Lotm Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Planning on doing a Schwarzbier/Black Pils style brew this weekend. So this is what I am thinking: Pilsner Kit Dark Dry Malt - 1.0Kg Crystal Malt- 200g Chocolate Malt- 30g Saflager S-23 Fill to 21L I'm contemplating steeping 15-20g Hersbruker as I have some left over. IanH's spreadsheet says that I will probably be a little low in EBC (I can live with that). I think OG is where I want it to be. I have never steeped grain before so I have a couple of questions: Do the quantities of grain seem reasonable? How long should I steep the grain? I have read the grain should be steeped at 76\xb0C, is this temp correct? How accurate do I need to be in hitting that temperature? Does this temperature need to be constant during steeping? Do I bother sparging after steeping? Do I bother with the hops? My apologies for the multitude of questions. I have read plenty of posts but want to ask people I trust. Many thanks. [happy] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamH1525226084 Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Hi Lotm EBC seems fine to me (if 300g of choc malt, not 30g?) I made a dark lager using the OS lager kit, and used crystal and chocolate malts, with hallertau (thanks to Chad) here's the recipe Specialty grains should be put in at 70\xb0C and steeped for 30mins, then the liquid is boiled for 1 hour (without the grains in to kill any bugs). I have been keeping the heat on, but most of the guys say chuck the grain in and don't worry about the temp (make sure they are crushed/cracked). I sparge, but wait to see what the others say - don't squeeze the bag, apparently that's bad - and a few beers I did squeeze have some funny tastes I'm attributing to tannins [annoyed] With the darkness I don't think it would hurt to add a little extra hops - the darker the beer, the more hops you need to balance it out. Maybe if you use 10g of the hersbruckers at 30mins to go in the boil, this will add bitterness and a little extra flavour (not too much though). But again, wait for a second opinion on this, cos I'm not all that experienced yet. Do you have the ability to brew at 13\xb0C? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotm Posted October 31, 2012 Author Share Posted October 31, 2012 Hi Adam, I've just set up my fridge and thermostat setup. This will be my first go at brewing with real temp control. [biggrin] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 I am not too concerned about maintaining a specific temperature when steeping specialty grains. I will heat the water to 70-75 degrees, add the grains (which will drop the temp a little), put the lid on and leave it fr 30 minutes. I will occasionally give the grain bag a few dunks during the process though. Adam, what do you mean by darker beers needing more hops to balance them out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamH1525226084 Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 I mean the bitterness will need to be higher if it's a darker beer, because of the (roasted) malty-ness, right? e.g. A Black IPA will have a higher IBU than a standard IPA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 I've just set up my fridge and thermostat setup. This will be my first go at brewing with real temp control. [biggrin] Look out!! The Trooper has a brew fridge & temp control! [lol] I put my first brew in my temp controlled fridge this past weekend. It's been brewing away like a champion! That reminds me, dry hop addition tomorrow. [biggrin] Good luck with it all Lotm! [cool] Beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotm Posted October 31, 2012 Author Share Posted October 31, 2012 Thanks for the advice guys. [happy] Maybe my stormtrooper needs to be standing next to my brew fridge. [lol] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 I mean the bitterness will need to be higher if it's a darker beer, because of the (roasted) malty-ness, right? e.g. A Black IPA will have a higher IBU than a standard IPA Ah, OK I see where you are coming from. You want the hop bitterness to shine though in an IPA as that is the focus of the style. The IPA was a good example. I don't know if it is really an issue for a swartzbier. I am happy to be corrected though by anyone that actually knows what they are talking about [biggrin] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamH1525226084 Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 I may not know what I am talking about - usually I just fart words [lol] It's almost a dark German Pilsner isn't it? It might be alright, I was just suggesting to check it out [pouty] Koestritzer Schwarzbier, which is a ridiculously good beer, has an IBU of approx. 26 - the TC Pilsener can would be approx. 