German Pilsner

[flowerbug]

Primary fermention is pretty much wrapped up. So I decided to taste a sample. The little bit I poured from the gallon jug into the glass, is a lot lighter colored than what's in the jug.

I taste a slight bit of diacetyl (butter flavor) but other than that it's going to be an easy drinking beer. It's really well ballanced and Saaz hops have delicate tangerine type flavor, spicy aroma and a unbelievable smooth bittering effect on the Pilsen malt.

I'll throw in a diacetyl rest at a higher temperature to allow the yeast to clean up the diacetyl before I rack the beer into a secondary to lager. I'll probably use a some finings in this batch, so it's drops clear instead of leaving it cloudy, just to be true to the German Pilsner style.

It's still got a ways to go before it's finished and ready to drink. but I am very encouraged by what I'm seeing and tasting so far.

The more beers I brew, the better I'm getting at brewing beer. Experience is a strange thing... You get it, right after you needed it
View attachment 13403

most of my better experiences for story telling are those that start with, "Well I didn't die that time, but..."

 

[CrealCritter]

I racked the beer to cold crash and hopefully drop crystal clear before I keg it to lager.

Looks like it may end up to be a SRM 2 after all. It's somewhat clear already but I want it crystal clear.

The final gravity is 1.006, starting gravity was 1.048, which puts the beer at 5.51% ABV. It's a super dry, low calorie beer, without much flavor at all besides the hops. I think this beer would probably go good with a lime wedge.

 

[CrealCritter]

I pulled a sample after 2 days since adding
gelatin fining. Beer doesn't really get much clearer than this.

I think all I did is brewed up a stronger alochol version of a Michelob Light. Ok it's smooth and smells great, but has no body, not much flavor to speak of other than German Saaz hops and it's low calorie. It's more like drinking water, than beer.

I'm going to let it lager a couple more weeks, then carbonate it for serving. I'm still of the opinion that this Bare Bones German Pilsner would go good with a slice of lime in the glass. But we shall see in a couple of weeks. If my suspicious are correct, I may dry hop with Lemon Drop hops, I just don't know yet.