19 replies to this topic

[denny]

Do Oxygen Scavenging Chemicals Change Beer Character?

httpss://www.experimentalbrew.com/experiments/writeups/writeup-brewtan-or-do-oxygen-scavenging-chemicals-change-beer-character-updated

[positiveContact]

cool write up.  it certainly makes me wish I had time to try this experiment out myself but two mashes in a row would be tough to pull off.

[HVB]

cool write up.  it certainly makes me wish I had time to try this experiment out myself but two mashes in a row would be tough to pull off.

I would like to try it again with a different beer that is not as hop forward to see if there is a difference.  With the small system I can see doing 2-3g batches of helles or something like that and comparing.

[denny]

I would like to try it again with a different beer that is not as hop forward to see if there is a difference.  With the small system I can see doing 2-3g batches of helles or something like that and comparing.

 

As soon as I can I'm gonna do back to back batches for aging.

[positiveContact]

I would like to try it again with a different beer that is not as hop forward to see if there is a difference.  With the small system I can see doing 2-3g batches of helles or something like that and comparing.

 

yeah - I would think helles would be a good test case.  but if it helps maintain hop aroma/flavor like you saw that is also good information.

[denny]

I'll be testing with German pils....not really a helles fan.

 

This may be the most balanced article I've seen concerning oxygen and brewing.....mentions Brewtan https://immaculatebr...en-and-mashing/

[HVB]

I'll be testing with German pils....not really a helles fan.

 

This may be the most balanced article I've seen concerning oxygen and brewing.....mentions Brewtan https://immaculatebr...en-and-mashing/

Well, truthfully my Helles may not be a true Helles.  It does have late hops

[positiveContact]

Well, truthfully my Helles may not be a true Helles.  It does have late hops

 

[Big Nake]

Well, truthfully my Helles may not be a true Helles.  It does have late hops

Hopped-up Helles?

[denny]

Well, truthfully my Helles may not be a true Helles.  It does have late hops

 

My problem is that they usually don't have enough bitterness for me.

[HVB]

Hopped-up Helles?

Not really hopped up, just some at the end for a bit of flavor and aroma.

 

My problem is that they usually don't have enough bitterness for me.

I can see that.  Mine comes in just about 20.

[denny]

Not really hopped up, just some at the end for a bit of flavor and aroma.

 

I can see that.  Mine comes in just about 20.

 

So you wave a hop cone in front of the kettle and hope the shadow falls on it?    BTW, you were a topic of discussion on the podcast we recorded today.  Wait til you hear Drew try to pronounce your name!

[HVB]

So you wave a hop cone in front of the kettle and hope the shadow falls on it? BTW, you were a topic of discussion on the podcast we recorded today. Wait til you hear Drew try to pronounce your name!

Two pellets since I only do a 30 minute boil😊

I can't wait to hear it. I have heard a loooot of attempts... Some better than others!

[Big Nake]

Not really hopped up, just some at the end for a bit of flavor and aroma.
 
I can see that.  Mine comes in just about 20.

I know that hoppy-beer lovers bristle at Helles and I understand it. I have to say that when I taste a bland, yellow beer that is low on hops and has no real character from any of the ingredients, I get bored very quickly. That goes for just about any beer. But if you use some high-end pilsner malt (this Barke Pils has made some great beer here) along with fresh noble hops (despite only getting to 20-25 IBUs) and a good yeast (like 2124, this is important) and you do all the other stuff right with water, additions, pH, etc., a helles is one of my favorite styles. I like the balance. I like the character I'm getting from the yeast. When I went to Costa Rica, I found that the big beer there is called Imperial. It's really watery and very fizzy. The hops are low (as you would expect) and there is no real yeast character. Think of the most bland, soulless lager yeast... that's what they use. Then I bumped into another beer there called Pilsen. It had a little more color and possibly more hops but it was still a tropical gold lager. But I swear I could identify 2124 or a similar Czech/German-style lager yeast and it made a world of difference. When my wife tried them side-by-side, she was amazed. She said, "Wow, the Pilsen is MUCH better" so that's what I looked for every time I wanted a beer.

