Hoppy Holidays!

Batch No. 42 - Vienna Lee Blues

Vienna Lee Blues

Brewed - December 17, 2011

Style - Vienna Lager

Ingredients:

• 15.5 lbs. Vienna
• 2.0 lbs. Pilsner
• 2.0 lbs. Munich
• 2.0 lbs. CaraMunich

• 2.0 oz. Hallertaur (60)
• 1.0 oz. Hallertaur (20)

• Wyeast #2124 Bohemian Lager (800 ml starter / 1 pack)
• Wyeast #2308 Munich Lager (800 ml starter / 1 pack)

OG – 1.057
Primary – 35 days
Secondary - 42 days

Kegged -March 3, 2012

Wyeast #2124 - Bohemian:
FG - 1.011
Attenuation - 80.7%
ABV - 6%

Wyeast #2124 - Munich:
FG - 1.014
Attenuation - 75.4%
ABV - 5.6%


Notes:

• Trying out two different lager yeasts
• Mash at 154° and 60 min boil
• Started fermentation temp at 47° in my chest freezer
• Primary for 35 days ~ 47°
• Diacetyl Rest at 65° for 3 days before transfer to kegs on 1/21/12

Chest Freezer and time for Lagers!!

I finally picked up a chest freezer a month or so ago via CraigsList and then it took me a while to get around to building a base to make it easier to move, clean, etc. Also picked up a temperature controller to "trick" the freezer into staying about freezing at a temperature that I want. Have everything hooked up and will be brewing my lager this weekend. I'll get more photos up once I have some beer in there fermenting, kegs, etc.

I've wanted a chest freezer for a long time for several reasons

• Keg Storage - I've been taking up so much space all year in the common kegerator and this will give me space to carb up kegs, etc.
• Keg and Bottle Conditioning - this will give me space for kegs/bottles to lager/garde, cold crash, cold condition and store for longer keeping in the summer months
  
• General Storage - for yeast, hops, etc.
• Possible expansion into a kegerator later w/ a few tap handles
  
• Lagers, Lagers, Lagers!!! This biggest reason as now I can regulate the temp to ferment lagers throughout the year...very excited for this b/c I've only done two lagers and there are a bunch of different lager styles that I look forward to brewing - starting things off with a Vienna Lager this weekend!!