Amerikan Lager

[unkle bik]

I got tired of hearing people say that homebrew was too "dark" for them. So I tried to emulate an American style "yellow beer" the best I could. It came out fairly well in both tasting & color.

Nov. 26, 2003
Amerikan Lager

.5# crushed pilsener crystal malt (10° Lovibond)
2.0# M & F Extra light Malt extract (7° Lovibond)
1.0# I.D. Carlson rice syrup
2.5# Brewer’ Grade corn syrup
¼ cup wildflower honey

1.0 oz. Hallertau hop pellets (boiling – 4.0% alpha)
.25 oz. Hopocan hop flowers (boiling)
5 oz. Cascade hop pellets (flavor – 5.5% alpha)
.5 oz. Cascade hop pellets (aroma – 5.5% alpha)

½ tsp. Irish moss (to prevent chill haze)

1.75 oz. liquid lager yeast (Wyeast American Lager #2035)

Specific gravity:
ORIGINAL = 1.054
1ST RACKING = 1.014
FINAL = 1.012

Pot. Alc/Vol:
ORIGINAL = 7.3%
FINAL = 2.0
Final ALC/VOL = 5.3%

BOTTLED: 12-11-03

[DreamWeaver]

I am wanting to do a similar batch in a few days and was wondering... since ya bottled it, 12/11/03... about 5 weeks ago. How it came out? I see ya said tasted good & color ok, but was that b4 bottling? Would you make any changes to the recipe or leave as is? Did ya room temp lager? Looks like a great recipe. :)
-DRWeaver-

[unkle bik]

A beer that improved with age(As most do). I had a little trouble with getting it to carbonate at first. That problem was solved by moving bottles to a warmer clime. (74 degree closet as opposed to 57 deg basement). I left them there a couple days, then put them back down in the basement to lager.
The color was exactly what I wanted, yellow. (Lovi 10-15?) I had a bottle of my wife's Heineken in glass next to it, & I doubt the homebrew was any darker. The taste was crisp & dry. I used Cascade hops as a finishing hop & it was evident in the aftertaste. Although a touch sweet. Next time I will forego the Cascade & use more of a traditional lager hop as a Halle or Saaz. Even non-homebrew drinkers liked it. (what do they know?)
It is definetly a recipe I will try again.