Winter Steam

[Ibasterd]

Hey all. Planning my next brew. would like a nice dark beer for winter. I've got a few ideas percolating. I liked anchor's Christmas brew last year. It was dark with an interesting spice profile that I couldn't quite identify. I think it was juniper, which leads to my first idea of running the wort through fresh juniper boughs. This is a nod to Sahti beer from Finland. Also, since I liked Anchor's Christmas, I'm thinking of using White Labs - San Francisco Lager Yeast WLP810 to make a seudo California Common. Plan on using Northern Brewer Hops to get some piney, resinous, minty flavours to compliment the juniper. Got some inspirition from Mashini's "Viking patriots juniper steam beer." Here is the recipe as it stands.

HOME BREW RECIPE:
Title: Winter Steam

Brew Method: BIAB
Style Name: California Common Beer
Boil Time: 60 min
Batch Size: 2 gallons (fermentor volume)
Boil Size: 3.8 gallons
Boil Gravity: 1.030
Efficiency: 70% (brew house)

STATS:
Original Gravity: 1.058
Final Gravity: 1.019
ABV (standard): 5.1%
IBU (tinseth): 33.66
SRM (morey): 22.54

FERMENTABLES:
0.5 lb - American - Vienna (11%)
3.25 lb - American - Pale 2-Row (71.2%)
0.5 lb - American - Caramel / Crystal 120L (11%)
0.25 lb - American - Caramel / Crystal 60L (5.5%)
1 oz - American - Chocolate (1.4%)

MASH GUIDELINES:
1) Temp: 152 F, Time: 60 min

HOPS:
0.25 oz - Northern Brewer, Type: Pellet, AA: 7.8, Use: Boil for 60 min, IBU: 22.12
0.25 oz - Northern Brewer, Type: Pellet, AA: 7.8, Use: Boil for 10 min, IBU: 8.02
0.2 oz - Northern Brewer, Type: Pellet, AA: 7.8, Use: Boil for 5 min, IBU: 3.53

Special Step:
Run hot wort through fresh Juniper boughs before cooling for primary.

YEAST:
White Labs - San Francisco Lager Yeast WLP810
Starter: No
Form: Liquid
Attenuation (avg): 67.5%
Flocculation: High
Optimum Temp: 58 - 65 F
Fermentation Temp: 65 F

[philm00x]

I actually have some harvested Wyeast 2112 California Lager yeast in the fridge if you'd like to try it. I would have to propagate it a bit via stepped batches of DME in order to have enough to use for a batch (which will also help ensure viability). If it grows then I'll use your numbers to figure out how much you need (unless you've already bought the yeast).

The recipe looks great, btw!

[mashani]

My bet is yummy. The juniper steam I made was delicious.