Making a helles of sorts this weekend...
#1
Posted 10 March 2017 - 03:38 PM
Pima Helles
4.5 lbs Rahr Pale Ale Malt
4.5 lbs Weyermann Barke Pils
4 ounces CaraHell
4 ounces CaraFoam
1 oz Spalt pellets 3.1% FWH
1 oz Hallertau Mittelfruh pellets 4.4% for 60 minutes
Wyeast 2124 Bohemian Lager yeast on run #5
OG: 1.052, FG: 1.012, IBU: 25, SRM: 5-6, ABV: 5.0%
Mash around 150° for 60 minutes, about 3g of CaCl in the mash along with brewtan and about 4ml of lactic acid to get to about 5.2 or 5.3 pH. I'm thinking that there will be good color and body. The Barke already has a little more oomph than standard pilsner and the RPA malt should boost the depth and color nicely. The 2124 seems to shine on beers where moderate hopping takes place so this should be gold, balanced and refreshing. Both weekend days are supposed to be teh suck here (Saturday 30 and cloudy, Sunday 36 and sunny) so not sure when I'll brew but water has been filtered and grains have been measured out. Cheers peeps.
#2
Posted 10 March 2017 - 04:26 PM
Curious how the base malt mix works in this. I have done the same blend in hoppy beers with success.
#3
Posted 10 March 2017 - 04:36 PM
Dude. Get. Out. Of. My. Head. I had the recipe printed out and wrote in "another 1 oz Hallertau Mittelfruh" and I may have been thinking 5 minutes but either way that's eerie that you suggested that. But. Then I thought about that and I have been making this "American Lager" where I hop at 60 and 5 and figured that I would try to separate this beer from that style altogether. I'm on the fence so it could go either way. I also thought that I would be able to get a better feel for this base malt mix if I don't hop it too much and sort of let the grain bill come through.How about a half ounce of Mittelfruh around 10 minutes. Just a touch of aroma?
Curious how the base malt mix works in this. I have done the same blend in hoppy beers with success.
#4
Posted 12 March 2017 - 06:53 AM
#5
Posted 12 March 2017 - 07:10 AM
that looks like a great recipe. post some pics when it's done
#6
Posted 13 March 2017 - 01:49 PM
#7
Posted 14 March 2017 - 07:30 AM
it will be interesting to see how the pale ale malt presents itself here.
#8
Posted 14 March 2017 - 11:19 AM
#9
Posted 14 March 2017 - 11:26 AM
I find munich to bring a very diff sort of malt vs a pale ale malt. the munich is more clean malt action while the pale ale has kind of a richness to it without the malt intensity.
#10
Posted 06 June 2017 - 11:44 AM
#11
Posted 06 June 2017 - 11:45 AM
so thirsty...
#12
Posted 06 June 2017 - 03:43 PM
This is just a tease. Ken, you better taste that and post tasting notes quick or you get a nutshot.
#13
Posted 06 June 2017 - 03:53 PM
I've been waiting to get this one on tap because I plan to tap two bottles of beer and send them to you... one pale and one dark.This is just a tease. Ken, you better taste that and post tasting notes quick or you get a nutshot.
#14
Posted 06 June 2017 - 04:04 PM
I've been waiting to get this one on tap because I plan to tap two bottles of beer and send them to you... one pale and one dark.
Helles yea! No nut shot for you--for now.
#15
Posted 08 June 2017 - 08:30 PM
#16
Posted 09 June 2017 - 06:53 AM
Okay, the old keg blew tonight after giving up just 2 beers so this helles went on tap. The first glass was a bit yeasty and subsequent glasses were better and clearer. I would like to start a fresh session over the weekend so I can get a better feel for it but early indicators are that it's quite good. More later and pic to follow. Btw, there is a bit more color to this beer from the pale ale malt.
Good to hear. My pale ale mix beer is crashing right now. Hope to keg it in a week.
#17
Posted 09 June 2017 - 08:49 AM
The thing is that I had this other beer on tap that I'm calling "American Lager" for no other reason than it has a pound of flaked corn in it. Otherwise it's Barke Pils, noble hops, 2124 yeast, etc. and it tastes very German and has a pale, clear appearance and great balance. It's becoming a favorite of mine and it's a little crisper than the helles. So then I put the helles on tap and it's cloudy, darker and a little maltier compared to the other one. My guess is that I will take a fresh sip of it over the weekend and like it but there is some difference in the two, for sure. At first I thought I should lower the percentage of pale ale malt but I'll make that determination later. Cheers.Good to hear. My pale ale mix beer is crashing right now. Hope to keg it in a week.
#18
Posted 17 June 2017 - 07:41 AM
I have had a few of these and the beer is delicious. You can see that the color is a little darker because of the Rahr Pale Ale malt that's in there. I personally think it's a little too dark but I could always use less next time. My sprinkler guy who comes to open the system in the spring and close it in the fall always makes it a point to have a few of my beers when he's here... which he did when he opened the system last month. But he was next-door yesterday when I was brewing and gave me the international BEER signal from the neighbor's house (hand in cup shape held up to mouth) so I grabbed him a helles. He's a wimpy gold lager kind of guy and yelled from next door "my compliments to the brewer!" and "the best one yet!" which means nothing but it's always good to share and get feedback. I like this beer but I might lower the percentage of the pale ale malt next time just to keep the beer color lighter.
#19
Posted 28 June 2017 - 01:00 PM
You might considering trying a different pale malt too. I've been using the 50/50 pils/pale blend (both from Weyermann) for the last several LODO helles I've made. The beers have been a very pale color with great grain nose and flavor. Just a thought...
#20
Posted 28 June 2017 - 01:28 PM
I used the Rahr because I had a sack of it. Now that this beer has a little age on it, it's delicious. I'll probably just use a little less pale ale malt next time or possibly go back to using the Barke Pils with small amounts (8-10%) of Vienna and Munich 1 as I used to do. Thanks... I know that some people trying the helles super-PIMA blend type thing were using continental pale ale malt for this. Cheers.You might considering trying a different pale malt too. I've been using the 50/50 pils/pale blend (both from Weyermann) for the last several LODO helles I've made. The beers have been a very pale color with great grain nose and flavor. Just a thought...
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