Great lager recipes

[bob 1980]

I am new to the brew scene but have a 2 keg set up i cant seem to get my lagers right. I have done a couple of pale ale's that turned out great.
Any recipes or advice would be great

 

[waggastew]

How do you brew? All grain, partial mash, kit with grains, kit with brew enhancer?

 

[bob 1980]

I have been trying extract kit brewing

 

[bob 1980]

Kit with grains

 

[waggastew]

Some ideas here

http://aussiehomebrewer.com/topic/51065-easy-extract-lager-style-recipe-wanted/

 

[bob 1980]

My last brew was
250g larger pilsner grain
3KG liquid light malt
30g tettnanger @ 60min boil
25g tettnanger @ 5min boil
2 x saflager 34-70
I think the recipe is fine i think i need help with the timing of the process

 

[Yob]

Lager = beer

Larger = bigger

 

[GrumpyPaul]

I read the thread title as "Great BIG recipes"

 

[slcmorro]

I prefer smaller recipes myself.

 

[squirt in the turns]

Hey, who doesn't want more beer?

 

[bob 1980]

Whoops stupid phone

 

[MickGC]

What is your fermenting temp like? Are you controlling the temp at all?

 

[bob 1980]

Yes i have kept it at 12 deg for 2 weeks then into my secondary for 3 weeks then i have keged the beer. It has a honey taste too it, maybe i should just leave it longer

 

[Black n Tan]

The honey flavour is probably 2,3pentanedione. Perform a diacetyl rest next time.

 

[waggastew]

Ferment at 12degC for about ~10-14days, let rise to 18degC for 3 days, crash chill, gelatine and Polyclar, keg and lager.

 

[AndrewQLD]

fixed title

 

[bob 1980]

Thanks andrew.
I did the Drest thanks for the advise peeps as i said only new to the game its my third beer i think patients is the trait i need to learn.
Might do a few ale's between lager's

 

[bob 1980]

What is polyclar and gelatine wagga

 

[waggastew]

Clarifiers, they help yeast/particles/haze settle out of your beer, basically speeding up lagering. They are not necessary if you keg your beer and let it sit cold for a few weeks.

 

[TheWiggman]

Mate, if there's anything I've learnt it's that lagers are HARD. Anyone can make beer, but it's not easy to make good beer.
If you think the recipe is the answer then it's time to step back and look at brewing - hops, rests, fermentation temps, time, water, sanitisation, yeast, yeast management, patience etc. etc.
It's complex and requires skill to make beer. It requires more technique to make a good lager than an ale even though at the end of the day, you will make beer.

Not trying to shoot you down but get onto making beer and making lots of it. If you think 'lager' is the stuff on the tap at most Aussie pubs then you might be in trouble. Many brewers have tried to make VB, New and the like and can't (even though some/many will argue it's not worth it). There are so many nuances to it that - especially considering you don't have the grain specs and yeast - ultimately replicating megaswill can't be done on the home brew level. You'll get close, but not there. If you're good enough you'll get better, and THAT'S when the real satisfaction sets in.

When you say you can't get them right, what are you expecting? Do as Stu say, skip a secondary (in my opinion) and just give it more time. Make sure your yeast is rehydrated and ensure you can get your FG down to around 1.008. What have you been achieving?

Ed: shameless statement to consider all grain