German Pilsner
  • morsmors
    Posts: 231
    So I'm brewing a German Pilsner on Sunday. I decided to first wort hop it just for giggles. Hoping it will bring some nice hop flavors and smooth bitterness to the table. Here's the recipe I am using:

    11lbs German Pils (BestMalz)
    1oz Hallertauer 4.3% first wort
    0.75oz Perle 5.6% at 60
    0.5 Hallertauer 4.3% at 15
    0.5 Hallertauer 4.3% at 1
    WLP830
    BJCP A0936 National Beer Judge and Mead Judge
    Cicerone Certified Beer Server
    AHA Member
    CRAFT Homebrew Club
    Sons of Liberty Homebrew Club
    HBT "mors"
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,656
    looks good. how long do you expect to lager for?
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • ceanntceannt
    Posts: 53,828
    Sounds like a good plan. Are you going to do a decoction mash?
    Never attribute to malice, that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 121,590
    ceannt said:

    Sounds like a good plan. Are you going to do a decoction mash?



    I was going to ask that when I saw the grain bill is 100% pils. I think a decoction would give the beer some needed depth.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 121,590
    Other thoughts:

    I would do the last addition at flame out. Not a big deal, but I feel flameout provides a crisper finish than a 1min which would benefit a pils.

    I didn't run the numbers so I'm not exactly sure where your final IBU came out but my gut says the 60 addition could be cut back a tad. I'll try to run the recipe and check style guide tonight sometime... I may come back and say this post was total BS.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • ceanntceannt
    Posts: 53,828
    Lakewood said:

    ceannt said:

    Sounds like a good plan. Are you going to do a decoction mash?



    I was going to ask that when I saw the grain bill is 100% pils. I think a decoction would give the beer some needed depth.


    Yeah.... I think a decoction mash should always be used in a true Pilsner...

    Never attribute to malice, that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 121,590
    You can sort of cheat your way around it with a touch of carastan and maybe even a dab of special b, but a real bjcp master will make you wish you didn't.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • morsmors
    Posts: 231
    Yeah as it stands it's about 40 IBU's with 18 of those coming from the first wort hops. Not doing a decoction mash for this one. I love decoction mashes and the flavors they generate. I know the style was traditionally decocted but as the style stands today I find it not really necessary. Now it I was doing a darker lager I would most likely.

    I will be doing a beta sacch rest at 147 for 50 mins and a alpha sacch rest at 158 for 40 mins.
    BJCP A0936 National Beer Judge and Mead Judge
    Cicerone Certified Beer Server
    AHA Member
    CRAFT Homebrew Club
    Sons of Liberty Homebrew Club
    HBT "mors"
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 121,590
    Mash profile sounds right if you're skipping decoction, I would throw a couple oz of carastan in there, not much maybe 4 oz. Wont seem like anything but it will add a little complexity.

    The 40IBU is really at the top of the end of German Pilsener. But being FWH it's probably going to put you right where you want to be. I would be shooting for about 35IBU though FWIW.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • ceanntceannt
    Posts: 53,828
    You might want to boil your first runnings for a little too.... just long enough for it to break, say ten minutes. Gives a little of the same affects as a decoction, not as much, but a bit.
    Never attribute to malice, that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.
  • morsmors
    Posts: 231
    Well there were def some melanoidin reactions occurring during the step mash. I have not built my herms tank yet so the temps are raised via direct firing while stirring and recirculating with the pump. Not the ideal situation but w/e. In this particular case boiling the first runnings would have defeated the purpose of my first wort hops.
    BJCP A0936 National Beer Judge and Mead Judge
    Cicerone Certified Beer Server
    AHA Member
    CRAFT Homebrew Club
    Sons of Liberty Homebrew Club
    HBT "mors"
  • morsmors
    Posts: 231
    test
    BJCP A0936 National Beer Judge and Mead Judge
    Cicerone Certified Beer Server
    AHA Member
    CRAFT Homebrew Club
    Sons of Liberty Homebrew Club
    HBT "mors"
  • ceanntceannt
    Posts: 53,828
    mors said:

    Well there were def some melanoidin reactions occurring during the step mash. I have not built my herms tank yet so the temps are raised via direct firing while stirring and recirculating with the pump. Not the ideal situation but w/e. In this particular case boiling the first runnings would have defeated the purpose of my first wort hops.



    Forgot about the FWH ..... oops. Yeah, that would put a damper on things.
    Never attribute to malice, that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 121,590
    mors said:

    test



    I see you've been effected by the "issue" I'm working on it.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • morsmors
    Posts: 231
    yeah I've found I can only post in IE...and only if I do a preview first and sacrifice a goat and 2 llamas to the right button God.
    BJCP A0936 National Beer Judge and Mead Judge
    Cicerone Certified Beer Server
    AHA Member
    CRAFT Homebrew Club
    Sons of Liberty Homebrew Club
    HBT "mors"
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,656
    mors said:

    yeah I've found I can only post in IE



    ewww.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • ceanntceannt
    Posts: 53,828
    so @mors
    How did this turn out?
    Never attribute to malice, that which can adequately be explained by stupidity.
Add a Comment