Millbrook Helles - July 29, 2015.

15 gallons

MAGGIE

24 lbs. Best Maltz Pilsen
113.40 g Hallertauer - 2.7% AA - 60 min.
28.35 g Tettnanger - 4.40% AA - 60 min.
WLP 940 Mexican Lager
75/25 RO/CITY

I changed the recipe a bit. My Munich 6 L is getting old and I want to see what this Pils will taste without it. We are in the middle of a real heat spell here. 33 C. I hope to get a good quick start to the mash and get the boil going by 7 am.


O.G. - 1.050
F.G. - 1.012
% -    5
SRM - 3.3
BU - 25

TAX FREE BEER TASTES BETTER

The air lock keeps sucking back the star San. I switched to a blowoff hose and am seeing no bubbles. I checked and there is a thick layer of krausen on top. WTF? Don't know why there was no activity with a blow off hose, but changed to an airlock and it seems fine now. Good activity for a lager. No sure if I'm going to do a diacetyl rest. If so, do it soon. Today is day 10 or so. Not today. Still going good. Turned fridge off on Aug 12. Set it at 19 on Aug 13. Will let it finish then lower it slowly until it reaches 50 F. Drop yeast before kegging and or there is no activity in air lock.

                                                   DONE

Lowering the temp 2 C a day until it gets around 5 -7 C. The old fridge has trouble getting it lower. Will keg it along with Sire Kolsch on Aug. 24. Bland beer. Not a lot of Pils malt taste as I want. It must be the yeast, but when the stores don't have the yeast I want, well go with yeast number 2. Still, I got 8 cases of beer :) No lager issues so far.

                                                  KEGGED ON AUGUST 24

Clearing up well. A nice Pils malt taste, but too light for me. I realize it is the yeast as my usual yeast was unavailable. However, if 833 is unavailable again, I will go with another yeast but not 940. I think I will carb this up and toss it in the pub room to age. Replace it with a better one if it comes along. I am undecided if I want to continue using Munich malt in this recipe. This is pretty good though, and the Munich malt will be out of date this winter...

                                                      FINAL UPDATE

It is day 38 after kegging and I have to say it has a very unique taste which I haven't tasted in my Pilsners ever. Of course, I changed the recipe a bit. It has a fresh, oven baked bread taste which I rarely if ever get in store bought Pilsners. Even the German ones don't have this taste. I just may stop using the Munich malt in all future Helles style beers and go with this recipe. I will brew this recipe until the new year and go from there. I still have 2/3 of a pail of Munich malt left, so we will see. I changed my mind with the Munich malt. It will be in all recipes because it brings a nice low malt taste to these style of beers whether an ale or lager.