[neddles]

I know that hoppy-beer lovers bristle at Helles and I understand it. I have to say that when I taste a bland, yellow beer that is low on hops and has no real character from any of the ingredients, I get bored very quickly. That goes for just about any beer. But if you use some high-end pilsner malt (this Barke Pils has made some great beer here) along with fresh noble hops (despite only getting to 20-25 IBUs) and a good yeast (like 2124, this is important) and you do all the other stuff right with water, additions, pH, etc., a helles is one of my favorite styles. I like the balance. I like the character I'm getting from the yeast. When I went to Costa Rica, I found that the big beer there is called Imperial. It's really watery and very fizzy. The hops are low (as you would expect) and there is no real yeast character. Think of the most bland, soulless lager yeast... that's what they use. Then I bumped into another beer there called Pilsen. It had a little more color and possibly more hops but it was still a tropical gold lager. But I swear I could identify 2124 or a similar Czech/German-style lager yeast and it made a world of difference. When my wife tried them side-by-side, she was amazed. She said, "Wow, the Pilsen is MUCH better" so that's what I looked for every time I wanted a beer.

A beer you might know... New Glarus Totally Naked. Light, malt driven, very low on hop flavor and bitterness. Flavorful and tasty. Not go-to beer for me but in the right context its just right.

[HVB]

I know that hoppy-beer lovers bristle at Helles and I understand it. I have to say that when I taste a bland, yellow beer that is low on hops and has no real character from any of the ingredients, I get bored very quickly. That goes for just about any beer. But if you use some high-end pilsner malt (this Barke Pils has made some great beer here) along with fresh noble hops (despite only getting to 20-25 IBUs) and a good yeast (like 2124, this is important) and you do all the other stuff right with water, additions, pH, etc., a helles is one of my favorite styles. I like the balance. I like the character I'm getting from the yeast. When I went to Costa Rica, I found that the big beer there is called Imperial. It's really watery and very fizzy. The hops are low (as you would expect) and there is no real yeast character. Think of the most bland, soulless lager yeast... that's what they use. Then I bumped into another beer there called Pilsen. It had a little more color and possibly more hops but it was still a tropical gold lager. But I swear I could identify 2124 or a similar Czech/German-style lager yeast and it made a world of difference. When my wife tried them side-by-side, she was amazed. She said, "Wow, the Pilsen is MUCH better" so that's what I looked for every time I wanted a beer.

Hop guy here who still loves a good lager! My Helles has 14g of Hallertau at 10 so nothing crazy.

Heck, I have 3 lagers on tap at the moment.

Edited by drez77, 20 April 2017 - 03:12 PM.

[Big Nake]

A beer you might know... New Glarus Totally Naked. Light, malt driven, very low on hop flavor and bitterness. Flavorful and tasty. Not go-to beer for me but in the right context its just right.

Yes, I know it well. For me, I have to be in the mood for it because it's just mildly low on flavor to me. Like it could be made with Rahr 2-row for it's base or something. I don't know that but there is something slightly bland about it but that said... every time I come up to your neck of the woods I buy some of it. It's great when it's hot out.
 

Hop guy here who still loves a good lager! My Helles has 14g of Hallertau at 10 so nothing crazy.

Heck, I have 3 lagers on tap at the moment.

For awhile there was such a backlash against lagers as if lagers had to be 15 IBUs and 4 SRM. I have probably embraced lagers as much as any brewer (okay, most brewers) mainly because I love lager yeast character. But I'm a huge fan of ales too so since we have all of these options... why not take advantage of them all?

EDIT: I just checked my bar fridge... I have 3 bottles of Totally Naked in there.

[HVB]

Bringing this one from the dead.  I read this article on MSG and though the company sounded familiar.  Sure enough they are the same ones that make brewtan B.  So .. MSG beer anyone?

 

https://www.cnn.com/...-cmd/index.html

[positiveContact]

Meaty beer flavor?

[HVB]

The next trend!  Get on it early!!