Modern American Pilsner

[Common]

So I got to thinking about nice crisp lagers and pilsners. Haven't had a pils I've liked yet. I hear Prima Pils is good, but it still uses a lot of Euro hops apparently. Has no one done a full on American hop pils, with the intense citrus hops? I feel like it could be great, but maybe not.

My SummerWheat has an almost identical hop schedule, and I am sampling it now and it's great. Nice and refreshing. Nice hop character, but not too much.

Now, I have never brewed a lager, and have much to research before I jump in. Somehow my basement gets real cold in the summer. Down to 55. I was going to build a fermentation chamber (I need to at some point), but I only need to drop it a few degrees right? Or should I try to get it as close to 50* as possible? Would it be fine at 55 without any esters/off flavors?

I got 2 packs of Wyeast American Lager. I plan to make a 3L starter.

Is a step-mash really that important in lagers? If so, why exactly?

Is a month of fermentation typical? Would 6 weeks in primary be fine (assuming it's done by 4 weeks) then bring to what, 65 or so for a day or 2, then keg?

Sorry for all the questions, but I appreciate any help.


Recipe: O'Daniel's Modern American Pilsner
Brewer: O'Daniel
Asst Brewer:
Style: Classic American Pilsner
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (35.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 5.00 gal
Boil Size: 6.41 gal
Estimated OG: 1.053 SG
Estimated Color: 3.7 SRM
Estimated IBU: 32.2 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 75.00 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
8 lbs Pale Malt (6 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 80.00 %
2 lbs Corn, Flaked (1.3 SRM) Grain 20.00 %
0.50 oz Centennial [10.00 %] (20 min) Hops 10.9 IBU
0.50 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] (15 min) Hops 11.6 IBU
0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (10 min) Hops 5.5 IBU
0.50 oz Citra [12.00 %] (5 min) Hops 4.3 IBU
0.25 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs American Lager (Wyeast Labs #2035) Yeast-Lager


Mash Schedule: My Mash
Total Grain Weight: 10.00 lb
----------------------------
My Mash
Step Time Name Description Step Temp
90 min Step Add 15.00 qt of water at 160.9 F 148.0 F

[snowymountainman]

ODaniel,

Aside from the obvious goof up of using Citra (that shit fucks up beer yo), the recipe looks a lot like the one we make here. I would love to try it that way but I brew this stuff for the BMC crowd and they really don't like any grapefruit notes in their beer. My one friend even calls the hoppy-ness in my pale ale "Citrus shit". I love your hop bill though. Please tell us how it turns out!

I use a single step infusion mash and for these recipe's where you are looking for a lighter beer, shoot for a 148-152 mash temp.

As for fermentation temperatures, I shoot for 52-54 for mine. I'm using S-23 dry yeast though. Your's may recommend a lower temp. Go with what it says and I'm sure you'll be fine.

Fermentation schedule for me looks like 3-4 weeks at 52-54, and then slowly bring it up to 60-65. I let that sit for a day and then cold crash it to 35 degrees (a week at this temp) if I want to clear it up (using polyclear). If I'm running low on beer, I'll just keg it after I've let it come up to 60-65 and add the polyclear to the kegs, and stuff it in the fridge, which sits at 35 degrees. Either way works fine and at the rate that it gets consumed, there appears to be little or no difference between the techniques.

Hope this helps.

[Common]

Thanks man. Hardcore BMC people can kiss my ass. However, most everyone loves the KY Common, and even the SummerWheat. I'm hoping this goes over well too. As long as I like it, that's all that matters.

As for Citra.... YOU TAKE THAT BACK! I haven't brewed an all Citra beer, but I use it in all my hoppy beers. 3 Floyds has an all citra Zombie Dust that is fucking amazing.

[Milf Man]

Sorry OD but I am going to have to agree with the mountain man on this one.

Citra + Pilsner = Nastiness

If I were offering advise, and I am, I would bitter with Magnum or some other clean bittering hop to 20 IBU then add something with a light citrus flavor at 30 and 5, Cascade for instance if you want an all American hop flavor that has citrus notes.

Pilsner is supposed to be about the grain, not the hop. With an OG of 1.053, this isnt that big of a beer. I would be more concerned that you were losing the essential character of the style with that big of a hop bill.

But hey, you are free to do anything you like and my opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it.

Like you, I am going to try an American style beer soon. I have one more 20 gallon brew day of ales until I go for a Mexican and a "Bud Style" beer. BMC FTW.

Let me know if you actually brew this, I'm curious to see how it turns out.

Cheers,

MILF Man

[Common]

Has anyone actually used Citra in a Pils (serious question)? Also I don't see why it would be any different than the other hops I chose. I'm not going for style here at all by the way. I am wanting a crisp "American Pilsner" with a nice citrus hop character, but not overwhelming. Pils seem to be the most hop oriented of the lighter style lagers going by the BJCP guidelines. Judging by my SummerWheat, which has a very light grain bill and American Ale yeast, I feel like this could be good. I appreciate the input, just clarifying some things. Keep it coming! I definitely plan to brew this or something very similar, at least for curiosities sake at the very least.

[salad 419]

Brew that shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What's the worst that could happen???

[PseudoChef]

I like it. Brooklyn Lager is a moderately hoppy beer, and it definitely works.

[snowymountainman]

First....my citra comment was completely in jest! I still laugh about the Oflan post (Fuck Citra) (http://www.homebrewchatter.com/board/showthread.php?t=12742&highlight=citra+hops) about Citra. I have never used it, I own 6 oz of it in anticipation of using it, and I think that it's a great hop when used right.

I would love to come up with a recipe for using it in a lighter bodied beer. I'm a hophead and the gnarlier the hop aroma, the better. Add a bit of that to something my beer-noob friends can drink and I would be happy!

And as far as style goes....who gives a shit!! I want it to taste good and I couldn't give a fuck less about anything else! Soldier on ODaniel, make the beer and let us know how it turns out.

[Common]

Brew that shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What's the worst that could happen???

I'm hoping awesomeness is the worst that could happen.


First....my citra comment was completely in jest! I still laugh about the Oflan post (Fuck Citra) (http://www.homebrewchatter.com/board/showthread.php?t=12742&highlight=citra+hops) about Citra. I have never used it, I own 6 oz of it in anticipation of using it, and I think that it's a great hop when used right.

I would love to come up with a recipe for using it in a lighter bodied beer. I'm a hophead and the gnarlier the hop aroma, the better. Add a bit of that to something my beer-noob friends can drink and I would be happy!

And as far as style goes....who gives a shit!! I want it to taste good and I couldn't give a fuck less about anything else! Soldier on ODaniel, make the beer and let us know how it turns out.

Hah yea I've heard some people say Citra is no good, but I disagree very much.

I guess I will be brewing this next week or the week after. Hope it's good!

[-Dan-]

I like it. Brooklyn Lager is a moderately hoppy beer, and it definitely works.

Did I miss something or since when does BL have Citra in it? Just checking as I wasn't aware of it. Also, BL is more amber rather than just a very light Pils

[PseudoChef]

Did I miss something or since when does BL have Citra in it? Just checking as I wasn't aware of it. Also, BL is more amber rather than just a very light Pils

'Twas just giving an example of a hoppy lager - never said it had Citra in it (it does have a bunch of Cascade, I'm pretty sure). But yeah, it's more an amber lager and not a pils.

[Common]

I had Victory Prima Pils over the weekend in SC. Very nice summer beer. I am very confident in my beer now, well, the concept at least, hah. We'll see how it goes. I'll probably make a starter soon, then brew it in a week or 2. Will post results.