oktoberfest

[ebeero]

Making my first oktoberfest. Looking for some toughts on hops.

Batch is 7.5 gallons.
mashing @ 158 for 90.
7.5 lbs Munich malt.
7.5 lbs Vienna malt.
3 lbs Pilsner malt.

Planning for a 90 boil with 1-1.5 oz Kent golding. Thoughts?
Using kent as I have a ton on hand.
Looking for ibu of around 20.
No plans for flavor or aroma hops on this one. Thoughts?

grain is already already mashing so no changes there, but still intrested in feedback.

Thanks

[markaberrant]

All around, looks ok. Should be decent. Here are some things I would suggest:

158 seems over the top high for a mash temp, I wouldn't go beyond 154.

You can use pretty much any combo of Munich and Vienna for an Okto, but the small dose of Pils won't exactly hurt it.

Goldings aren't the greatest choice, but at least you aren't using Chinook! 20 IBU seems a touch low, 25 would be better, especially with that high mash temp.

What yeast are you using?

[ebeero]

I have been using nottingham.

Mash AVG temp was 156.

SG 1064 @ 70.

I did add .25oz of target with the irish moss for 15 minutes.

Thanks for the reply.

[steveh]

Hmm, Nottingham yeast and Kent Goldings & Target hops -- I predict your Oktoberfest will taste more like an ESB. At what temperature(s) are you fermenting?

S.

[ebeero]

68-70.

I only used the hops I had on hand.

Using a lot of kent and cascade as I am growing them and plan to use only the hops I grow in the future. I will probably have to grow a few other strains as well for better coverage.

Recommendations?

[steveh]

I hope I didn't imply an ESB would be a bad thing, just not Oktoberfest.

I'd suggest Hallertauer or Tettnang in an Okto, but I can't tell you anything about cultivating them.

Mount Hood is an American strain developed from Hallertauer, might be a good backyard crop.

S.

[ebeero]

No offense taken. As long as the beer taste good I can handle missing the flavor of the target beer. That just means I need to make more beer.

I will see if I can find some mount hood for next years crop.

Thanks

[Mill Rat]

Mount Hood is an American strain developed from Hallertauer, might be a good backyard crop. I have had very nice yields from a Liberty variety.

[ebeero]

Just a follow up to this post.

The beer came out great. Many including me felt that it hit the target flavor of a oktoberfest beer. Next time I think I will tweak the flavor hops just a tad. Almost time to try again :).