German beer

[Beer_belly]

Hey guys! I am looking to make a beer for my wife's 91 year old grandfather. We are all getting together as a family for Christmas and I told him I would have something for him. He enjoys a good, heavy German beer. Anyone from the Chicago area, he raves about the beers at Hofbrauhaus.

So here is the deal, I am looking for your best all-grain recipe to make a good German beer.

 

[ol-hazza]

I haven't brewed it yet, but have my eye on Biermunchers octoberfast ale.

 

[Yesfan]

I've only done two german beers, but I don't think you could go wrong with a typical Altbier. The last one I made was from Adventures in Homebrewing and it turned out pretty good. Still drinking from it.

 

[Mike_kever_kombi]

Not from Chicago, but Cleveland and we have hoffbrauhaus here also.

If he likes the yeast driven wheat beers bee caves hefe is a good choice, as it is close to hoffbraus.

If he likes the maltier beers, the. Cannot go wrong with oktoberfast, though it doesn't really taste like a hoffbrau brew, but it is still a damn fine beer.

 

[Yooper]

I'd suggest a Munich dunkel or other rich malty lager.

I remember the beers at Hofbrau house being almost all lagers, and nothing very malty (or special) except for their dunkel.

A dunkel is very easy- all Munich malt except for a tiny bit of carafa II debittered or some Sinamar (say, 5-6 ounces) for color. Mash at 154.

Ferment at 50 degrees using WLP833. Then, lager as long as possible.

That should give a wonderful authentic Munich dunkel.

If he likes lighter beers, you could do a pilsner if he likes them.