German Pils Gavin's Glorious German Pilsner

[jekeane]

Did a 10g batch today everything seemed to go well and numbers were hit.

Splitting the batch between a fresh WLP800 starter and WLP940 slurry from an international amber.

The batch with the Mexican Lager slurry is going to get .5 to 1 pound of Cascade Blood orange and tangerine candy sugar a few days into fermentation. I found it on sale and it sounded interesting.

nice pile of Saaz and Hallertau:

Obligatory HBT sideways picture...

 

[hio3791]

Planning to make a 10g batch in the next week. I don't have melanoiden malt but I do have aromatic malt. From what I've gathered, they are interchangeable.

But I'm curious, at 1.4% of it, how much of it does it impart in this recipe?

 

[jekeane]

Planning to make a 10g batch in the next week. I don't have melanoiden malt but I do have aromatic malt. From what I've gathered, they are interchangeable.

But I'm curious, at 1.4% of it, how much of it does it impart in this recipe?

Melanoiden mimics the mouthfeel and flavor of the decoction process to a degree.

Aromatic is similar but with more of an emphasis on aroma.

Im nt entirely sure that they are a 1 for 1 substitute in this recipe but I think you would be ok doing that.

 

[Gavin C]

Planning to make a 10g batch in the next week. I don't have melanoiden malt but I do have aromatic malt. From what I've gathered, they are interchangeable.

But I'm curious, at 1.4% of it, how much of it does it impart in this recipe?

Probably not a whole lot. Pilsner is typically 100% Pils in many cases. There is not a whole lot to a Pils recipe. It's more in the tweaks and process that can perhaps make one better.

I've brewed this recipe with and without the Melanoiden malt. I used a decoction mash when I went without and used a different yeast and hop so I have no clue what difference if any were attributable to the deletion of Melanoiden.

Leave it out completely or sub in what you have. It will be a different Pils but probably a very delicious one nonetheless.

The hop combination of Saaz and Hallertau is one I keep coming back to. The WLP833 in the recipe is a good choice. Probably my favorite. In the grand scheme of things the melanoiden malt use or its omission is small potatoes.

 

[hio3791]

Thanks Jekeane and Galvin. I knew melanoiden is used to emulate the flavor and mouth feel of decoction but my question was specifically to the amount used in the recipe, it just seems small but maybe that's all is needed. Your palate might be more sophisticated than mine too!

I might go with half a pound of aromatic in 10g. I've used aromatic before and it does impact quite a bit of aroma and flavor.

Thanks!

 

[Gavin C]

Thanks Jekeane and Galvin. I knew melanoiden is used to emulate the flavor and mouth feel of decoction but my question was specifically to the amount used in the recipe, it just seems small but maybe that's all is needed. Your palate might be more sophisticated than mine too!

I might go with half a pound of aromatic in 10g. I've used aromatic before and it does impact quite a bit of aroma and flavor.

Thanks!

No worries hio. Sounds like an interesting idea. The only beer I've used aromatic malt in was my Alt. I reckon 8oz in a 10g batch o' Pils will be pretty subtle. Could work quite nicely to bring something new to the Pils-table.

Best of luck with your brew.

 

[Kaze]

Thanks for the detailed recipe, I'm going to try this one for sure. If I'm using 100% RO water, would 1/2 tsp of calcium chloride per 5 gallons be enough minerals? Should I add anything else? I'm a noob trying to wade through the "Brewing Water Chemistry Primer" thread.

 

[hio3791]

Just finished making a 10g batch. Ended at 1.052. Looking forward to enjoying in a few weeks.

And just started a second 10g batch of Centennial Blonde Ale. Back to back batches baby! Taking advantage of the cool temps and cold ground water which speeds up chilling.

Building the pipeline in time for summer!

 

[oscarjets]

If I were to use 34/70 dry lager yeast for my 5.5 gallon batch would two packages (11.5 grams each) be sufficient?

 

[TheHopfather]

If I were to use 34/70 dry lager yeast for my 5.5 gallon batch would two packages (11.5 grams each) be sufficient?

34/70 is a beast. After reading the Brulosophy fermentation temp experiments with this strain I was inspired to play around with it myself. I've now brewed 2 pilsners with this yeast fermented at 19C (66F) using 2 packets each. Both came out perfectly.

I've actually got this exact recipe going into a keg tonight. I used 1 packet of 34/70 fermented at 15.5C (60F) for this one to see how it turns out. The sample out of the hydrometer was delicious so I've got pretty high hopes for it.

Tl:dr - 2 packets of 34/70 is lots. I have a sneaking suspicion that 1 packet would be enough.

 

[oscarjets]

Thanks, I was getting caught up with these yeast calculators (which I have never used before) that were telling me I needed roughly 5 packages. That didn't seem right at all.

