Czech Lager and Kellerbier Brewday

Czech Pale Lager
Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 7.54 gal
Post Boil Volume: 5.89 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.25 gal  
Bottling Volume: 4.85 gal
Estimated OG: 1.044 SG
Estimated Color: 4.3 SRM
Estimated IBU: 29.5 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 77.5 %
Boil Time: 90 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt                   Name                                     Type          #        %/IBU        
5.25 gal              Boston, MA                               Water         1        -            
5.00 g                Calcium Chloride (Mash 60.0 mins)        Water Agent   2        -            
7 lbs 8.0 oz          Pilsner (2 Row) Ger (2.0 SRM)            Grain         3        86.9 %       
7.0 oz                Caravienne Malt (22.0 SRM)               Grain         4        5.1 %        
6.0 oz                Wheat Malt, Ger (2.0 SRM)                Grain         5        4.3 %        
5.0 oz                Acid Malt (3.0 SRM)                      Grain         6        3.6 %        
0.50 oz               Magnum [12.00 %] - Boil 40.0 min         Hop           7        20.6 IBUs    
1.00 oz               Saaz [2.80 %] - Boil 10.0 min            Hop           8        4.0 IBUs     
1.00 oz               Saaz [2.80 %] - Boil 5.0 min             Hop           9        2.2 IBUs     
1.00 oz               Saaz [2.80 %] - Steep/Whirlpool  15.0 mi Hop           10       2.7 IBUs     
2.0 pkg               Saflager Lager (DCL/Fermentis #W-34/70)  Yeast         11       -            


Mash Schedule: 154F, Batch Sparge, Mash Out
Total Grain Weight: 8 lbs 10.0 oz
----------------------------
Name                    Description                                          Step Temperat Step Time    
Mash Step               Add 13.78 qt of water at 168.2 F                     156.0 F       45 min       
Mash Step               Decoct 3.67 qt of mash and boil it                   168.0 F       10 min       

Sparge: Batch sparge with 2 steps (Drain mash tun , 5.87gal) of 168.0 F water
Notes:
------
http://byo.com/stories/issue/item/3244-czech-pale-lager-style-profile
5 g calcium chloride (CaCl2) to the mash
3 g CaCl2 to the sparge water.

Created with BeerSmith 2 - http://www.beersmith.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kellerbier
Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 7.26 gal
Post Boil Volume: 6.51 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.50 gal  
Bottling Volume: 5.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.050 SG
Estimated Color: 4.9 SRM
Estimated IBU: 32.7 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 81.8 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt                   Name                                     Type          #        %/IBU        
5.50 gal              Boston, MA                               Water         1        -            
5.00 g                Calcium Chloride (Mash 60.0 mins)        Water Agent   2        -            
6 lbs                 Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM)                    Grain         3        56.5 %       
4 lbs                 Pilsen (BestMälz) (1.5 SRM)              Grain         4        37.6 %       
6.0 oz                Melanoiden Malt (20.0 SRM)               Grain         5        3.5 %        
4.0 oz                Acid Malt (3.0 SRM)                      Grain         6        2.4 %        
1.00 oz               Mandarina Bavaria [9.20 %] - Boil 15.0 m Hop           7        14.8 IBUs    
1.00 oz               Mandarina Bavaria [9.20 %] - Boil 10.0 m Hop           8        10.8 IBUs    
1.00 oz               Mandarina Bavaria [9.20 %] - Boil 5.0 mi Hop           9        5.9 IBUs     
1.00 oz               Mandarina Bavaria [9.20 %] - Boil 1.0 mi Hop           10       1.3 IBUs     
2.0 pkg               Southern German Lager (White Labs #WLP83 Yeast         11       -            


Mash Schedule: 152F, Mash Out, Batch Sparge
Total Grain Weight: 10 lbs 10.0 oz
----------------------------
Name                    Description                                          Step Temperat Step Time    
Mash Step               Add 14.28 qt of water at 165.0 F                     152.0 F       60 min       
Mash Step               Add 8.50 qt of water at 200.0 F                      168.0 F       10 min       

Sparge: Batch sparge with 2 steps (Drain mash tun , 3.09gal) of 168.0 F water
Notes:
------


Created with BeerSmith 2 - http://www.beersmith.com
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Starter for the Kellerbier made 1 week earlier, fermented and cooled to 45F.

Brewed 1/13/17
Czech Lager: Got 1.046 OG, pretty good. Force cooled to 60F, then in fridge to cool to 45F. Pitched 2 packets of rehydrated yeast after oxygenating 30 seconds. Fermentation seemed slow to start - perhaps expected due to the cool pitching temp. Got only about 5 gal into the bucket, a little less than hoped.

Kellerbier: Got 1.054 OG. Cooled to 45F, racked, oxygenated 75 seconds, pitched decanted starter. Fermentation was visibly starting by 36 hours after pitching.

Brewday went fairly well, except that the cold and dry weather resulted in greater boil off than expected, so less volume of wort into the fermentor. At racking, both worts were very clear and only minimal trub made it into the fermenting vessels.

