American Adjunct Lager recipe

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by carteravebrew, Mar 4, 2014.

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  1. carteravebrew

    carteravebrew Initiate (0) Jan 21, 2010 Colorado

    Hi folks,
    I have some WLP800 Pilsner Lager yeast, and more for the challenge than anything, I'm thinking of trying my hand at this style. Basically I'm looking for something similar to Budweiser just to see how clean tasting and light bodied I can get a beer (with it still tasting like most people's idea of "beer"). Here's what I'm thinking for 5.5 gallon recipe:

    7 lbs American 6-row
    3.5 lbs flaked rice
    Bittered with Saaz to about 12 IBU's
    10 minute charge with Saaz for another 4 or so IBU's
    WLP800 Pilsner Lager Yeast
    Single Infusion Mash at ~148*F
    3 g Gypsum (added to mash)
    .5 g Epsom Salt (added to mash)
    4 oz Acid Malt
    O.G.: 1.048

    Profile of my brewing water:
    Ca: 29 ppm
    Mg: 8 ppm
    Na: 20 ppm
    Cl: 23 ppm
    SO4: 15 ppm
    Bicarbonate: 79 ppm
    pH: 7.7

    Ferment at around 46-48*F, diacetyl rest, then crash to lager at 32*F until it's where I like it...
    What do y'all think?
     
    #1 carteravebrew, Mar 4, 2014
  2. kdb150

    kdb150 Initiate (0) Mar 8, 2012 Pennsylvania

    I think that is too much hops. Aren't AALs under 10 IBUs these days? You might throw off the balance if there is a perceptible Saaz bite in the finished beer.
     
    #2 kdb150, Mar 4, 2014
  3. honkey

    honkey Maven (1,350) Aug 28, 2010 Arizona
    Trader

    That's actually a lot of IBUs. Last I heard, Budweiser is 7 IBU. This is also a good opportunity to do a cereal mash if you have never done one before... Mostly just for the fun of doing it, not so much because it will be significantly different from using flaked rice in the mash.
     
    #3 honkey, Mar 4, 2014
  4. carteravebrew

    carteravebrew Initiate (0) Jan 21, 2010 Colorado

    Check, will cut down on the IBU's.

    As for the cereal mash, if it won't really make a difference, I probably won't do it this time. Not because I'm not interested but because this is a "sidecar" brew (meaning we'll be brewing a 10 gallon batch of something else as the "main beer" of the day and brewing this 5 gallon guy at the same time, just for the hell of it). Most focus will be on the 10 gallon batch. Maybe if there comes a day when this is the only beer being brewed that day, I'll spring for the cereal mash.
     
    #4 carteravebrew, Mar 4, 2014
  5. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    The 2013 AHA Homebrewer of the Year (Annie Johnson) won a Gold Medal at the 2013 NHC competition for a Lite American Lager. Her recipe appears in the Sept/Oct 2013 Zymurgy magazine:

    For 5 US Gallons:

    8.3 lb. two-row pale malt
    2 lb. flaked rice
    0.7 oz. Hallertauer Pellets (60 min.)
    White Labs American Lager (4 liter starter)
    1 Whirlfloc tablet
    OG = 1.048
    FG = 1.008
    Boiling Time: 90 minutes
    SRM: 2
    ABV: 5.3%
    Primary at 48°F for 21 days
    Secondary at 32°F for 30 days.
    Single infusion mash at 149°F for 60 minutes.

    Good luck with your AAL.

    Cheers!
     
    #5 JackHorzempa, Mar 4, 2014
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