Bier Making and Bottling

Its been some time now since our last post.  We have done so many things since then....Thanksgiving......our wonderful trip to Tejas....and some brewing and bottling.  I would like to fill you in on the beer experiences.  The bottle above is from Anchor Brewing Co.  It's their annual holiday ale.  It is sold from November to January every year.  This is their 37th year and the recipe changes every year.  I plan to quaff this on Christmas Day.  Stay tuned for the critique.

With the season getting cooler here in WA our garage is perfect for lagering.  I brewed my first lager (Vienna Lager) (on the right) of the season in late October, I fermented in the garage for 2 weeks and then lagered in the brew fridge for 4 weeks.  I bottled it this past Thursday.  While the Vienna was fermenting and conditioning I brewed another lager (Munich Helles).  A Munich lager is lighter and more of a "lawnmowing brew".    

Munich Helles recipe:
10# Pilsner Malt
2# Munich
1# Carapils
.5# Vienna
.5oz Hallertau  60 min
.5oz Tetnanger 60 min
.5oz Hallertau  15 min
.5oz Tetnanger 15 min
1oz Saaz  0 min
Yeast:  White Labs German Lager (used in the Vienna)
First Runnings: 1.075
Last Runnings: 1.024
OG: 1.069
SRM 7
IBU 23

After the Vienna was bottled, the Munich Helles got racked from primary to secondary and off it went to the brew fridge to lager for the next 6-8 weeks.  I purchased some grain today to get ready for the last brew of the year.  THB is going to brew a Pilsner in the style of the Czech.  Next Saturday (Christmas Eve) will be the day.  I will keep you posted.

My favorite tree at Papa's farm.  We will post a Tejas blog soon.  Happy Holidays!!!