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Re: How long to lager for Helles?
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2016 10:17 pm
by Techbrau
Brewing a beer in march intended to be consumed in october is an artifact of the past. I wouldn't do it nowadays.
Re: How long to lager for Helles?
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 1:16 pm
by Kit_B
Were't they also different Marzens than we make, today?
Re: How long to lager for Helles?
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 1:38 pm
by darthkotor
I know its an older tradition, but I figured it would be a practice in patience.
That and I had a bunch of Vienna and Munich that needed to go before it went stale.
Re: How long to lager for Helles?
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 2:08 pm
by Techbrau
6+ month old beer is getting stale even with commercial quality control.
Furthermore, stale malt isn't worth brewing with
Re: How long to lager for Helles?
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 2:30 pm
by Kit_B
Free yourself.
Re: How long to lager for Helles?
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 3:55 pm
by darthkotor
Totally fair, I bought the malt with intentions to brew a Vienna Lager, but then work and life got in the way, so I figured that its March, might as well brew a Marzen. Might as well see how long I can lager it for before I tap into it. It's also my first time using wlp838, so I am curious to see how that yeast handles. Consider it an experiment.
In the next few weeks I will be doing a side by side test of Munich Helles with WLP838 and WLP860. I figure 4-6 weeks of lagering and that'll be where I want it. Between 2 jobs and earning a degree, its hard to get a day off and actually brew and plan out the batch timing.
Re: How long to lager for Helles?
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 5:46 pm
by Roachbrau
I really liked 860, but I felt it needed a cooler fermentation than what I did way back when. It was noticeably ester-y. I'd shoot for a long cold primary, 8-9c max, with a high pitching rate, and I think it would be magical.
Re: How long to lager for Helles?
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 6:54 pm
by Owenbräu
Absolutely agree, Steve.
Re: How long to lager for Helles?
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 7:26 pm
by darthkotor
I was planning on using the Bavarian Cold Ferm schedule outlined by the Quest for Edelstoff blog (I believe Nico is the one who writes the blog, I am learning names around here still).
Step Temperature/°C
Pitch 5 – 6
Target 8 – 9
End 3 – 5
I have had moderately good success using w 34/70 and a similar ferm schedule, so I figure I would try it again.
I assume this would be in line with what Roach and Abbey said about the yeast strain.
Re: How long to lager for Helles?
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 7:33 pm
by Bryan R
I get lemon from 34/70, and that's not great by any means.