Cross Czech Pilsner

[BlackDuck]

I'm brewing for the first time since November tomorrow. It's been a rough winter around here. Mostly too cold, but the days that were nice were really windy or rainy. Tomorrow will be a little cool, but sunny and light winds, it's time to get this summers Pilsner going. I've brewed this recipe twice already over the last couple years. The first time I had too much on the bittering charge so it had a bit more bite than I wanted. The second time, I adjusted the hops but I also read that Pilsners were mashed with a lower than normal pH, so I made that change too. I think I reduced the pH too much, so this time should be a charm. I'm keeping the hop schedule the same as the second recipe and brought the pH back up so I think this one will be really good!

These Pilsners really are simple recipes:

BeerSmith 2 Recipe Printout - http://www.beersmith.com
Recipe: Cross Czech Pilsner 2018
Brewer: Antler Brewing
Style: Czech Premium Pale Lager
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 8.63 gal
Post Boil Volume: 6.30 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.50 gal
Bottling Volume: 5.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.049 SG
Estimated Color: 3.3 SRM
Estimated IBU: 39.3 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 68.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 74.2 %
Boil Time: 90 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
4.00 ml Lactic Acid (Mash 75.0 mins) Water Agent 1 -
0.70 g Epsom Salt (MgSO4) (Mash 75.0 mins) Water Agent 2 -
0.50 g Calcium Chloride (Mash 75.0 mins) Water Agent 3 -
0.30 g Baking Soda (Mash 75.0 mins) Water Agent 4 -
10 lbs Pilsner (Avangard) (1.7 SRM) Grain 5 95.2 %
8.0 oz Vienna Malt (Avangard) (3.5 SRM) Grain 6 4.8 %
1.00 oz Saaz [3.40 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 7 12.4 IBUs
2.00 oz Saaz [3.40 %] - Boil 30.0 min Hop 8 19.0 IBUs
2.00 oz Saaz [3.00 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 9 7.9 IBUs
2.0 pkg Saflager Lager (DCL/Fermentis #W-34/70) Yeast 10 -


Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Light Body, No Mash Out
Total Grain Weight: 10 lbs 8.0 oz
----------------------------
Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Mash In Add 3.25 gal of water at 168.6 F 153.0 F 75 min

Sparge: Fly sparge with 6.64 gal water at 170 F
Notes:
------
100 % Distilled Water
Ca - 4
Mg - 2
Na - 2
Cl - 6
SO4 - 7
Cl/Sulf Ratio - .88 Balanced
pH - 5.38

[Beer-lord]

So you're not going to try the Bootleg lager yeast on this one? Guess you don't mess with perfection.

[BlackDuck]

Nope, not on this one. I'm bringing this to my brothers house for my Nephews graduation party. So, I don't want to go experimental on this.

[Kealia]

Minus the changes you mentioned above, is this what I have in my fridge?

[BlackDuck]

Yes, you have the one with the lower mash pH. Other than that it's almost identical. The one posted above has half pound less pilsner malt in it also.

[Kealia]

Sure....cheat me out of the extra malt.......

[Inkleg]

Sure....cheat me out of the extra malt.......

He had extra malt in Nashville to give to you, but you never showed.

[BlackDuck]

Hey Ron, let me rephrase that...

The one posted above has half pound less Pilsner malt in it also.


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[mashani]

It figures that Beer-Lord BlackDuck used more hops then I did in mine.

[Beer-lord]

It figures that Beer-Lord BlackDuck used more hops then I did in mine.

Oh yeah? My hops have more alpha than his!

[John Sand]

Let's not get bitter.

[BlackDuck]

Finished this one up just a few minutes ago. It was a damn near perfect brew day/session. Hit my mash temp was 153.5, my boil gravity was 1.035 and my original gravity was 1.051. All those numbers are damn near exactly what I should have been hitting.

[Kealia]

That's a good day. This seemed like the best place to share my thoughts on the sample from the previous batch.

It poured crystal clear. I mean REALLY clear even though the pic may not show it that well. This was poured into my grandmother's pilsner glasses that I ended up with, so it was nice to have the proper glassware for this beer.
It was slighty effervescent, not like champagne or over-carbed by any means, just a bit higher than your typical APA/IPA.
The aroma was subtle, but present from the Noble hops and I could tell right away exactly what I would taste.
The taste was spot on for the style IMO. Now pilsners aren't my drink of choice because I prefer the brighter and fruitier hops to the typical Noble hop (doesn't at mean I like Peasant hops??) but this beer was brewed very well.
It reminds me exactly of Lagunitas' Pilsner as a matter of fact.
It was a nice brief departure from my typical nightly [emoji481] which seem to favor IPAs as of late, and I enjoyed it.

Good luck with your tweaks, I hope they give you what you want out of the rebrew.

Cheers!

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[BlackDuck]

Thanks for the comments Ron. The only major change from the one you had and the one brewed yesterday is the mash pH. We’ll see if makes a difference.

Glad you liked it!!!


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[BlackDuck]

Gravity is at 1.014. Time to start the d-rest. I’ll let it warm to room temp, which is about 63 degrees in the basement, for a few days.


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