello,
My LHBS doesn't stock Aromatic malt. What would be a suitable replacement? I was thinking caramunich 1 but i would appreciate a second opinion.

Many Thanks

If you can get your hands on Biscuit or Victory malt, that should get you close. Weyerman Melanoidin has also been listed as a replacement according to this chart: https://www.brewabbey.com/pages/grain-substitution-chart

 

[makisupapolice14]

Making Oktoberfast with K-97 is on my shortlist. Will probably happen in the fall. I haven't made it with S04, so I won't be able to compare and contrast, but K-97 has worked fine for me in Kölschs and Alts. If you go ahead and brew the Oktoberfast with K-97, let us know how it turned out!

Brewed this yesterday with k-97 and its chugging Away. I'll report back later on

 

[Riverevir]

I brewed a half batch of this as well. It was my first AG and I missed target OG. I had a bit too much sparge water so my gravity hit in at 1.045... with S04 krausen dropped out at some point under 36 hours. I was shocked but pulled a sample and it was at 1.014. There was a bit of activity in the airlock but only a burp or two. It might drop a bit more but won't get much further. Will report back/check back later too so I'm curious how yours goes

 

[Sheldon]

Spoke with the man and have everything set to go. Planning on brewing by mid month.

 

[elbinwyp]

Brewed a 10 gallon batch of this for the 2nd year in a row using Wyeast 1450 again. Dang, I forgot how good it is. Incredible recipe.

 

[dchmela]

I have based my Octoberfest off of this recipe and currently are using WLP 029 - Kolsch yeast. Chugging away in the fermenter as we speak. Comes out great every time.