In the Fermenter: My first Lager

Thanks to a gift from my wife, I'm finally able to lager beer.

Not being able to lager has meant that the closest I've ever gotten to making one has been to use the Anchor Steam yeast to make pseudo-lagers. With my new toy, that has finally changed. I brewed this beer back in January, figuring that would be the perfect time to make a Maibock for Spring. After primary fermentation, I'll be giving my beer 7 weeks for the lager yeast to do its thing. I'm very excited to see how this turns out.

The five gallon brew is below.

Grains:
6.5lbs Weyermann Pilsner
3.5lbs Briess Pilsen
2.5lbs Weyermann Light Munich

Hops:

0.5oz Magnum (14.7% a.a.): 60 min

1oz Hallertauer (4.4% a.a.): 30 min

Total Boil Time:
120 min

Yeast:

White Labs WLP833 - German Bock Lager

64oz Starter

Hochkurz Double Decoction Mash Schedule:

Maltose Rest: 144F for 30 min

Decoction 1:
Heat 12 cups of thick mash to 162F and hold for 15 min
Heat Decoction to boiling and boil for 15 min
Return Decoction to Main Mash

Dextrinization Rest: 158F for 30 min

Decoction 2:
Remove 12 cups of thick mash and boil for 10 min
Return Decoction to Main Mash

Mashout: 167F for 15 min

Original Gravity:

1.069

Estimated Final Gravity:

1.017

IBU: 31

SRM Color: 7

Fermentation Schedule:

21 Day Primary at 52F

2 Day Diacetyl Rest at 65F

8 Weeks Lagering at 35F

Comments

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