Beer and StuffBrewed a lager! Wasn’t really much to it, actually. 10.5 lbs of pilsner malt plus this hops schedule:
Other than that, just some yeast nutrient and whirlflock, and German lager yeast. The plan is to ferment at 52F for six weeks, then transfer to a carboy and lager for at least six, but up to ten weeks at 33F.
This beer has its own special fermentation freezer and controller setup.
Lately I haven’t been brewing that much, but yesterday a buddy and me did a big double batch brewday. We brewed two beers using Willamette hops, because I have a bag of Willamette leaf and I want to use it up to make space in the freezer. So here’s the first beer we brewed:
12 lbs Belgian Pilsner Malt
approximately 6 oz Willamette hops. 1.5 oz measured FWH, the rest approximated and added over a steady stir for the last 5 minutes of the boil, with a 10 minute hop stand.
Now last time I did petite saison smash I used 3711, this time I used T-58. The main reason for this was I had a pack of dry T-58 and didn’t feel like making a starter, and didn’t have any 3711 anyway, so the choice was easy. I’ve used T-58 a number of times now in my small experimental batches, and I’ve liked it. We’ll see how it performs on this batch.
Fermentation will be at 64F. I didn’t dry hop the last petite saison, so I might try it on this one, but then again I might not. We’ll see.
The other beer we brewed will be in another blog, with some pictures too! That beer is test run #1 of a clone of Texas Big Beer’s Working Stiff Ale. Much more on that to come!
Well this one will be sorta smash-like, in that I’m not using any specialty malts, just base malts. It’s going to have 6 lbs pilsner malt, 6 lbs golden promise, and 2 lbs Munich malt, 14 lbs total. That’s a little bit bigger than I usually make my beers, but hey, I’m experimenting, so I can do what I want!
Here’s what I planned to do with the hops:
0.5 oz magnum at 60
0.25 oz each magnum, bravo at 15
0.5 oz tettnanger at 15
0.25 oz each magnum, bravo at 10
0.5 oz tettnanger at 10
0.25 oz each magnum, bravo at 5
0.5 oz tettnanger at 5
0.5 oz each magnum, bravo at FO
2 oz tettnanger at FO
Here’s my thinking: I’ve seen some cases where other people have experimented with magnum hops NOT solely at the 60 minute mark, but as late additions, flameout additions, or even dry hopping.. None have had anything bad to say about their beers, so I figure I’ll step outside the box a little and try some magnum late in the boil. Now I’m also going with a little bravo, which I already know works fine at any stage of the boil. If you recall that far back, my Munich / Bravo SMaSH had half an ounce bravo early, 1 oz at 5 minutes, and two ounces at flameout, and that’s one of my favorite SMaSH beers I’ve ever made. Purely delicious. So to me, that’s a tried and true hop. It should offer support to the magnum, which is a little unknown, but I have no worries. Then I’m tossing in tettnanger, in approximately double-ish the amounts of the two higher AA hops. I really don’t know what I’m going to get out of this, but I bet it will be tasty! Well of course I think it will be tasty, or I wouldn’t bother making it!
Oh, and probably US-05 yeast.
In the near future I’m going to be brewing with some Irish Ale yeast, and some 3711. I think the 3711 will go with the next weird extract experimental two gallon batch I’m planning. Can’t wait to see how EXTRA DARK extract goes with 3711! Hey, the last one worked out great, so who knows!
Now also in the spirit of trying new things, if this one comes out really good, I may have to try a smash beer with all magnum. I know one guy who’s tried just such a beast, and it came out tasty beer. Who says you can’t use magnum late? Sure, it’s a great bittering hop, and I have no plans to take anything away from it in that respect. But is it being unfairly relegated to the background, when it deserves some time center stage?
Well let me just say this – if it’s generic, commonly spewed forth advice that seems regurgitated and taken for granted “just because,” then I’m willing to challenge that notion. I’m already challenging the standard advice with extracts, and now maybe even a little bit with magnum, and maybe a lot more with magnum soon. I encourage everyone to do the same, challenge the norms, try stuff that maybe doesn’t seem like the obvious thing to do.
And when it comes to giving out advice… Yeah, you can always say “sanitation is important,” and you’ll never be wrong. But if you say “don’t use amber extract, use light, then add specialty grains bla bla bla…” Have you actually TRIED amber or dark extract? Is this advice universal and unchanging, etched in stone from cradle to grave?
I say no. There are times when amber or dark extract will be perfect for the beer you intend to make. If that’s the case, just use them! Taint no big deal!! Now other times, it may be better to use light extract, and adjust the finer points of your beer with specialty grains. There’s no doubt that there are many times when this advice is also the best advice, so again, I’m not trying to take away from this approach. But there should be a reason why the light extract+steeping grains is superior in the particular instance at hand. Conversely, if amber (or even dark) extract is appropriate for the beer at hand, at least try it once.
I recently had an email exchange with a representative from Munton’s about their extracts. While he didn’t hand over the manufacturer’s specifications to me, he did indicate that the notion that extracts are “chock full of crystal malt” was simply not the case. If they were, then extracts would not have the versatility that they do. instead, they would consistently produce cloying, overly sweet, overly thick beer (just like if you put too much crystal malt in a beer! Imagine that!). And of course he believes that the quality of extracts (particularly Munton’s, lol) is very high, and the quality of beer you can make from extracts is also very high, including for the amber and dark or extra dark varieties. I tend to agree, at least so far. I know I’m brewing all grain now, but my extract brews were very tasty too. That’s part of why I keep experimenting with small extract batches.
So anyway, I’ve digressed into pointless rambling. I tend to do that sometimes. Make of it what you will, or just grab a beer and go watch reruns of your favorite TV show (as a means of ignoring my ramblings)*.
Anyway, I need a beer. Cheers!
*wouldn’t be the first time that happened, lol
EDIT: Brewed 11-23-13
Well, 4th time I brewed this one. Grain bill identical. Added a little extra hops this time, same kind of hops as last time (serebrianka), just for the heck of it. I was thinking “maybe a little hoppier, just a touch,” but didn’t want to make a “hoppy wheat” (I’ve not been too impressed with hoppy wheat beers, to be honest). Also, a touch more hops is good, but with the elderberries I don’t want to produce a huge clash of flavors. We’ll see what happens!
Also, mixed yeast this time, just for the heck of it (Bavarian wheat yeast mixed with US-05). Let’s see how this yeast combo goes with this grain and hops profile. I’ve never mixed yeasts before, and don’t really know what it will do, but… I don’t have any worries… it will be good!
As usual, 8oz of dried elderberries turned the wort nice and purple. It’s a really cool thing to have purple beer.
Beer and Stuff 