Need a spring beer

[jtupper]

M looking to brew something AG in the next two weeks for this spring. I was thinking a lager. Maybe a kolsh helles or a maibock. What is everyone else brewing?

 

[Jebu1788]

Don't have the stuff for lagers, but if I did, I'd be considering a SN Glissade clone. Or go slightly out of season and go for a Celebrator-esque doppelbock.

 

[blizzard]

helles. i love bikini blonde lager by maui brewing co.

 

[michaeltrego]

I'm planning to brew a Maibock the last week of Dec. Just had an Einbecker Mai-Ur-Bock as part of my research! Isn't this the best hobby in the world?

 

[jtupper]

So it's seems maibock or helles. So who's got a tried and true close to style recipe out there. I'm new to this style as I've only done one lager. Any help?

 

[michaeltrego]

So it's seems maibock or helles. So who's got a tried and true close to style recipe out there. I'm new to this style as I've only done one lager. Any help?

This will be my first Maibock, but here is my goal, which is a hybrid based on Richman/Noonan/Kai/Jamil. The cara malts are just to use up some leftovers, and the sauer to adjust pH.

Batch Size (Gal): 10.00
Anticipated OG: 1.070
Anticipated SRM: 7.6
Anticipated IBU: 25.0
Brewhouse Efficiency: 75 %
Wort Boil Time: 90 Minutes

% Amount Name
--------------------------------------------------
64.2 16.00 lbs. Best Malz Pilsen Malt
32.1 8.00 lbs. Best Malz Munich Dark Malt
1.0 0.25 lbs. Weyermann CaraFoam
1.0 0.25 lbs. Weyermann CaraMunich I
1.0 0.25 lbs. Weyermann CaraRed
0.8 0.19 lbs. Acidulated-Sauer Malt

Amount Name Form Alpha IBU Boil Time
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.75 oz. Magnum - U.S. Pellet 12.10 20.3 60 min.
0.75 oz. Hallertauer Mittelfruh Pellet 3.80 3.3 30 min.
0.75 oz. Czech Saaz Pellet 3.20 1.4 15 min.

Water

50 Ca
5 Mg
5 Na
17 SO4
23 Cl
125 Bicarbonate
3.1 Cations
3.1 Anions
146 Hardness
103 Alkalinity
65 RA
0.7 SO4/Cl Ratio

 

[lowtones84]

Maibock would be good, or perhaps the right kind of saison/ biere de garde (biere de mars or "March beer"). Just offering a couple of different options, not that Maibock or helles are bad choices. Good luck!

 

[runningweird]

I am considering doing a munich lager for early spring late winter. I have almost a whole bag of munich to play with and some noble hops - plus my ferm chamber is set for ales right now - when those are done I will do a few lagers for spring.

 

[944play]

This will be my first Maibock, but here is my goal, which is a hybrid based on Richman/Noonan/Kai/Jamil.

Recipe looks killer, albeit with the conspicuous absence of yeast.

OP, you might want to brew up a small batch of Helles or Pilsner to get a pitch of yeast going. I'm partial to 2308 for its results, speed, and ease of use. You have plenty of time, and the extra beer is just gravy!

 

[michaeltrego]

Recipe looks killer, albeit with the conspicuous absence of yeast.

Thanks man - I am thinking a gargantuan starter of WLP830...

 

[944play]

I've always gotten diacetyl from that strain, but apparently a majority of craft lager brewers don't have my bad luck/technique.

 

[michaeltrego]

I've always gotten diacetyl from that strain, but apparently a majority of craft lager brewers don't have my bad luck/technique.

Interesting....do you use WLP833 instead?

 

[944play]

2308, which the Whites sell as WLP838. It pleases me.

 

[jtupper]

S what your saying is start like a 1.5 gallon just straight pils with a similar hop sched and ferment out. Then use that as my starter. Decant carb and repitch on the cake for the 6 gallon helles? I lik that line if thought. 7-8 gallon of beer, a huge starter, and more brewing!

 

[944play]

A couple of times, I've done a 4 gallon lager with 2 packs of liquid yeast direct pitched as a starter for a line of lagers, which worked well. My current pitch of 2308 was a single pack into 1L then 4L starters, then a full 5 gallon batch of Pilsner. I rinsed that cake and pitched about half into my current batch.