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Author Topic: Classic American Pilsner  (Read 10518 times)

Offline klickitat jim

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Classic American Pilsner
« on: January 15, 2014, 04:11:36 am »
Why is there no commercial example given in the style guide?

Offline jeffy

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Re: Classic American Pilsner
« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2014, 06:02:44 am »
Why is there no commercial example given in the style guide?

It's extinct except for homebrewers.  There are some newer examples out there, made since the guidelines were last updated.  Coors has one called Batch 45 or something, but I didn't find the hop character very noticeable.
Jeff Gladish, Tampa (989.3, 175.1 Apparent Rennarian)
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Offline majorvices

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Re: Classic American Pilsner
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2014, 06:27:36 am »
I've thought about doing one and still might, but it probably won't be for a couple more years.

Offline punatic

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Re: Classic American Pilsner
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2014, 06:41:23 am »
I've thought about doing one and still might, but it probably won't be for a couple more years.

You're so trendy!   ;D
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Offline Jimmy K

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Re: Classic American Pilsner
« Reply #4 on: January 15, 2014, 06:46:49 am »
Because it's classic!   :P

This was one of the beers on my tasting exam. It was a torpedo! Never saw it coming! Baaahhh!! You only see it brewed commercially as brewpub exclusives and such.
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Offline majorvices

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Re: Classic American Pilsner
« Reply #5 on: January 15, 2014, 07:00:03 am »
I've thought about doing one and still might, but it probably won't be for a couple more years.

You're so trendy!   ;D
 

I have a great name that begs for the beer. ;)

Offline MDixon

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Re: Classic American Pilsner
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2014, 07:23:19 am »
It's not exactly extinct. Some breweries and brewpubs have made it over the years, but I'm not sure anyone with wide distribution has one.

The last one I remember was Capital 1900 out of Capital in Madison. IMO it needed more corn and hops and was a little too plain for the style.
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Offline reverseapachemaster

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Re: Classic American Pilsner
« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2014, 08:32:29 am »
Yeah, the Batch 19 is a pre-prohibition style CAP by Coors. I believe they also produce one that is only distributed in Colorado under the Colorado Native brand.
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Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Classic American Pilsner
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2014, 08:56:04 am »
For some background you can read this.
http://morebeer.com/brewingtechniques/library/backissues/issue3.5/renner.html

Straub is making one, 1872 Pilsner, no idea how good. One of the local places, Wolverine, makes a CAP in the summer.

The guidelines reflect what is being entered in large amounts in homebrew competitions. CAP was so it got a category in the 2008 guidelines, so did Double IPAs. There are beers that are not in the guidelines, see cat. 23. If I brewed a Tmave Pivo it would have to go in cat. 23, as those are styles in the Czech Republic, but are mostly unknown here and not entered in quantity in competitions.
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Offline chumley

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Re: Classic American Pilsner
« Reply #9 on: January 15, 2014, 09:40:28 am »
Full Sail's Session is a pretty good example, IMHO.

http://www.fullsailbrewing.com/session-lager.cfm

Offline denny

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Re: Classic American Pilsner
« Reply #10 on: January 15, 2014, 09:57:33 am »
Full Sail's Session is a pretty good example, IMHO.

http://www.fullsailbrewing.com/session-lager.cfm

It is a good beer, but I don't think it's hoppy enough for a true CAP.
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Offline jeffy

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Re: Classic American Pilsner
« Reply #11 on: January 15, 2014, 10:41:55 am »
I shared my homebrewed CAP with Jeff Renner last weekend since he's in FL for a couple weeks.  This version of his recipe is slightly too bitter and to me has just a bit too much Cluster hop flavor.  I am lagering the other half of the batch and decided to dry hop it with Mittelfruh.  He suggested I use first wort hopping the next time.
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Offline AmandaK

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Re: Classic American Pilsner
« Reply #12 on: January 15, 2014, 10:42:42 am »
Full Sail's Session is a pretty good example, IMHO.

http://www.fullsailbrewing.com/session-lager.cfm

It is a good beer, but I don't think it's hoppy enough for a true CAP.

This is one of the many reasons I'm looking forward to the guideline update. "Medium to high hop aroma/flavor/bitterness" leaves a lot to be interpreted if you don't have a classic example. I brew a CAP with 6 oz of Saaz - usual comments are 'not hoppy enough', whatever that means. I might just enter a Prima Pils type German Pils as a CAP and see if that's hoppy enough! HA!
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Offline Three

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Re: Classic American Pilsner
« Reply #13 on: January 15, 2014, 10:49:48 am »
I have a CAP in my to brew list.  Just looking at the simple ingredients makes me want to brew it and see what I get.  Back in the day we drank mostly lagers/pilsners.  This should be a good "starting point" to see if I want to tweak up a pilsner recipe to have as a house regular. 

Jim, do you use beersmith?   I have the Renner "Your Father's Mustache", and Jamil's "Classic American Pilsner" basic recipes ready.   You will need to tweak them as I just put them in as they were written.  Renner's is probably more true to style with 6 row, but Jamil's looks fine with a blend of 2 row. 

Anyway let me know and I'll send you the recipes.......
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Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Classic American Pilsner
« Reply #14 on: January 15, 2014, 10:50:50 am »
Full Sail's Session is a pretty good example, IMHO.

http://www.fullsailbrewing.com/session-lager.cfm

It is a good beer, but I don't think it's hoppy enough for a true CAP.

This is one of the many reasons I'm looking forward to the guideline update. "Medium to high hop aroma/flavor/bitterness" leaves a lot to be interpreted if you don't have a classic example. I brew a CAP with 6 oz of Saaz - usual comments are 'not hoppy enough', whatever that means. I might just enter a Prima Pils type German Pils as a CAP and see if that's hoppy enough! HA!

The one I had in the second round last year was said to be not bitter enough. It was designed for 38 IBUs, and was about 1.050. FWH was used, so I might bump up the cluster addition next time.
Jeff Rankert
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