Styles: 8B - Schwarzbier, 3D - Czech Dark Lager, 2C - International Dark Lager
BJCP Schwarzbier: A dark German lager that balances roasted yet smooth malt flavors with moderate hop bitterness.
BJCP Czech Dark Lager: A rich, dark, malty Czech lager with a roast character that can vary from almost absent to quite prominent. Malty with an interesting and complex flavor profile, with variable levels of hopping providing a range of possible interpretations.
The beer is the Czech equivalent of a dark lager ranging in character from Munich Dunkel to Schwarzbier...
Both descriptions leave the template open for interpretation and there is certainly some overlap between styles. This recipe is aiming right down the middle for a balance of malt, mild roast, and bitterness.
Full recipe is on brewersfriend, but here's the TL;DR:
- Brewday: 2018-4-15
- Malts: Bohemian Pils, Munich, Chocolate
- Hops: Magnum, Saphir
- Yeast: SafLager W34/70 (German Lager/Weihenstephan strain)
- OG 1.049; FG 1.009; ABV 5.25%
- kegged 2018-5-11
Brewday beer: Red Rye IPA
Grains
Mash temp
60g Saphir (2.5g/L) for 5 min in the late boil. My last several lagers have used Saaz so I switched it up this time.
Hops, meet wort
Into the fermenter
OG from refractometer came out to 12.2 which is 1.049 SG
And away we go. This went on a yeast cake from a Czech Lager that was kegged the day before. Almost immediate airlock activity.
2018-5-6 chilled sample. still cold crashing in the fridge since I don't have any empty kegs. Tasting pretty good!
2018-5-11: got a 'nitro' pour while carbonating. This was at about 25%.
2018-5-12 and the final product at full carbonation. Tasting great. nice subtle malt from the Munich, slight roast from the chocolate but not too much. Finishes clean.
2018-7-15: Keeps getting better. One of the best and most surprising beers I've made. Really didn't think I'd like it as much as I do. Definitely a keeper recipe. Sadly the keg is almost kicked!
