Newbie question, Munich Helles

[rcd]

Howdy, I'm pretty new to brewing, but I recently brewed my first ale, an autumn amber ale and it came out pretty well. I've still got a lot to learn and am sticking with extract w/specialty grains for a while. I am curious about how recipes work, however...

I particularly enjoyed the Munich Helles lagers, but I don't care to try to make lagers just yet. I was wondering, what would happen if you used all the normal ingredients for a Helles style lager, but swapped the lager yeast with an ale yeast (maybe a california ale yeast or a german ale yeast from whitelabs or something)? Would you just have a weird crappy ale or would it technically "be" something?

Trying to get an idea of how each ingredient affects what type of beer you have. Thanks for any advice.

 

[BootYtRappeR]

you can try the german ale/kolsch yeast from white labs, that's what I ended up using for my munich dunkel!

 

[Brewsmith]

You'd get close to what you're looking for. Using the CA Common yeast or a Kolsch style yeast is a great substitute for a lager. I used the White Labs "San Francisco Lager" yeast in my doppelbock. Tastes great.

 

[mysterio]

I agree, using the yeast strains mentioned and keeping your fermenter as cool as you can get it and you'll have a pretty good approximation.

 

[Brewpastor]

Why not simple make a Kolsch?

Something like:

7.5 # pale malt extract
3/4 ounces of Perle hop pellets (25 IBUs)
liquid Kolsch yeast

 

[sirsloop]

check this site out...


www.tastybrew.com

it has a recipe calculator that approximates what will happen when you add/change ingredients in beers.

Where this really comes in handy is when you try a particular beer that you made, and wonder what flavors you liked, and want more of. If you would like it a tad bit sweeter, maybe add a tad bit less bittering hops or boil for less time. Dont think its alcoholic enough... how much more of X do you need to add to get it to where you want it. Just really nice to help you figure out the IBU and ABV of what you are gonna end up with...

 

[Exo]

I agree with mysterio. Find a low-temp loving ale yeast and drop the temps down. A water bath with a wet t-shirt/towel around your carboy should drop the temp a few degrees. You might not get the clarity, but the taste should get nearer your target.

Check out the O'fest ale in my sig.

 

[Jaybird]

EXO
say wet t-shirt again LOL LOL
JJ

 

[Exo]

Ok...Wet t-shirt:

ROFLMFAO!!!!

 

[Mikey]

I was wondering, what would happen if you used all the normal ingredients for a Helles style lager, but swapped the lager yeast with an ale yeast (maybe a california ale yeast or a german ale yeast from whitelabs or something)? Would you just have a weird crappy ale or would it technically "be" something?

It wouldn't be weird or crappy at all, nor would it be a Helles. It would make a nice light pale ale. Nothing wrong with that.