Rauchbier

[christo]

Rauch

Very nice traditional rauchbier that's not over-the-top smoke but still the main attraction. Great with pulled pork and roasted vegetables or chili. Got a 43.7 in our recent comp.

Brewer: Christo
Beer: Rauch
Style: Bamberg Rauchbier
Type: All grain
Size: 5 gallons
Color: 29 HCU (~15 SRM)
Bitterness: 21 IBU
OG: 1.058
FG: 1.012
Alcohol: 5.9% v/v (4.6% w/w)
Water: Savannah tap (Munich like)

Grain:
3 lb. Weyermann Smoked Malt
4 lb. German Vienna
1 lb. German Munich
.5 lb. Belgian aromatic
.5 lb. Belgian CaraMunich
2 oz. Roasted barley

Mash: 88% efficiency
150F for 90 minutes. Ended with a much higher efficiency than the planned 75%, so the OG was higher (planned 1.052).

Boil: 70 minutes SG 1.047 6.1 gallons
IM at 15 min.

Hops:
.75 oz. Hallertauer (4.1% AA, 60 min.)
.75 oz. Hallertauer (4.1% AA, 30 min.)

Yeast: 34/70 - from BoPils yeast cake

Log: primary 48F for 3 weeks.
Secondary 46F for 5 weeks.

Carbonation: Medium carbonation.

Tasting: Toasty melanoidan and sweet caramel malt notes back up the bacon-smoke flavor and aroma. Hops are subdued in flavor and aroma but the bitterness balances with the smoke to keep the malt in check, leading to a nice drying finish but still sweet tinged. Medium body with creamy carbonation. Beautiful light brown with garnet highlights. A real pleasure to sip and a real convesation starter with friends.

Tried this side-by-side with Schlenkerla, which is much smokier/phenolic to the point of not liking plus much more of an apple and fruity note. Mine is just a cleaner, less in-your-face profile that I and the others in the blind tasting concurred. Color, body, and carbonation were almost identical.

[salad 419]

Mash: 88% efficiency
150F for 90 minutes. Ended with a much higher efficiency than the planned 75%, so the OG was higher (planned 1.052).

I find it funny that you still design recipes for 75% when you keep hitting 88%.

Looks like a good recipe. I may take a stab at this one next fall.

[christo]

I find it funny that you still design recipes for 75% when you keep hitting 88%.

Looks like a good recipe. I may take a stab at this one next fall.

I know, I know. Call me the ultimate pessimist. Hey, I used to keep 70% as a default.
This way though I'm always pleasantly surprised with extra beer (or alcohol)!