17 replies to this topic

[CarlosM]

hey so my future FIL really digs a beer from the Philippines. its a basic pilsner from San Miguel. Any idea how I could do a super basic partial mash/ extract for it? I dont really want to bust out the AG (but would) for stuff for something like this. Thoughts?

 

https://www.beeradvo...ofile/355/5366/

[Bklmt2000]

Carlos, this might be a place to start: https://www.homebrew...-recipe.556686/

[Big Nake]

Even though beers like this are a dime a dozen, these are some of trickiest beers to make because everyone expects them to be clean and clear and refreshing, etc. and any flaws will show. Let me know if you want to make it extract + specialties or all-grain and I'll whip up a recipe and also give you some water direction since we both use the same water and I have made a number of light, pale lagers with our Lake Michigan water. You'll want to be careful with pH as well.

[CarlosM]

Even though beers like this are a dime a dozen, these are some of trickiest beers to make because everyone expects them to be clean and clear and refreshing, etc. and any flaws will show. Let me know if you want to make it extract + specialties or all-grain and I'll whip up a recipe and also give you some water direction since we both use the same water and I have made a number of light, pale lagers with our Lake Michigan water. You'll want to be careful with pH as well.

for sure. Ill be doing this as a stove top boil so doing an extract sounds great. 

[Big Nake]

Okay, let me noodle with it. One issue is that people will enjoy a certain beer like this based on the yeast that's used... there will be some intangible character given to the beer based on the yeast and I don't know what yeast San Miguel would use. I would just be guessing by using a extra-light DME, possibly some brewer's corn syrup (seems reasonable) or maybe rice syrup because it's from the Philippines, mild hops to bitter and then probably a small, late addition and maybe a very neutral lager yeast like 1007 or something. I'll try to post a recipe later today. If it's extract then you can worry less about the water and throw pH out the window.

[CarlosM]

Haha. I love the man but it's like I can hide behind my hops and malt with some small errors lol.

[Big Nake]

This is an assignment that is fraught with peril because there are so many of these pale lagers around the world and there are so many variables. The idea that you could make something that had the character that your future FIL likes in San Miguel is very unlikely. I think you could make a good, pale lager but the subtle nuances are what will be hard to reproduce. So here is a very straightforward extract recipe for what I would consider a right-down-the-middle light lager.



You might consider using 25% distilled water to lower the bicarb level and to give the beer a smoother character. You may also consider adding 2 or maybe 2.5g of calcium chloride to the water also to create that soft, smooth, rounded character.

I would steep the carapils for 30 minutes at 150°, remove the grain bag and add the DME and rice syrup (which could be found at homebrew supply places but also possibly at a market that carried Asian ingredients) and bring it to a boil Try to do a full-volume boil... the beer will be smoother. Add the bittering hops, just do a 30-minute boil and then add the late hops with five minutes left. I'm inclined to suggest S-189 on the yeast because it's dry (easy to use) and it's got a bit of a European character but it doesn't scream GERMAN or CZECH... it's just a good, all-around dry lager yeast with a nice character. 34/70 is another option although its character is more robust and recognizable. The San Miguel site says it's 5% and this recipe will get you there. The site also says that the beer is a little "smoky" and finishes with a hint of licorice which sounds repulsive and I have no idea if it's true. I believe San Miguel is available at Binnys so maybe see if you can get a sixer and taste it to see what character you pick up and then adjust the recipe accordingly.

I remember being on a board years ago and someone asked about brewing a "light lager". Some people were giving some suggestions, etc. and at some point the guy said, "Hey, I want this beer to taste like Miller Lite. None of this Bud Light crap!" and it was hilarious. To find the subtle differences in all of these pale lagers from around the world you would have to be a master brewer, a chemist, a BJCP judge and very patient. This is a tough assignment Carlos... at the very least you should make a nice, drinkable beer.

[Big Nake]

Coincidentally I'm making Filipino Abodo Chicken tonight for dinner!

I was just in my uber-diverse grocery store with a wide array of Asian and Hispanic ingredients but I did not see any type of rice syrup or what I would consider brewer-friendly corn syrup either. Some things online have mentioned San Miguel more likely using corn, not rice but I think either would work. But you may have to order it online or get it from a place like Brew & Grow. Anyplace that has ONE of those should have both.

[CarlosM]

Coincidentally I'm making Filipino Abodo Chicken tonight for dinner!

I was just in my uber-diverse grocery store with a wide array of Asian and Hispanic ingredients but I did not see any type of rice syrup or what I would consider brewer-friendly corn syrup either. Some things online have mentioned San Miguel more likely using corn, not rice but I think either would work. But you may have to order it online or get it from a place like Brew & Grow. Anyplace that has ONE of those should have both.

adobo is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good. 

[positiveContact]

is there pils DME out there?  I'd use that.  as ken mentioned steep a little bit of carapils/carafoam.  I'm guessing that beer has almost no hop character so I'd use just enough noble hops to get your IBUs around 20 or less.

 

the yeast is the big player in this beer.  I'd probably use dry saflager 34/70.  you allegedly don't need to ferment it super cold for it to come out clean.

[HVB]

is there pils DME out there?

Yes there is

 

https://www.morebeer...xtract-dme.html

[positiveContact]

Yes there is

 

https://www.morebeer...xtract-dme.html

 

yeah - I'd just be using that with some carapils.  otherwise I'd go full on AG and mash a combo of pils/carapils and maybe a little vienna.

[Big Nake]

I mentioned using regular DME because I found some stuff online that suggested that the real beer is made with 2-row, not pilsner. No clue if it's true but seems possible.

[positiveContact]

I mentioned using regular DME because I found some stuff online that suggested that the real beer is made with 2-row, not pilsner. No clue if it's true but seems possible.

 

are you talking about the HBT thread?  

[Big Nake]

No. There were a number of comments about a recipe that was featured in a book. Some people mentioned that the recipe was not really San Miguel but I visited a number of the links and one had a image that looked like it was from the San Miguel site (although I don't see it on the current San Miguel site) that showed that they used "Brewers malt". I think that many swill recipes will actually use 2-row instead of pilsner because 2-row doesn't taste like anything. Pilsner actually gives the beer more of a continental flavor that might surprise some swill-drinkers.

[positiveContact]

No. There were a number of comments about a recipe that was featured in a book. Some people mentioned that the recipe was not really San Miguel but I visited a number of the links and one had a image that looked like it was from the San Miguel site (although I don't see it on the current San Miguel site) that showed that they used "Brewers malt". I think that many swill recipes will actually use 2-row instead of pilsner because 2-row doesn't taste like anything. Pilsner actually gives the beer more of a continental flavor that might surprise some swill-drinkers.

 

I'd make it with pilsner anyway b/c I like flavor

[cavman]

Isn't Briess Extra Light DME 90% 2-row and 10% Carapils? it would work IMO.

Edited by cavman, 06 February 2018 - 09:38 PM.

[positiveContact]

Isn't Briess Extra Light DME 90% 2-row and 10% Carapils? it would work IMO.

 

99% and 1% if the intertrons are to be believed.