37 replies to this topic

[Poptop]

A Bayern Pilsner would be very nice or the Fest. Can't go wrong either way. My most recent use with this yeast was 50/50 Vienna/Pils and a splash of Caramunich III. I bittered with a smidgeon of Chinook and finished it off with Mt. Hood. I'll keg it this weekend. It has a very faint Chinooky thing going on. Positive it will be very drinkable.

I think I'll dose half of my accidental batch with a 5th and final use of Bayern and the other half with 34/70.

[Big Nake]

I'm thinking a pilsner with the Swaen Pils plus a pound of Vienna and then 4-6 ounces of this Swaen Gold Hell and then Magnum to bitter and maybe 3-4 ounces of Hallertau late in the boil along with the Bayern.  That may be next and then the Festbier will come after that so BOTH will be made.  The question is whether to use the yeast 4 or 5 times.  Maybe the appearance of the yeast will tell me.  

[Poptop]

The question is whether to use the yeast 4 or 5 times.  Maybe the appearance of the yeast will tell me.

Exactly. While I'd like to make a 5th run, I am a little leery. Smell, taste, see. I can always pitch a single pack of 34/70 into each fermenter. This batch is sub 50. More like 1.046

[Big Nake]

Exactly. While I'd like to make a 5th run, I am a little leery. Smell, taste, see. I can always pitch a single pack of 34/70 into each fermenter. This batch is sub 50. More like 1.046

I'm going to be more careful about letting yeast "sit" for any length of time and then using it.  It's not necessarily the number of times I use it, although that would be a concern at SOME point... it's the idea of leaving it idle and then expecting it to do miracles.  The 34/70 or Diamond are options and I have 2278 tapping its foot in the fridge too.  

[Big Nake]

Probably something like this for the pilsner.  Simple and straightforward...

 

[HVB]

Probably something like this for the pilsner.  Simple and straightforward...

 

I like the look of that and I do have a few pounds of Hallertau. 

[Big Nake]

I like the look of that and I do have a few pounds of Hallertau. 

Yes, you do.  Cheap too. 

[Big Nake]

just a note on the color - I was also used to seeing the darker colored vienna lagers but this is about the color of von trapp's vienna as well.  I kind of like it.

I mentioned elsewhere that I was having issues differentiating between the vienna I make and the dunkel.  The color is similar, the grain bills are sort of in the same zipcode and hop schedules might be identical and I would often use the same yeast for both.  Making the Vienna slightly more pale and maybe a smidge hoppier might help.  The only issue with making the Vienna more pale is that it might start looking like my festbier.  The festbier will be more pale and it's only hopped once so I'm sure it will be okay.

[Poptop]

Ken, did you ever make the light Vienna Lager as mentioned here?  I couldn't find any text to say you did.

[Big Nake]

I did.

 

 

The date on my photo shows August 27, 2018.  I think the only changes were that I used half the amount of Carafa (1 ounce instead of 2) and then I may have used 1.25 ounces of Hallertau for the later addition instead of one ounce which would clearly be a very modest change.  The beer was very good... more pale and slightly more hoppy which differentiated between the Vienna and the Dunkel a little bit.  When I see Vienna Lagers in brewpubs (which is not often), they tend to be more in this color range.  

[Poptop]

Thanks man.  I am taking a lighter approach to the one I hope to spin on Sunday.  Still undecided to use the Staro again.  I didn't get much out of it.  If I did use it I'd prolly ferment at a higher temp.

[Poptop]

That is a beautiful color too.  Very C40'ish.

[Big Nake]

That is a beautiful color too.  Very C40'ish.

It's a pleasing beer, no question.  The color being more pale makes the beer a little more approachable but the darker version is excellent too.  At the risk of repeating myself, I always go for beers that just slide down your throat with a balanced refreshment and it almost always means German styles like Helles, Vienna, Dunkel, Festbier or sometimes something that leans more Mexican or an American style that still fits that description.  Sorry you didn't like the 2782 after all the hype.  I like it.  It didn't hit me quite the same way the second time around but they might be because Omega Bayern has corrupted my taste buds. 

[Poptop]

It's a pleasing beer, no question.  The color being more pale makes the beer a little more approachable but the darker version is excellent too.  At the risk of repeating myself, I always go for beers that just slide down your throat with a balanced refreshment and it almost always means German styles like Helles, Vienna, Dunkel, Festbier or sometimes something that leans more Mexican or an American style that still fits that description.  Sorry you didn't like the 2782 after all the hype.  I like it.  It didn't hit me quite the same way the second time around but they might be because Omega Bayern has corrupted my taste buds. 

 

^^ OMEGA speaks to me.  I'm going in with 50/30/20; Vienna, Pils and Barke Munich with a scant 1-1.5 ounces of Carafa II.  Likely using the 34/70 and S189 combo.

[jayb151]

It's a pleasing beer, no question.  The color being more pale makes the beer a little more approachable but the darker version is excellent too.  At the risk of repeating myself, I always go for beers that just slide down your throat with a balanced refreshment and it almost always means German styles like Helles, Vienna, Dunkel, Festbier or sometimes something that leans more Mexican or an American style that still fits that description.  Sorry you didn't like the 2782 after all the hype.  I like it.  It didn't hit me quite the same way the second time around but they might be because Omega Bayern has corrupted my taste buds. 

 

I'm actually brewing up that Helles that Lefty posted for me a little while back and will be using a repitch of that Bayern yeast to do so. The first beer I did is GREAT, it's making me wonder why it has taken me so long to start on lagers.

[Big Nake]

I'm actually brewing up that Helles that Lefty posted for me a little while back and will be using a repitch of that Bayern yeast to do so. The first beer I did is GREAT, it's making me wonder why it has taken me so long to start on lagers.

OMG, JB... be careful.  You'll turn into a lagerhead!    That Bayern yeast is probably my favorite lager yeast.  Today. 

[jayb151]

Haha! I know, I'll be careful.

 

I'm genuinely just surprised by how well the beer turned out, even my wife will drink it!

[HVB]

I felt the same way after my first lager. I was worried about it after years of brewing and now I love having one on tap.