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Author Topic: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015  (Read 8874 times)

Offline jeffy

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #45 on: September 17, 2015, 06:43:56 pm »
So as it turns out I have both of these batches on hand.  I poured the 6/30 and the 8/11 into judging cups to compare.  They are the same and very close to 7L.
It doesn't surprise me at all that a brewery of this caliber would have quality control to make the beers the same.
Jeff Gladish, Tampa (989.3, 175.1 Apparent Rennarian)
Homebrewing since 1990
AHA member since 1991, now a lifetime member
BJCP judge since 1995

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #46 on: September 17, 2015, 06:50:26 pm »
How many of you have been to Oktoberfest in Munich, where they serve Festbier?

I need to seek out some of this to see how it compares.
Jeff Rankert
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Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #47 on: September 17, 2015, 07:04:45 pm »
How many of you have been to Oktoberfest in Munich, where they serve Festbier?

I need to seek out some of this to see how it compares.

I have a few times. What I drank was to hop dominant in comparison. I lived Germany for 5 years.


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Ken- Chagrin Falls, OH
CPT, U.S.Army
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harveys-Brewhaus/405092862905115

http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Science_of_Mashing

Serving:        In Process:
Vienna IPA          O'Fest
Dort
Mead                 
Cider                         
Ger'merican Blonde
Amber Ale
Next:
Ger Pils
O'Fest

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #48 on: September 17, 2015, 07:09:37 pm »
How many of you have been to Oktoberfest in Munich, where they serve Festbier?

I need to seek out some of this to see how it compares.

I have a few times. What I drank was to hop dominant in comparison. I lived Germany for 5 years.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Only went once, the beers were malty with a dry/neutral finish so that you could drink more. Which I did, so once was enough.

Only 1.5 years in Deutschland for me.
Jeff Rankert
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BJCP National
Ann Arbor Brewers Guild
Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #49 on: September 17, 2015, 07:12:03 pm »

How many of you have been to Oktoberfest in Munich, where they serve Festbier?

I need to seek out some of this to see how it compares.

I have a few times. What I drank was to hop dominant in comparison. I lived Germany for 5 years.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Only went once, the beers were malty with a dry/neutral finish so that you could drink more. Which I did, so once was enough.

Only 1.5 years in Deutschland for me.

Agreed. You can have Malty without sweet.... And that's what the fest beer is to me.


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Ken- Chagrin Falls, OH
CPT, U.S.Army
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harveys-Brewhaus/405092862905115

http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Science_of_Mashing

Serving:        In Process:
Vienna IPA          O'Fest
Dort
Mead                 
Cider                         
Ger'merican Blonde
Amber Ale
Next:
Ger Pils
O'Fest

Offline Iliff Ave

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #50 on: September 17, 2015, 08:16:39 pm »
I like this beer and I usually find U.S. O'Fest beers a little too malty, kind of the same malt flavor as an Irish Red if you know what I mean. 

Yep, exactly. Bad examples have too much Caramunich/Caravienne sweet character IMO - I like the ones with little or none like this one.

The one batch I brewed turned out this way. It was tasty but a bit over the top with its malt character and a bit too sweet. When I brew one again it will be substantially different.
On Tap/Bottled: IPL, Adjunct Vienna, Golden Stout, Honey Lager
Fermenting: IPA
Up Next: mexi lager, Germerican pale ale

Offline brewday

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #51 on: September 17, 2015, 08:29:49 pm »
I've never been too crazy about Oktoberfests in general, for me just kind of an annual six pack to buy.  But if this was the standard for the style then I would be crazy for them.  By the way if you like this one, I recommend giving Firestone's Oaktoberfest (not wood aged) a try.

Offline 69franx

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #52 on: September 17, 2015, 08:36:32 pm »
I just brewed 10 gallons on saturday. Essentially BCS recipe for half and the other half git the same percentages of pilsner, munich II, and vienna, leaving out the caramunich. I made the BCS version last year and could not get it to budge from 1.025, down from 1.056. It turned out darker and obviously overly sweet. The overwhelming thought from the forum was to leave out the caramunich, so now I can compare for myself. Good luck with yours when you do brew it again
Frank L.
Fermenting: Nothing (ugh!)
Conditioning: Nothing (UGH!)
In keg: Nothing (Double UGH!)
In the works:  House IPA, Dark Mild, Ballantine Ale clone(still trying to work this one into the schedule)

Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #53 on: September 18, 2015, 04:39:50 am »

I just brewed 10 gallons on saturday. Essentially BCS recipe for half and the other half git the same percentages of pilsner, munich II, and vienna, leaving out the caramunich. I made the BCS version last year and could not get it to budge from 1.025, down from 1.056. It turned out darker and obviously overly sweet. The overwhelming thought from the forum was to leave out the caramunich, so now I can compare for myself. Good luck with yours when you do brew it again