Fermentation on the Kellerbier was much quicker to take off and appeared more vigorous than that of the Czech Lager. Plus the temp in my basement maxed out at around 60F, so the diacetyl rest was only at around 58F for a few days. Perhaps I could have let it rest there a bit longer. In any case, as of Feb. 2, the diacetyl rest, such as it was, had been done, and fermentation appeared complete.

Crash cooled to 33F for 2 days, then on Feb 4 racked both beers to keg and began force carbing at 12PSI. For the Czech Lager, was careful to rack clear wort, without picking up much yeast / trub. Allowed some into the Kellerbier, as may be appropriate for the style.

Czech Lager: 1.011 FG. Sample tasted OK but maybe a hint of green apple.
Kellerbier: 1.013 FG. Sample tasted kind of fruity hoppy. I did use a lot of aroma and flavor hops for this one.

Both beers tasted a bit "green".

Czech PIls Review

Appearance: Golden straw body, almost crystal clear but with very low haze. Was hoping for clearer appearance in my lagers. Billowing white head, good bubbling.

Aroma: Grainy pils aroma, light earthy notes. Some sweetness, maybe a tiny bit of a sulfury note.

Taste: Typical pils malt taste with slight sweetness in the middle. Fairly crisp finish with decent bitterness. Low hop flavor. Smooth. Don't get any yeast flavors. Clean, refreshing but not super dry.

Mouthfeel: Moderate body, moderately crisp finish, moderate carbonation.

Would brew again. Very good, but probably not quite as good as my first Czech light lager.

Czech Lager 2016

Rebrew of previously brewed Czech Lager.

Result: Very similar to last time, but this time the result is slightly drier, and less rounded maltiness. Didn't do decoction this time. Still a wonderful beer as it is quite tasty but not highly alcoholic. Highly sessionable. Next time, use decoction.

BeerSmith 2 Recipe Printout - http://www.beersmith.com
Recipe: Czech Pale Lager 2016
Style: Czech Pale Lager
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 7.54 gal
Post Boil Volume: 5.89 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.25 gal  
Bottling Volume: 4.85 gal
Estimated OG: 1.044 SG
Estimated Color: 4.3 SRM
Estimated IBU: 36.4 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 77.5 %
Boil Time: 90 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt                   Name                                     Type          #        %/IBU        
5.25 gal              Boston, MA                               Water         1        -            
7 lbs 8.0 oz          Pilsner (2 Row) Ger (2.0 SRM)            Grain         2        86.9 %       
7.0 oz                Caravienne Malt (22.0 SRM)               Grain         3        5.1 %        
6.0 oz                Wheat Malt, Ger (2.0 SRM)                Grain         4        4.3 %        
5.0 oz                Acid Malt (3.0 SRM)                      Grain         5        3.6 %        
0.50 oz               Magnum [11.00 %] - First Wort 60.0 min   Hop           6        23.7 IBUs    
1.00 oz               Tettnang [3.90 %] - Boil 15.0 min        Hop           7        7.6 IBUs     
0.50 oz               Saaz [2.80 %] - Boil 10.0 min            Hop           8        2.0 IBUs     
0.50 oz               Saaz [2.80 %] - Boil 5.0 min             Hop           9        1.1 IBUs     
1.00 oz               Saaz [2.80 %] - Steep/Whirlpool  10.0 mi Hop           10       2.0 IBUs     
1.0 pkg               Saflager Lager (DCL/Fermentis #W-34/70)  Yeast         11       -            


Mash Schedule: 154F, Batch Sparge, Mash Out
Total Grain Weight: 8 lbs 10.0 oz
----------------------------
Name                    Description                                          Step Temperat Step Time    
Mash Step               Add 13.78 qt of water at 168.2 F                     156.0 F       45 min       

Sparge: Batch sparge with 2 steps (Drain mash tun , 5.87gal) of 180 F water
Notes:
------
http://byo.com/stories/issue/item/3244-czech-pale-lager-style-profile
5 g calcium chloride (CaCl2) to the mash
3 g CaCl2 to the sparge water.

Created with BeerSmith 2 - http://www.beersmith.com
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Czech Pale Lager Reivew

Appearance: Persistent and fluffy white head. Straw gold body. Not quite crystal clear but close. I probably disturbed some sludge from the bottom of the keg while transporting it from the lager fridge to the keg-o-rator.

Aroma: I get a crisp, earthy and spicy Noble hop aroma. Pilsner malt aroma contributes nicely with a sweet and grainy character.

Taste: Very nicely balanced between hoppy taste and malt. Like the nose the hoppy quality is crisp, earthy and spicy. The malt quality is a little bit bready like the crust or so. Sweetness is low but there.

Mouthfeel: Surprisingly full for such a low ABV beer. Carbonation is moderate and contributes to the crisp / dry aftertaste. The aftertaste has a spicy hop quality and maybe a slightly mineral note.

Overall: I'm very happy with this one. It's flavorful, hoppy and well balanced between malty and hoppy. Very drinkable. Similar to my Helles but lower ABV and more balanced between the malt and hops. My wife said that it tastes like Krombacher or Warsteiner from her native Germany.