 

[sikkingj]

The yeast calculators are over stated. I've used a single vial of 1+ year old yeast in a yeast starter with a store plate and had fully attenuated beers (fully fermented). I think 5-pacers must be good for 20+ gallons of beer.

 

[Kaze]

Thanks for the detailed recipe, I'm going to try this one for sure. If I'm using 100% RO water, would 1/2 tsp of calcium chloride per 5 gallons be enough minerals? Should I add anything else? I'm a noob trying to wade through the "Brewing Water Chemistry Primer" thread.

Answered my own question. About 1.3 tsp (6.5g) of gypsum got the water profile pretty close when using 8 gallons RO water full volume mash. Got it even closer with some more tweaking.


.

 

[DaveDiedDancing]

This is a fantastic recipe. I brewed it as it's written in the OP and lagered it 3 weeks at 34 degrees. It's really incredible. I will be brewing this again. Not the best pic, but I wanted to share. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1498167252.531453.jpg

 

[Gavin C]

This is a fantastic recipe. I brewed it as it's written in the OP and lagered it 3 weeks at 34 degrees. It's really incredible. I will be brewing this again. Not the best pic, but I wanted to share. View attachment 405135

Beautiful looking cold beer there. Thanks for sharing. Cheers.

 

[meridianomrebel]

This turned out very tasty! Only been in the keg for 3 days, but had to go ahead and try one.

 

[Gavin C]

Feeling very thirsty all of a sudden.

 

[sunbeam]

Fermenting some now

 

[sunbeam]

Had a few bumps in the road on this batch, not much experience with lagers. Left the brewpot valve open at beginning of sparging losing the first quart or two of wort. Made it up with 2/3 # dme.(doh!) Using dry yeast, hope it's as beautiful as some of the other examples on this thread. 12 more days at 53` and then lagering. I'll report back in a month or so!

 

[DaveDiedDancing]

Sunbeam my guess is it will turn out great. If you pitched enough healthy yeast and are following a fermentation schedule I would rest easy. I just brewed another one myself on 8/19. This is such a great beer. Cheers!

 

[EtchyLives]

Finally got around to brewing this, and it is my first lager. Hit all the efficiency numbers and my mash temp started a little high at 152°. Yeast is 24 hours in and not showing much activity, but I'm not sure what activity will look like so I'm staying ambivalent and trying not to worry too much. If it still looks flat by tomorrow morning I'll post a picture for more experienced eyes to diagnose.

The wort smelled divine, even before the hops, and I agree that the hallertau/saaz combo has great promise.

edit: Good news. Came home from work for lunch and I see that the head is forming in the fermenter. All is going to plan, now. Fermentation Chamber is right at 48° and the wort looks gorgeous.

 

[DaveDiedDancing]

Sounds awesome. My understanding is that lager yeasts often do not look like they are doing much but are actually fermenting just fine. I'm drinking my latest one now. I replaced the Saaz with Tettnang this time.

 

[Gavin C]

Sounds awesome. My understanding is that lager yeasts often do not look like they are doing much but are actually fermenting just fine. I'm drinking my latest one now. I replaced the Saaz with Tettnang this time.

 

[sunbeam]

Just tapped mine, very good indeed.

View attachment 1506682023391.jpg

 

[DaveDiedDancing]

Looks tremendous.

Thank you! Your recipe has become a staple in my house.

 

[DaveDiedDancing]

Looks tremendous.

Thank you! Your recipe has become a staple food n my house.

 

[EtchyLives]

Gavin,

I just kegged this beer and pulled off a gravity/taste sample. I ended up using 830 (no 833 at the LHBS when I was initially buying ingredients) and it still came out spot on for gravity. The taste sample I pulled from the bottom of the fermenter had some floaties in it but the rest of the beer was super clear. Flavor profile is spot on (even warm and uncarbonated) from what you said and what I expect from a German Pilsner. If all goes well once it is kegged I will submit this to a local competition or two and let you know how it turns out. Also, pretty pictures to come this weekend once it's properly carbed up.

 

[jekeane]

I have brewed this again both times I added 2-4oz of carapils and used only Cz Saaz as I had a pound of it.

First batch I used the OP water profile and got a Gold as a German Pils

Second batch I went with a little softer water with the idea that I would enter it both as a German Pils and Czech Pale that batch earned a Gold and Silver as a German pils as well as a Silver and a 39 2nd round push as a Czech.

Probably won't enter the beer anymore but sure will brew it again!

I have used the Hessian Pils yeast from the yeast bay and WLP 940 for this with great results.

 

[Konadog]

I just brewed this over the weekend, was a little low on all my # as I usually am with all my brews, and finally figured out why. I have been making a little over 6 gallons instead of 5.5. I hate it when my measurements are off!

My first time at laggering also, so it's a learning brew

 

[Konadog]

Since you guys keep posting "after glow" porn, here's a little "forplay" porn