Okay Okay...you might have noticed that this label image has been recycled, but I like it, and I think I will used it for my pils beers moving forward. I mean c'mon, that's a picture I took on the peak of the German Alps! It's the perfect segue into the traditional beverage that follows it.
Noble Spring w/Saphir - brewed October 19, 2014 (3.75 gallons post-boil)
- Pils malt: 6 lbs - Columbus: 1/4 oz @ 60 - Saphir: 1/2 oz @ 20 and 10 - Hallertau Mittelfruh: 1/2 @ 15 - 34/70 slurry
OG 1.054 - IBU 28 - 5.5% abv
This is a very straightforward 1st attempt at a traditional Pils (the columbus was just for an IBU boost so I didn't have to blow through all my Hallertau and Saphir!), so we shall see how it turns out.
Well, I gotta say that this was a pretty decent first shot at a pils, and those that have had access to my kegerator agree! This beer goes down super easy, but it doesn't come across as thin, which is a great thing. I couldn't tell you why the color is what it is (see above pic) because I anticipated a very pale and crystal clear yellow gold. Certainly not a big problem, but I thought I would note what happened (my guess it is simply the maltster of the grain, and I don't recall which one I used). The initial aroma hit is a light hoppy citrusy (orange/tangerine/grapefruit blend) note. That carries over into the taste, but there is a definite grainy crackery malt character holding up the hops. Quite pleasing on all counts. All in all, this a tasty crushable pils. The only thing worth tweaking would be the hops: 1) higher IBU. next time I'll aim for mid 30s and 2). the schedule. I'd reverse the Hallertau and Saphir potentially, just to see what a difference it would make. BUT, that isn't exactly necessary, as this is re-brewable as is.