Haegele Helles

[Jay]

Well - I brewed this two weeks ago with Mitches help. Did some interesting things, the most interesting was the whirlpool/chill method - VERY cool to do. I made a starter from an old package of White Labs - yet I saw no real activity in the starter after 3 days. I finally decided to pitch it in the beer at 48f. It's stayed at 48f for 2 weeks now. About 3 day's ago - I checked the bubbler and sure enough there was a little positive pressure. Yesterday there was about 2 inches of Krousan on top :) Somethings getting busy! FINALLY.

In your past experiences, does a lager usually take this long to show signs of active fermentation. I'm sure something is going on and at the lower temperature more CO2 can go into solution - so the bubbler will take a bit longer. But no real visual activity in carboy :|

The beer is very clear (as it should be) and the amount of trub at the bottom is abut 3/4 inch. This is in my better bottle with a port at the bottom (now) and with the dry-air lock on the top (I really like it - no worrying about liquid!) Having the port will make racking it EASY! Cannot wait and give it a try - with the dry-lock, should not have the suck-back issue ;)

[JeffH]

Since I'm so close, I'll help taste-test it.

[Jay]

Middle of Nov is when it will be racked for the first time. Hopeing to take it down to my parents for T-Day ;) Shooting for 4 kegs of beer to go down with, some back with 0 - well empty kegs... ;)

[JeffH]

You know.. I always wonder what happens to all the beer you brew. :)

[G_Reichow]

is this that light beer for your dad?

[Jay]

I filter it ;)

Actually, I just put my IPA on tap if want would like a sample. I'm about to put my Irish Red on tap this week - should be carbed next week sometime. I'm going to drop the root beer off the tap - nobody is hitting it. The other beers for some reason dissapear ;) I think it's a beer ninja that I'm not seeing - or it explains my my son is sleeping so well at night :|

[Jay]

yea - its not actually a light beer. Check the recipe. However it's a great cross-over beer (if it turns out) for the BMC drinkers that always show up for family gatherings. I'm looking at doing a mild for the trip as well (gotta brew SOMETHING this weekend ;))

[JeffH]

ooo IPA.. I'm there... for 1.. 2.. maybe 3!

[JeffH]

or you can fill up my growler and return it ;)

[JMUBrew]

Hrmm...wonder if I can swing by for that...:)

[Jay]

Well - I kegged the beer today for the great trip south on y convert mission :) I'll tell ya what - this turned out AWESOMELY :) I am very happy with it as it is my first attempt at make a lager. I have no DMS, which is very nice - or Atolysis (sp) or the butter lager notes. Just a nice clean crisp beer that leaves me wanting more :|

All in all I would dub it a success - I wish I would have kegged this a day before so I could bring some to the meeting :| I over carbed my little rocket - so it's a little heavy in the CO2 area, but after letting it sit for a few min's all is happy :) Including me!

(it's after noon SOMEWHERE)

[JMUBrew]

Leaving work now... :)

[JMUBrew]

Hey Jay, did you lager this sucker on the yeast cake for 6 weeks after primary?

[Jay]

umm - 8 weeks total - at 48f for 6 weeks, then cold crashed it (remember my bottle looked kinda funny ;))

[JMUBrew]

Right right, I remember that. Main thing I was driving at is that you kept it on the yeast the whole time? (Just for clarification)

[Jay]

yes - never transfered out of primary. Racked straight to keg for serving and yea - it's yummy ;) and on tap :)

[JMUBrew]

Good to know! :)

[JeffH]

let's get some!

[JMUBrew]

Hrmm...can I bring a growler over on Friday? 8)

[JeffH]

me too? Wait.. GG can bring back MY growler and I'll use that

[JMUBrew]

hehe, yes I could couldn't I? Wait...where is that thing?

[JeffH]

doh

[JeffH]

I actually had to use a growler to store wine I bottled this week as I ran out of extra bottles. 2L of wine... should be interesting. I can bring it over if we hit Jay's for some helles

[JMUBrew]

haha, that'd be a night! :P

[Jay]

Let's all hold our breath and wait for everyone to show up! :P BTW, I'm not a brew pub - no grower fills - we'll yea I guess growler fills, but it will make OD look like budget beer ;)

[JeffH]

we can't legally pay you for growler fills... maybe some grains

[Jay]

You can pay me for all the ingredients! :P and I charge per yeast cell ;)

[JeffH]

how about a swap of one Bell Amber or Porter for some Helles?