Brewing Master

Question:

I will be bottling my very first ale on Wednesday, and am considering making a lager for my next batch. I have access to a spare refrigerator, but I am looking for a few good recipes to get started. Does anyone have some they would be glad to share. Keep them simple as I am a beginning brewer. I am hoping to make a good moderately hoppy German style lager. Any other information that will assist in making this first attempt successful would be appreciated. TIA STEVE Success is a personal experience.

Response:

I will be bottling my very first ale on Wednesday, and am considering making a lager for my next batch. I have access to a spare refrigerator, but I am looking for a few good recipes to get started. Does anyone have some they would be glad to share. Keep them simple as I am a beginning brewer. I am hoping to make a good moderately hoppy German style lager.

Lager recipies are exquisitly simple: a base of the highest quality Pilsner malt and specialty malts ranging from a few percent to half or more of the total grist depending on the type of lager being brewed. For a German Pils 90-95% Pilsner malt and 5-10% caramel malt with enough Hallertau or Saaz to get to around 40 IBU (moderate to my taste) will do as a starting point. The bear with lager brewing is the process. You must buy and read Greg Noonan’s "Brewing Lager Beer" or some other book or books or have a long session with an experienced lager brewer. If by "beginning brewer" you mean you are just starting out with kits put the lager project on hold for a while and enjoy your ales while you aquire the knowledge and equipment (refrigeration is essential) you need to do lagers. AJ

Response:

I will be bottling my very first ale on Wednesday, and am considering making a lager for my next batch. I have access to a spare refrigerator, but I am looking for a few good recipes to get started. Does anyone have some they would be glad to share. Keep them simple as I am a beginning brewer. I am hoping to make a good moderately hoppy German style lager. Any other information that will assist in making this first attempt successful would be appreciated. TIA STEVE Success is a personal experience.

If you’re a beginner and you want to make a lager you must be pretty ambitious. If you must use malt extract stick with dry, and at least use a good starter culture (2 quarts) of a decent (liquid) lager yeast, otherwise you might be a little disappointed with the results. If you want more details, email me.     Tracy

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