HopRodGR
Well-Known Member
Hello All,
I'm kicking around the idea of trying to brew up a lighter lager that can be a session beer I always have around. What I'm shooting for probably most resembles Sam Adams Light if I had to reference a commercial example. I plan on going with a basic 2 row base, toasting it myself to darken it to about 10L, doing a decoction with a step up to a mash at around 148-150, following by a normal fermentation schedule of about 2 months between the primary and lagering phases. I'm brand new to All-Grain, and part of the reason I want to take a stab at something like this is because it incorporates a few things process-wise that I've never done, but want to learn, not to mention I'm in search of a session beer that I will want to brew repeatedly.
The big challenge is getting the FG where I want. Based on the numbers I've run, my OG will need to be around 1.037-1.039 with an FG around 1.005-1.007, to hit my goal of an ABV of around 4.2% while maintaining a light body. To get that low I know I will need to get pretty good attenuation from my yeast. I've read up on a few strains from Wyeast and WL that state they can get to the high 70's or 80% attenuation, however to hit the OG and FG I noted above, that might need to push a few % points higher.
Does anyone have experience getting a lager down that low? Beyond a low mash temp, oxygenating well, pitching a healthy active starter, and using a high attenuating lager yeast, what else can I do to try hit my target? Considering my lack of experience in this arena, any tips or suggestions would be appreciated.
I'm kicking around the idea of trying to brew up a lighter lager that can be a session beer I always have around. What I'm shooting for probably most resembles Sam Adams Light if I had to reference a commercial example. I plan on going with a basic 2 row base, toasting it myself to darken it to about 10L, doing a decoction with a step up to a mash at around 148-150, following by a normal fermentation schedule of about 2 months between the primary and lagering phases. I'm brand new to All-Grain, and part of the reason I want to take a stab at something like this is because it incorporates a few things process-wise that I've never done, but want to learn, not to mention I'm in search of a session beer that I will want to brew repeatedly.
The big challenge is getting the FG where I want. Based on the numbers I've run, my OG will need to be around 1.037-1.039 with an FG around 1.005-1.007, to hit my goal of an ABV of around 4.2% while maintaining a light body. To get that low I know I will need to get pretty good attenuation from my yeast. I've read up on a few strains from Wyeast and WL that state they can get to the high 70's or 80% attenuation, however to hit the OG and FG I noted above, that might need to push a few % points higher.
Does anyone have experience getting a lager down that low? Beyond a low mash temp, oxygenating well, pitching a healthy active starter, and using a high attenuating lager yeast, what else can I do to try hit my target? Considering my lack of experience in this arena, any tips or suggestions would be appreciated.