Pearly Pils
Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2013 2:10 pm
I've had this bottled since late September. For the first two weeks, I kept the bottles at fermentation temp (around 54*F). Then I upped the temp to around 70 for about two weeks. They've been at 34* for around ten days. I know they're still green, but I keep taking out test bottles to gauge the progress. I'm hoping this helps me with timing my lagers in the future.
I had one just now. Good color, a deep golden yellow. Pretty good clarity, too, especially initially. Condensation may have made it look cloudier than it really was after the first minute or two. A rich snow-white head with pretty good retention, although not much lacing. A slightly fruity aroma, blended with a slightly grainy/bready smell.
So far so good.
It's a little sweet, at first, possibly due to the hops, possibly due to being a bit young, possibly a combination of both. I'd have preferred a drier initial impact, and may rethink the hops in the future. Not as crisp and bracing as I'd want a German Pils to be, but again, it's young.
It has a good malt presence, and it balances well with the hops. Not overcarbed, either. The balance, I think, is pretty good. The initial sweetness doesn't linger, and the finish is strong, with a blend of floral and spice, which is what I was aiming for.
Conclusion: My process is good. My timing for this review may be premature, and I'll be interested in tasting it in another couple of weeks to see what has changed. I may fiddle around with the hops bill a little to get less floral/fruity (Hallertau) and more spicy (Tettnang).
But it's a good base recipe.
I had one just now. Good color, a deep golden yellow. Pretty good clarity, too, especially initially. Condensation may have made it look cloudier than it really was after the first minute or two. A rich snow-white head with pretty good retention, although not much lacing. A slightly fruity aroma, blended with a slightly grainy/bready smell.
So far so good.
It's a little sweet, at first, possibly due to the hops, possibly due to being a bit young, possibly a combination of both. I'd have preferred a drier initial impact, and may rethink the hops in the future. Not as crisp and bracing as I'd want a German Pils to be, but again, it's young.
It has a good malt presence, and it balances well with the hops. Not overcarbed, either. The balance, I think, is pretty good. The initial sweetness doesn't linger, and the finish is strong, with a blend of floral and spice, which is what I was aiming for.
Conclusion: My process is good. My timing for this review may be premature, and I'll be interested in tasting it in another couple of weeks to see what has changed. I may fiddle around with the hops bill a little to get less floral/fruity (Hallertau) and more spicy (Tettnang).
But it's a good base recipe.
