Maggie Helles - Friday, June 3, 2022 - Conical

Conical

This is beer for the end of July. It will have a full month to ferment, but we won't be here for 16 or so days of that. After this I am using all of my C hops up and will decide what to brew after that. This is the last day I can brew this before we go camping. I might not have time to do a proper ramp down so I am leaving it for a month in the primary. It will be around 66F for 3 weeks. I read that no problems with it. We will see. If for some reason this beer turns out fine, I am going to brew this style most of the time. Use up my dry yeast and C hops and concentrate on this style as I like it the best. I changed my mind, Kolsch beers are what I am going to focus on for now on. I will have to get a water profile that is fool proof. I can't seem to nail one down so far.

The Mags

Ingredients

22 lbs. Barke Pils Malt

1 lb. Munich I

1 lb. Wheat

131 g Tettnanger at 60 min.

WLP860 Munich Helles

Water Profile -  4 Dog Brewery

CA - 21

S04 - 31

CI - 39

PH - 5.30

Mash and Boil

Eps - 2.7 g

CI - 2 g

Lactic Acid in Mash - 6.6 ml

Lactic Acid in Sparge - .3 ml

O.G. - 1.050

F.G. -  1.012

% -     5

SRM - 3.5

BU - 25

                                           Third step starter was made on May 28.

530 g of DME for a 5.5 L starter because of evaporation. This is a one off with no over build. Our well water had way too much iron in it because of the new well pump and work on the foot valve. I used Spring water from Costco so I hope it has enough minerals to do the job. The foam was there for a few hours and then went away. The bubbles are still there and are quite active, but looks funny with no foam. May look like I am brewing on Friday ( June 3 ) as I want to decant this when it has had 4 days to settle.

                                     Pitched WLP860 on Saturday, June 4 at 7 am. ( 11 C )

                                            FERMENTATION NOTES

Wort tasted fine. In the Conical at 11 am. Still got to clean up though.

Most of using the big system was fine as this was the first time this year. One or two things I forgot but not critical. It will be nice to have 4 cases of beer in July.

Day 1 - No activity.

Day 2 - Started some activity in the early morning. Slowly getting more active - 15 - 20 seconds

             between burps. 52 F.

Day 3 - Has picked up speed but just about perfect for a lager. Temp seems to be around 52-54F.

Day 4 - Same.

Day 5 - Same

Day 6 - Set fridge to 66 F and keeping it there until July 1st when we are back from camping.

             Temp says 64 F. I am not getting a lot of activity in this temp range. Nothing I can do

             as it isn't that warm in the basement. The thermometer says 68 F so maybe the strip

             isn't that accurate. It is getting warm in the next few days so it should go up to 65 - 66.

             That is all I need and wait until July 1st to sample it. The conical was still cool this

             morning at 6 am. If we were in the middle of July it would be over 66 F. I have to set 

             the fridge at 66 F before we leave. It is currently at 68 F. I set it for that also. See you

             in July Mr. Helles.

Day 7 - Same. 67 F. It does go from 1 degree C +-. No sample, just walking away.

Day 8 - Last day to post this. D rest is over. I never did smell ass though. No big deal as I am

             not brewing a lager for awhile to use up my other yeast I have in stock.

                                                  July 1st, Canada Day

Have to get the solar pipes on the roof done so I can start to do the rest outside and in the 

garage. Helles is 67 F and still in the conical. Will keg it soon. I am using gelatin with

these 2 kegs as I have lots of time for it to clear.

                                                            Kegged July 1st.

                                                            Gelatin July 9

No samples have been taken from the keg, it is too early. This was quite hazy so it will need a few more days to clear. I sure hope I didn't give it an infection from doing something stupid with the thermowell. What was I thinking? Today is July 16, one week under gelatin. Not usually enough time but I do have to transfer to other kegs within a day or two. May not be having company on the 22nd, but will make beer instead. If so, I will make beer on the 27th. I have a lot of beer making to do to make up for all of the beer I could not make due to being too busy.

                                                   Transferred to kegs on July 17

Not clear, okay, but should be very clear by this time. Filter next time. I was too busy to filter this batch and it is not getting any easier. Hope it clears in the kegs. Need C02. Not great beer. A slightly odd taste which must be the yeast as I have never used it before. I guess I should of went with 833 but this is a one off anyway. Funny that the taste drastically changes from flat to carbonated and you would never know it was the same beer. I do have time to filter the second keg, but will not do it. Other things I have to do instead. All of the reviews are positive about this yeast, so I guess it was just something I did or did not do. I did do a 3 step starter, but I have done that before with no problems. Oh well, try again next year.

 Checking the keg that has been on C02 for a day or so. I need to really carb this up and take it upstairs to the bar fridge so I can carb the other one and shut fridge No. 4 off. It is starting to clean up and taste like a Helles should taste. I should of brewed this in the spring and lagered it.

                                                             TASTING NOTES JULY 24

Still tasting funny but nothing I can do. I won't make another one until next spring and see how that one goes. I will go with dry yeast if I can find a reasonably priced sachet and move on to other styles that I like and are easier to brew. Like Storey Steamer. The first keg is getting that stale flavour which I have been battling for a year or so. I used the big system, so it is not related to Mr. Robobrew. No idea why. I need a sabbatical from drinking anyway, so letting it age. May be starting to come around as of the 26th, but that won't change me from brewing this again. I will be a German Pilsner before Xmas is here.

                                                   FINAL UPDATE

This is 40 days old in the keg now and it is clear and an acceptable lager. The odd malt taste has pretty well gone now and it is a clean lager. However, the Pils Malt taste is negligible along with the hops. As a 25 bu beer, where is it? That is why my next and maybe final lager after the new year will be a very hoppy lager. Age it in Beaus bottles for next summer. Kicked the keg on Aug. 10. It did taste good, but still had that slight odd taste but not as pronounced as a few weeks ago. One more lager next year and that may be it. I really want to make Kolsch beers but you have to use Kolsch yeast. I am still wondering why I used 6.6 ml of Lactic Acid in the Mash. My Pilsner in December of this year has none. Hmmm....