At some point I should do a side-by side with Notch Session Pils to see if it tastes like an "real" example of the style.

Czech Pale Lager

After hearing about this style on the Beersmith podcast recently, seeing that it was added to the BJCP guidelines, and wanting to brew a session strength beer for my next lager, I decided to brew a Czech Pale Lager (Style 3A). I saw this article on Brew Your Own magazine, which provided the recipe for this beer. Note that I used the "false decoction" method - my first ever decoction mash. Pretty sure I didn't quite do it right, but not surprised about that since it's my first attempt.

Recipe: Czech Pale Lager
Style: Bohemian Pilsner
TYPE: All Grain

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 7.53 gal
Post Boil Volume: 5.88 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.25 gal  
Bottling Volume: 4.85 gal
Estimated OG: 1.044 SG
Estimated Color: 4.3 SRM
Estimated IBU: 38.1 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 77.5 %
Boil Time: 90 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt                   Name                                     Type          #        %/IBU        
5.25 gal              Boston, MA                               Water         1        -            
7 lbs 8.0 oz          Pilsner (2 Row) Ger (2.0 SRM)            Grain         2        86.9 %       
7.0 oz                Caravienne Malt (22.0 SRM)               Grain         3        5.1 %        
6.0 oz                Wheat Malt, Ger (2.0 SRM)                Grain         4        4.3 %        
5.0 oz                Acid Malt (3.0 SRM)                      Grain         5        3.6 %    

0.25 oz               Magnum [12.20 %] - First Wort 60.0 min   Hop           6        13.1 IBUs    
0.75 oz               Tettnang [4.50 %] - Boil 30.0 min        Hop           7        10.2 IBUs    
1.00 oz               Tettnang [4.50 %] - Boil 10.0 min        Hop           8        6.4 IBUs     
0.30 oz               Magnum [12.20 %] - Boil 10.0 min         Hop           9        5.2 IBUs     
1.00 oz               Tettnang [4.50 %] - Steep/Whirlpool  10. Hop           10       3.2 IBUs
   
1.0 pkg               Saflager Lager (DCL/Fermentis #W-34/70)  Yeast         11       -            


Mash Schedule: 154F, Batch Sparge, Mash Out
Total Grain Weight: 8 lbs 10.0 oz
----------------------------
Name                    Description                                          Step Temperat Step Time    
Mash Step               Add 13.78 qt of water at 168.2 F                     156.0 F       45 min       
Mash Step               Decoct 3.67 qt of mash and boil it                   168.0 F       10 min       

Sparge: Batch sparge with 2 steps (Drain mash tun , 5.87gal) of 168.0 F water
Notes:
------
http://byo.com/stories/issue/item/3244-czech-pale-lager-style-profile
5 g calcium chloride (CaCl2) to the mash
3 g CaCl2 to the sparge water.

Brewed on 11/1/15
Mashed in as usual, and hit my goal temp of 156F. After mashing for 40 minutes, pulled a thick decoction of approximately .8 gallons. I used a soup ladle to do so, and then drained some of the liquid out using a colander.

Put the decoction in my 5gal kettle, on gentle heat, and raised to a boil, stirring very frequently. Didn't check the temp of the main mash during this time. Boiled the decoction for 15 minutes.

The decoction definitely boiled off some liquid, and caused the grain husks to become a little more fractured, giving the mash a mushy texture. Also it seemed to get a little bit darker.

Immediately after the decoction boil.

After boiling the decoction, returned it to the main mash. Somehow, even after 5 minutes of rise time, the main mash was still only in the 160F range. Perhaps the main mash lost significant heat during the decoction?

Waited 15more minutes, then recirculated, added first wort hops. Added 2.5 gal of sparge water at 170F, waited 10 minutes, the collected batch 1. Repeated, collecting ~7.5 gallons of pre-boil wort.

I did notice a few dark-looking grain husks in the mash. Perhaps I got a little bit of scorching or darkening in the decoction. 

Pre-boil OG was 1.035, post-boil was1.045. Right on the projected numbers, but above the numbers in the BYO article.

Cooled to 80F, racked to carboy, and placed in freezer to get to 45F pitching temps.

Ack! The starter was getting a bit slushy with ice.... Not sure if / how much yeast survived. Anyway I just swirled it around to loosen things up, decanted, then pitched. We'll see if it works or if I get a nasty batch of infected crap. I would really hate for that to happen!

11/3/15 - Rumors of yeast's death were greatly exaggerated. Fermentation is apparently proceeding apace.


11/17/15 - Began diacetyl rest after 2 weeks of fermenting at 50F. After 3 days of rest, the beer will cool to 35F over 48 hours, then will enter a lager period of 3 weeks.

11/18/15 - Racked to keg and began force carbonation. Careful not to rack any of the sludge at the bottom of the carboy into the keg. Remaining lagering time will occur in the keg. Gravity was 1.016, for ~ 3.8% ABV. The sample was already tasting pretty good but did taste a little "green"