Bearded Tree Helles Lager
Embrace the authentic taste of Bavaria with this smooth and malty Helles Lager. This brew highlights the luscious flavors of German crystal malts, delivering a rich, toasty sweetness perfectly balanced with the mild bitterness of Styrian Golding hops. Perfect for summer gatherings or cozy evenings, this lager refreshes while inviting you to savor its sophisticated character.
ingredients
- 9 lbs German Pilsner Malt
- 1 lb German Crystal Malt (60L)
- 0.5 lb Munich Malt
- 1.0 oz Styrian Golding Hops (bittering, 60 min)
- 0.5 oz Styrian Golding Hops (flavor, 15 min)
- 1 Whirlfloc Tablet (optional, 15 min)
- 1.0 oz Styrian Golding Hops (aroma, 5 min)
- 1 packet Bavarian Lager Yeast (Wyeast 2206 or similar)
- 5 oz Priming Sugar (for bottling)
- 1 Star San (for sanitation)
steps
- 1.
Begin by heating 3.5 gallons of water to 165°F for mashing.
- 2.
Add malt grains to the water and maintain a mash temperature of 152°F for 60 minutes.
- 3.
Sparge with an additional 3.5 gallons of 170°F water to collect about 6.5 gallons of wort.
- 4.
Bring the wort to a boil and add 1.0 oz of Styrian Golding hops.
- 5.
After 45 minutes of boiling, add 0.5 oz of Styrian Golding hops and the Whirlfloc tablet.
- 6.
Add the final 1.0 oz of Styrian Golding hops 5 minutes before the boil ends.
- 7.
Chill the wort down to about 50°F and transfer it to a sanitized fermentation vessel.
- 8.
Pitch the yeast and seal the fermentation vessel with an airlock.
- 9.
Ferment at 50°F for about 2 weeks, then raise the temperature to 60°F for a diacetyl rest for 2-3 days.
- 10.
Bottling time: dissolve priming sugar in 2 cups of water, boil, cool, and add to the bottling bucket.
- 11.
Transfer lager to the bottling bucket, fill bottles, and cap them.
- 12.
Allow bottles to condition at room temperature for 2 weeks before refrigerating and enjoying!