Oconto Beer

[chrisedjohn]

My grandfather grew up in near the old Oconto Brewery and was reminiscing with me this past Christmas about him drinking this beer when he was younger. I have been home brewing for a while and would love to brew a batch of this for a gift for him. Has anyone here tasted that beer? If so, could you please email me your suggestion for a grain bill, hop schedule, yeast type, and fermentation temperature? When he described it, and from searching for it, all I could decern is that it’s a light larger and it had a “bitter” taste (25-35 IBU’s I’m guessing). I also believe I saw somewhere on a search that it came in around 3.5% abv. I would really appreciate any guidance you could give me so I reproduce this beer for him.

Thanks much!

 

[Short Drive]

I found this.

 

[chefmike]

I would email or call the brewer at rail house brewery and see if he would give oyu some insight... he may have access to a recipe that he tweaked for his version. Hopefully he will help oyu make your beer for gramps!

 

[mrpilsner]

My grandfather grew up in near the old Oconto Brewery and was reminiscing with me this past Christmas about him drinking this beer when he was younger. I have been home brewing for a while and would love to brew a batch of this for a gift for him. Has anyone here tasted that beer? If so, could you please email me your suggestion for a grain bill, hop schedule, yeast type, and fermentation temperature? When he described it, and from searching for it, all I could decern is that it’s a light larger and it had a “bitter” taste (25-35 IBU’s I’m guessing). I also believe I saw somewhere on a search that it came in around 3.5% abv. I would really appreciate any guidance you could give me so I reproduce this beer for him.

Thanks much!

chrisedjohn,

I stumbled on your Oconto Beer request and ended up joining the forum!

I, too, had a grandfather who drank Oconto Beer. It was the first beer I ever tasted and the only beer I tasted until I was a teenager. Grandpa passed away the same year Oconto Brewing left us, so I am an old guy now!

Did you ever find any info on the beer recipe? I'd love to replicate it.

My recollection, and this is old (yet vivid) memory, is a light beer, malty, crisp and with a white head that regularly came up out of an opened bottle. I was allowed, as a youngster, to sip those bubbles and that is the flavor I'd like to capture.

I grew up in Chicago and drank a LOT of Old Style and I'd like to think they were similar brews....

Have you learned anything? I know your post is from some time ago. I tried the responses' links but they're shot.....

Anyway, hope you're well and hope we can both locate an Oconto recipe. You're my first "pal" on this forum.

tom/mrpilsner

 

[chrisedjohn]

Hi Tom. Sorry I haven't responded sooner. I was hoping to find an old email/letter/notes from contacting the brewer at the rail house. I do remember getting some info from him that I'll do my best to divulge, and I'll still keep my eyes out for it, but in the meantime:

• OG of around 1.042
• Essentially all 2-row base malt with a small amount of carafoam
• They used their own lager yeast stain I believe

I hope that helps!