[Bel Air Brewing]

Thanks again!

Now a serious question, and I am seeking some guidance here...a common theme in the judge scoresheets under Appearance was "head dissipates quickly". And I got dinged 1 point, in most cases, being awarded 2 out of 3.

I have never used Carafoam malt. A friend suggested it. Might it help?

Years ago Chris Colby wrote an article for BYO about how foam was tied to process. I took that to heart.  His point was that process can make more difference than protein laden ingredients.  At least worth considering. https://web.archive.org/web/20090809234712/ttp://byo.com/stories/article/indices/35-head-retention/697-getting-good-beer-foam-techniques

Thanks! I will check it out. I subscribe to this same theory. The head retention for my beers on draft is not an issue. But it must have been something about the bottles, or perhaps their pour technique.

[BrewBama]

https://youtu.be/_EN-RWOxORE

[Bel Air Brewing]

Ok, here are two recipes that did very well in judging.

Vienna Lager - 10 gallons

20 lbs Ireks Vienna Malt
2 lbs Weyermann Carared
2.0 oz Mt. Hood hops, FWH
2.0 oz Mt. Hood hops 20 minutes
75 minute boil
10 gallons mash water
8 gallons HLT water
W34-70 yeast, 9th Generation
IBU 28
Ferment temp: 54 F
4.9% ABV

BJCP Judges comments: "Very nice Vienna. Great clean malt with just enough hops to support. Bitterness is almost too aggressive, but held in check by the malt, with a very nice supporting roll. Well done!"

Score: 41 points


Festbier

10 Gallons
16 lbs Weyermann Floor Malted Bo Pils
8 lbs Ireks Light Munich
3 step infusion mash -
1. 120 F 40 min
2. 146 F 40 min
3. 160 F 30 min
Mash out @ 170 F
2.5 oz Mt. Hood hops - added at beginning of boil.
Either a 75 minute, or 90 minute boil...did not log that.
Diamond Lager Yeast - 6th Generation
Ferment at 50F
5.3% ABV

Judges comments: "Pleasant tasting beer. Crisp, a pleasure to drink. Nice balance of malt / hops, though a little hop dominate in the finish."
Score - 38 points

[Fire Rooster]

Thank You, already converted recipes for next 2 batches.
Lowered ABV a tad, subbing wheat or munich for Carared.
Never used Diamond before.

Thanks

[Bel Air Brewing]

Thank You, already converted recipes for next 2 batches.
Lowered ABV a tad, subbing wheat or munich for Carared.
Never used Diamond before.

Thanks

Diamond is our "daily driver" yeast. Good stuff!

[Bel Air Brewing]

https://youtu.be/_EN-RWOxORE

Watched this last night. So here is my problem...that I did not have in 2020.

Multi-step infusion mash.
10th, 14th,...20th generation yeast.
IBU's not high enough.

My beers from 2020 entered in the competition all scored 3 for 3 in appearance. None of the judges commented on lack of foam / head stability, or dissipation.

[Drewch]

...
3. Schwarzbier (39 points) mini BOS
...
We would be happy to share the above recipes, if anyone is interested....

What's in your Schwarzbier?

[Bel Air Brewing]

...
3. Schwarzbier (39 points) mini BOS
...
We would be happy to share the above recipes, if anyone is interested....

What's in your Schwarzbier?

This is actually a good example. We purchased a commercial German Schwarzbier, to get a comparison.

"Dark Knight"

10 Gallons:
14 lbs Floor Malted Pilsner
3 lbs 60 degree Crystal
1 lb Carabohemian
1/2 lb Bries Chocolate
4 lbs Ireks Munich

2.5 oz Willamette hops, added at beginning of boil.

Step Infusion:
1. 115 for 30 min
2. 146 for 15 min
3. 158 for 15 min
Mash out - 170

Diamond Lager Yeast (harvested, 3rd Gen)

5.35% ABV

Scores:

Aroma - 10 / 12
Appearance - 3 / 3 note - 1/4" persistent tan head.
Flavor - 14 / 20
Mouthfeel - 4 / 5
Overall Impression - 8 / 10
Total - 39 / 50

BJCP Comments:
"Very well balanced between malt and hops, maybe slightly under-carbonated. Nice representation of the style."

"Well crafted. A bit light in color. A bit more caramel notes than ideal. Bump up carbonation a bit and it would come into better balance."

[denny]

I never would have put that amount of cara malts into a Schwarz. Obviously I would be wrong!

[Iliff Ave]

I never would have put that amount of cara malts into a Schwarz. Obviously I would be wrong!

I thought the same thing!

[jeffy]

I never would have put that amount of cara malts into a Schwarz. Obviously I would be wrong!

I thought the same thing!

Me, too.

[Bel Air Brewing]

The Schwarzbier (like most of my entries) was brewed with the sole intention of competition. It was a first time effort. Had our neighbors over last night for multiple samplings of all the beers. They absolutely love this Schwarzbier. It is a good beer, but not one that I prefer, or will brew again.

Note the comments on carbonation. This beer was actually so over-carbonated that I could not fill the bottles without a major "gusher" of foam all over the place. The bottles were filled from a keg.

Also note that one judge said a hint more caramel than ideal.

The commercial example we purchased (German) was nearly identical in flavor profile, but a bit softer.

[jeffy]

The Schwarzbier (like most of my entries) was brewed with the sole intention of competition. It was a first time effort. Had our neighbors over last night for multiple samplings of all the beers. They absolutely love this Schwarzbier. It is a good beer, but not one that I prefer, or will brew again.

Note the comments on carbonation. This beer was actually so over-carbonated that I could not fill the bottles without a major "gusher" of foam all over the place. The bottles were filled from a keg.

Also note that one judge said a hint more caramel than ideal.

The commercial example we purchased (German) was nearly identical in flavor profile, but a bit softer.

When you have gushers of foam when bottling, that means that you are losing that carbonation, not getting it into the bottles.

[Bel Air Brewing]

The Schwarzbier (like most of my entries) was brewed with the sole intention of competition. It was a first time effort. Had our neighbors over last night for multiple samplings of all the beers. They absolutely love this Schwarzbier. It is a good beer, but not one that I prefer, or will brew again.

Note the comments on carbonation. This beer was actually so over-carbonated that I could not fill the bottles without a major "gusher" of foam all over the place. The bottles were filled from a keg.

Also note that one judge said a hint more caramel than ideal.

The commercial example we purchased (German) was nearly identical in flavor profile, but a bit softer.

When you have gushers of foam when bottling, that means that you are losing that carbonation, not getting it into the bottles.

Yes, I agree. The bottles would fill perfectly, until the fill level hit the bottom of the neck, then all hell would break loose!
We used a Beergun V2.