22 made to 23L. Here's some more info on Schwarzbier recipe's from BYO mag. There are some extract recipes there, which you can borrow from. If you have the ability to do a partial mash, using the munich malt would probably help get to style better, but would not be absolutely necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotm Posted November 3, 2012 Author Share Posted November 3, 2012 I did a short boil of the hersbrucker (10min). IanH's spreadsheet reckons I should be hitting 27.7 IBU. So I should hopefully be close to the mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 Hiya Lotm. I only noticed this just recently. When you open IanH's Spreadsheet, it opens up in the "MAIN" tab. On the TAB options down the bottom of the spreadsheet, next to the "MAIN" tab, you will see the "BREWDAY" tab. Highlight that TAB once you've entered your recipe in the "MAIN" tab, the information then calculated in this TAB, will tell you the best way to prepare & brew it! How cool is that?!! I say "Way Coool"! [cool] Excuse my noobness to the spreadsheet if you already knew this. [innocent] Good luck with the recipe Lotm. [biggrin] Beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Von Blotto Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 There's also a "Hop Concentration Factor (HCF)" option on the main page of that spreadsheet. It changes the IBU calculation depending on the size of the boil. I don't know if it's necessary to use it or not, but sometimes it can give vastly different IBUs depending on whether it's set to YES or NO. I will say that when I was doing extract recipes and using the spreadsheet, I always had it on YES, and my beers all turned out pretty much what I was expecting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotm Posted November 3, 2012 Author Share Posted November 3, 2012 There's also a "Hop Concentration Factor (HCF)" option on the main page of that spreadsheet. It changes the IBU calculation depending on the size of the boil. I don't know if it's necessary to use it or not' date=' but sometimes it can give vastly different IBUs depending on whether it's set to YES or NO. I will say that when I was doing extract recipes and using the spreadsheet, I always had it on YES, and my beers all turned out pretty much what I was expecting. [/quote'] I will check it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotm Posted November 3, 2012 Author Share Posted November 3, 2012 It's the spreadsheet that keeps giving. [cool] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotm Posted November 10, 2012 Author Share Posted November 10, 2012 Just an update on this recipe. Day 8 in the FV. FG seems to be 1013. Will check again tomorrow to be sure. Tastes awesome. Would be happy to drink it right now. But will restrain myself. [rightful] I love this hobby[love] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Waters Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 I love this hobby[love] It sure beats crochet [biggrin] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamH1525226084 Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 I love this hobby[love] It sure beats crochet [biggrin] I haven't tried it to compare yet. Obviously you have Muddy?? [biggrin] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Waters Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 I haven't tried it to compare yet. Obviously you have Muddy?? [biggrin] Ssshhhhh! [innocent] Don't tell anyone...I already get enough grief for my jazz ballet classes [ninja] .....[lol] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Is crochet where you hit the ball through the little hoops? [innocent] One didn't realise you were that posh Muddy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotm Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 Update on this brew. Recipe ended up as follows: Thomas Coopers Pilsner Kit 1Kg DME - dark 100g Crystal 100g Choc malt 15g hersbrucker boiled for 10 mins Filled to 21L 2 X W-34/70 Shared one with a mate. Under carbed at present. But I love it. My mate is demanding I brew this one all year round, non stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamH1525226084 Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Good work Lotm (Scott) I shall remember this thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Good on ya Trooper! I'm glad it's turned out so well. [biggrin] Anthony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Von Blotto Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 I tried a black lager last night, I think it was done by the Burleigh Brewing Co or something, I can't remember what it was called but it was some kind of black coffee lager. It wasn't bad actually. I'd write more about what it tasted like, but I can't remember except that it was nice. [lol] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Hiya Otto Man! [happy] Just follow AdamH's posts. He's certainly not afraid of throwing unusual ingredients into his brews. AdamH's Latest Mexican Adventure is certainly worth a look. [tongue] Anthony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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