Great lager recipes

[slcmorro]

Why are lagers hard? I don't find them difficult. Just takes a different and more patient approach to ales. Faults are less forgiving, but they're certainly not any more difficult to 'make' than any other style. Control your fermentation, get your pitch rate right and make a decent recipe and you're well on your way to making a great lager.

 

[Killer Brew]

Not looking to hijack but I need some similar advice. Have made an ale and a saison so far but now wanted to try an easy drinker for visitors / swilling. I'm not at the level yet to ditch the extracts or do proper lagering and while I have access to temp control I can't really tie the fridge up for weeks at a time.

So after some reading I was thinking the following.

MJ's Czech Pilsener 1.7kg
LME 1kg
Saaz 25g (5 min @ 80 degrees)
S05 yeast 11g

A week at 16 degrees then a week at ambient (around 22 degrees). Cold crash and finings 2 days before bottling. Conditioning at ambient.

Thoughts / advice?

 

[TheWiggman]

Faults are less forgiving

That's why they're hard. I agree with everything you said.

 

[Goose]

Oxford definition of difficult "needing much effort or skill to accomplish"

hmm. Sorry, I think lagers are more difficult. B)

 

[Bribie G]

In most State and National competitions, home brewed lagers usually seem to get marked in the low to mid 30s ( out of a possible score of 50) with very few ever approaching the low 40s, as opposed to other styles such as APAs, dry stouts etc that generally score higher.

This is definitely a result of the difficulty of producing a clean lager that can honestly pass the BJCP guidelines. I have full mash recipes that should give me a Cascade Premium or a Melbourne Bitter or a Carlsberg every time, just going on the recipe, but I've only ever cracked it a few times.

I think the best way to make a really good lager is to buy several hectares of industrial land, engage architects and brewing engineers...........

 

[bob 1980]

My second larger has turned out great. Will definitely be brewing it again