Copperbottom Lager

[FedoraDave]

This is a dark lager I was inspired to put together as a result of drinking a lot of Muddy Creek Lager. My local micro has just begun bottling and distributing (on a very small scale) it's two most popular brews, Medusa IPA and Muddy Creek Lager. The Muddy is very smooth and pleasing, and since the lanes I bowl at Friday nights serve it, it's my libation of choice during League Night.

Trying it tonight. Bottled March 1, so it's still young for a lager, especially considering it hasn't actually been cold lagered, since I needed the fridge for the Pearly Pils to ferment. I bottled the Pils today, so I cranked the temp down to 32, so genuine lagering can begin.

But preliminary thoughts are it's pretty darn good. A little darker than I wanted, but pretty clear. A little heavy on the roasted flavors, but not overwhelmingly so, and the Biscuit comes through in the finish. No head retention, and no lacing, unfortunately. Not where I wanted it to be, but not disappointing, either, and it may improve in all these categories with more cold conditioning. And it's a first attempt, so if I want to make modifications, that's okay, too.

I haven't made many lagers, and I have to limit my production of them due to space considerations anyway. But I do want to have some that I keep in the pipeline for some length of time. Since Amber's Amber ribboned in a competition, that's one. And the Pearly Pils ... well, you have to have a Pilsner, don't you?

The Copperbottom is also an American Dark Lager, but not as sweet as Amber's Amber, and I think it's a better lager to have during the cooler months. Or any time. I may keep the Pearly Pils for summer drinking, and alternate between the two darks during Oktoberfest and Bock season.