December Exchange 17 - Advent 17 - Use the Schwarz

[Broob]

December 17

Use the Schwarz
Schwarzbier

6.00 gallon batch
OG 1054, SRM 26.3
IBU - 31.8

water - 50% RO, 50% Dartmouth - 1g CaCl2, 1g Epsom salts

7 lbs - pilsner malt 52.8%
5 lbs - munich malt 37.7 %
8 oz - carafa II 3.8 %
8 oz - melanoiden malt 3.8 %
4 oz - chocolate malt 1.9 %

single infusion 60 min at 156 F

90 min boil

1.3 oz - Spalt - 60 min
0.6 oz - Spalt - 30 min
1.1 oz - Spalt - 10 min steep/whirlpool

yeast - WLP833 German Bock

ferment at 52 F - 4 weeks
65 F - 1 week

estimated FG 1016 - actual FG - 1018

4.8 % ABV

lagered one month - 35 F

bottle carbed with dextrose - estimated 2.2 volumes

[Broob]

Feel the Schwarz flow through you

[LiverDance]

Love that this beer falls on opening night for the new film! Tasty beer, enjoying it while puttering around cleaning up the brewhouse. Nice flavors with a touch of sweetness without being cloying while still going down dry. Well done

[mikeorr]

Taste was nice, but my bottle was flat - no hiss when I popped the cap either. But it tasted good so I drank it all

[Highland Brewer]

Mmmmmmmm.......enjoyed mine.

[pet lion]

Mine did give a little hiss when opened but the carb is somewhat light. Flavour is a little roasty and a bit sweet. Would have preferred a bit dryer myself (I tend to like the dryer end of the spectrum though). Tasty enough beer though. Thanks.

[mumblecrunch]

My bottle was also undercarbed. Also, this may be my first Schwarzbier, so I don't know the style at all. Some really nice malty flavors and a tinge that I identify in my head as something I only taste with lagers. I don't know if it's the yeast, the lagering or the hops, but I do find it balances the sweetness a little bit. A nice beer, thanks!

[Keith]

Mine was spot on. Beer was delicious and left me wanting more. Thanks!

[Broob]

Thanks for the comments fellas. Sorry about the dead bottle Mike. I think the low carb had something to do with the lagering and then bottle conditioning.

[ottiscan]

My first schwarzbier too. Very good, creamy texture. I didn't know what to expect but liked it very much.

[Buccaneer]

Thanks for the comments fellas. Sorry about the dead bottle Mike. I think the low carb had something to do with the lagering and then bottle conditioning.

My doppelbock is potentially suffering from the same problem. I let it lager for 2 months, then bottled for carbonation, which is what the Bock book I read suggested. I would certainly do it differently next time - either 1) let it lager for a few months, then force carb in a keg and bottle from there, or 2) bottle it with priming sugar after fermentation, let it carbonate for a couple of weeks, then start the lagering process.

In any case, my bottle of your beer seemed just fine. I don't recall having this style before and I quite enjoyed it. Would happily accept another bottle.

[darciandjenn]

Thanks for the comments fellas. Sorry about the dead bottle Mike. I think the low carb had something to do with the lagering and then bottle conditioning.

My doppelbock is potentially suffering from the same problem. I let it lager for 2 months, then bottled for carbonation, which is what the Bock book I read suggested. I would certainly do it differently next time - either 1) let it lager for a few months, then force carb in a keg and bottle from there, or 2) bottle it with priming sugar after fermentation, let it carbonate for a couple of weeks, then start the lagering process.

In any case, my bottle of your beer seemed just fine. I don't recall having this style before and I quite enjoyed it. Would happily accept another bottle.

You can always add a little yeast at bottling time - I find this helps after lagering.

[CartoonCod]

Nice beer, quite clean and malty. Just how I like them.

[HoweFox]

Thought this was great. Nice maltiness and full body but not too sweet. I thought maybe a touch of astringency, but flawless otherwise. I really enjoyed it! Something quite different.

[amartin]

I liked this one a lot. It was definitely on the sweet side, and probably could have used a little more late hops, but it was clean and I liked the roast profile.

[Halifax_Jeff]

Enjoyed this one, thanks!

[Lucas]

Had this one this afternoon. I think I would have liked a little bit more bitterness, but overall a very enjoyable beer. Cheers and Merry Christmas!

[Woody]

Excellent beer. Perfectly balanced and carbonated. I'm way behind on the advent. This beer is clean, tasty and I really like the malt sweetness from the Munich. You nailed it.

[GillettBreweryCnslt]

I too am way behind. Just drinking this now, I like it! Smooth, soft, malty and great. Thanks