I use some carahell in mine- finished 1.012 and 1.011 on two batches this year.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Ken- Chagrin Falls, OH
CPT, U.S.Army
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harveys-Brewhaus/405092862905115

http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Science_of_Mashing

Serving:        In Process:
Vienna IPA          O'Fest
Dort
Mead                 
Cider                         
Ger'merican Blonde
Amber Ale
Next:
Ger Pils
O'Fest

Offline erockrph

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #54 on: September 18, 2015, 07:48:07 am »

I just brewed 10 gallons on saturday. Essentially BCS recipe for half and the other half git the same percentages of pilsner, munich II, and vienna, leaving out the caramunich. I made the BCS version last year and could not get it to budge from 1.025, down from 1.056. It turned out darker and obviously overly sweet. The overwhelming thought from the forum was to leave out the caramunich, so now I can compare for myself. Good luck with yours when you do brew it again

I use some carahell in mine- finished 1.012 and 1.011 on two batches this year.
Yeah, something sounds off about an FG in the 1.020's. Even when I brewed the BCS recipe as-is with CaraMunich III, I finished in the 1.012 range. I have since replaced the CaraMunich with half as much Aromatic. It boosts the crusty/toasty/Munichy goodness that I like without adding sweetness or fullness.
Eric B.

Finally got around to starting a homebrewing blog: The Hop Whisperer

Offline 69franx

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #55 on: September 18, 2015, 07:53:21 am »
I will have to try some aromatic or the carahell the. Ext time I go this route
Frank L.
Fermenting: Nothing (ugh!)
Conditioning: Nothing (UGH!)
In keg: Nothing (Double UGH!)
In the works:  House IPA, Dark Mild, Ballantine Ale clone(still trying to work this one into the schedule)

Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #56 on: September 18, 2015, 07:54:03 am »

I just brewed 10 gallons on saturday. Essentially BCS recipe for half and the other half git the same percentages of pilsner, munich II, and vienna, leaving out the caramunich. I made the BCS version last year and could not get it to budge from 1.025, down from 1.056. It turned out darker and obviously overly sweet. The overwhelming thought from the forum was to leave out the caramunich, so now I can compare for myself. Good luck with yours when you do brew it again


I use some carahell in mine- finished 1.012 and 1.011 on two batches this year.
Yeah, something sounds off about an FG in the 1.020's. Even when I brewed the BCS recipe as-is with CaraMunich III, I finished in the 1.012 range. I have since replaced the CaraMunich with half as much Aromatic. It boosts the crusty/toasty/Munichy goodness that I like without adding sweetness or fullness.

and with SN FG of 1.014, it doesn't come across as heavy or sweet at all...just touch bitter on the 6/30 batch I have.
Ken- Chagrin Falls, OH
CPT, U.S.Army
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harveys-Brewhaus/405092862905115

http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Science_of_Mashing

Serving:        In Process:
Vienna IPA          O'Fest
Dort
Mead                 
Cider                         
Ger'merican Blonde
Amber Ale
Next:
Ger Pils
O'Fest

Offline 69franx

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #57 on: September 18, 2015, 07:55:49 am »
It was my first lager, so I'm sure the issues were mainly mine. The suggestions to leave out the caramunich started as soon as I started asking questions prior to brewing it. Fingers crossed for these 2 batches running the fast (er) lager method for them
Frank L.
Fermenting: Nothing (ugh!)
Conditioning: Nothing (UGH!)
In keg: Nothing (Double UGH!)
In the works:  House IPA, Dark Mild, Ballantine Ale clone(still trying to work this one into the schedule)

Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #58 on: September 18, 2015, 07:59:02 am »
I will have to try some aromatic or the carahell the. Ext time I go this route

i love the carahell- 8-12 lovi and adds some nice malt attributes in combination with the munich and vienna i use.
here's what i rolled with this year:

5 lbs 8.0 oz Vienna Malt (5.0 SRM)   
4 lbs Munich Malt light (7.0 SRM)
1 lbs Munich Dark (BestMälz) (15.0 SRM)
1 lbs carahell (12.0 SRM)
Ken- Chagrin Falls, OH
CPT, U.S.Army
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harveys-Brewhaus/405092862905115

http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Science_of_Mashing

Serving:        In Process:
Vienna IPA          O'Fest
Dort
Mead                 
Cider                         
Ger'merican Blonde
Amber Ale
Next:
Ger Pils
O'Fest

Offline blatz

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #59 on: September 18, 2015, 08:00:53 am »
It was my first lager, so I'm sure the issues were mainly mine. The suggestions to leave out the caramunich started as soon as I started asking questions prior to brewing it. Fingers crossed for these 2 batches running the fast (er) lager method for them

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