A modified Oktoberfest

[JimH]

So, hopefully I get to brew tomorrow! Been super busy here lately, school and a new job, but with the long weekend I NEED to brew before dove killing season opens! So, here is my proposed recipe, wondering what y'all think.

1 Can MB Oktoberfest
1 Pouch Smooth LME (this was the "deluxe" MB)
1/4 lb Crystal 40
And do 1/4 ounce Mt. Hood for 20

Thinking the 20 min will get me a little flavor and little bit of bitter, but not overdoing it to stay with the style. Although, I do like Sam Adams Oktoberfest, and theirs seems a little on the hoppy side, so I wouldn't mind that too much.

[gwcr]

Looks good. What yeast are you planning on using?

[JimH]

Just the fromunda.

[Wings_Fan_In_KC]

Although, I do like Sam Adams Oktoberfest, and theirs seems a little on the hoppy side, so I wouldn't mind that too much.

This is where subjectivity comes into brewing. I had a Sam Octoberfest yesterday at dinner (actually 2) and I have always thought that it is very malty with roasty and caramel-like notes and a clean finish. Marzen's are all about the malt and I get little or no hops flavoring on my palate with this beer and definitely no hops aroma. But then, that's what a marzen is supposed to be like.

Aside from those comments, I believe your recipe looks good. Definitely will steer away from being too hop forward. Spot on.

[JimH]

I just brewed this up. OG: 1.036. Does that seem low to anybody?

[philm00x]

Yeah it does. Did you forget to add the LME?

EDIT: Plugging into qBrew, CAL by itself should yield 1.032 OG for 2.13 gallon LBK batch. How much LME comes in the softpacks? It's probably not enough to raise the gravity a lot.

Double EDIT: 8.81 oz (0.55 lb) of the smooth LME should raise the expected OG to 1.041, so yeah the OG is low.

[Wings_Fan_In_KC]

Assuming you used a new 2.86 lb Coopers/MrB Octoberfest then with a pouch of Smooth, I show the gravoty target to be 1.06 for 2.13 gallons. [1.053 if you filled to the top of the Q (2.4 Gallons)]

If it was an old 1.87 lb MrB Oktoberfest Vienna Lager, then the target gravity in QBrew is 1.043 for 2.13 gallons. [1.038 if you filled to the top of the Q (2.4 Gallons)]

BrewMax pouches are .55 lb and add about .01 to the equation.

[JimH]

Indeed, I did forget to mention, I went to the top of the "Q" so I guess I really missed my OG. Holy moly. I don't know how I missed it that much.

[philm00x]

Just realized I plugged in CAL instead of Oktoberfest... had it stuck in my head from chatting in the tap room last night.

[JimH]

Bottled this today. FG of 1.010. ABV: a hair raising get you drunk 3.4%! So, messed up somewhere. It didn't taste too bad, and actually somewhere picked up some banana notes. Go figure. It took on a nice Okto type color, and I can't wait to drink this as the weather gets a bit more to the chilly side!