[TXFlyGuy]

Honestly I would brew something like the brewbama recipe. It seems like you have something else mind so I would just move forward.

Like this?

13 lbs Pils
4 lbs Munich
3 lbs CaraMunich
1 lb Carafa II

The above is from the link provided by BrewBama.

The intent is to brew something our wife's will like. They drink Guinness. And they like it. We don't want to make a stout, but a dark lager. Rich, full bodied, with good malt forward character, balanced by hops. It is not really intended to be a BJCP profile beer.

Again, suggestions and/or comments are appreciated!

[BrewBama]

24% crystal malt is too much for any beer but that’s just my opinion which I realize doesn’t hold much weight. I would expect mostly pils as the base. Maybe push the ibus up around 35 to cut through the malt?

I’m sure it will make amazing beer. Disregard. Brew on

I like to hang out at ~5% Crystal/Caramel/Cara myself.

I could never get over Pete’s Wicked Ale that came in at ~17% C60 but they do cut it with ~4% choc.


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[Megary]

The intent is to brew something our wife's will like. They drink Guinness. And they like it. We don't want to make a stout, but a dark lager. Rich, full bodied, with good malt forward character, balanced by hops. It is not really intended to be a BJCP profile beer.

Again, suggestions and/or comments are appreciated!

"Rich, full bodied, with good malt forward character, balanced by hops" is not exactly how I would go about designing a beer that Guinness lovers might like.   

I kid.
Sort of. 


And I agree with the above posters, that's a lot of crystal but if you are going for full-bodied...
Still, I think you could get away with half that and still meet your goals.
Good luck!

[brian_welch]

Take a look at this thread on Beer Advocate.  Hard to go wrong with input from Evan Rail:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/bohemian-dunkel-recipe-doesnt-add-up.232847/page-2

[TXFlyGuy]

The intent is to brew something our wife's will like. They drink Guinness. And they like it. We don't want to make a stout, but a dark lager. Rich, full bodied, with good malt forward character, balanced by hops. It is not really intended to be a BJCP profile beer.

Again, suggestions and/or comments are appreciated!

"Rich, full bodied, with good malt forward character, balanced by hops" is not exactly how I would go about designing a beer that Guinness lovers might like.   

I kid.
Sort of. 


And I agree with the above posters, that's a lot of crystal but if you are going for full-bodied...
Still, I think you could get away with half that and still meet your goals.
Good luck!

The CaraBohemian has been eliminated...don’t like the flavor of the grains!
CaraMunich is now 1 lb.
We will still use the Carared - 1/2 lb.

[hopfenundmalz]

24% crystal malt is too much for any beer but that’s just my opinion which I realize doesn’t hold much weight. I would expect mostly pils as the base. Maybe push the ibus up around 35 to cut through the malt?

I’m sure it will make amazing beer. Disregard. Brew on

For these beers 15% is not too much. That flies in the face of today's Homebrew conventional wisdom. 24%? I think I wouldn't brew with that much, but what do I know? I thought 15% would not be good, but it was.

[Iliff Ave]

24% crystal malt is too much for any beer but that’s just my opinion which I realize doesn’t hold much weight. I would expect mostly pils as the base. Maybe push the ibus up around 35 to cut through the malt?

I’m sure it will make amazing beer. Disregard. Brew on

For these beers 15% is not too much. That fly's in the face of today's Homebrew conventional wisdom. 24%? I think I wouldn't brew with that much, but what do I know? I thought 15% would not be good, but it was.

That’s why I told him to brew on. 24% is a lot more than 15% in my opinion. If you think 24% could be great I’m sure it could be too.

[TXFlyGuy]

24% crystal malt is too much for any beer but that’s just my opinion which I realize doesn’t hold much weight. I would expect mostly pils as the base. Maybe push the ibus up around 35 to cut through the malt?

I’m sure it will make amazing beer. Disregard. Brew on

For these beers 15% is not too much. That fly's in the face of today's Homebrew conventional wisdom. 24%? I think I wouldn't brew with that much, but what do I know? I thought 15% would not be good, but it was.

That’s why I told him to brew on. 24% is a lot more than 15% in my opinion. If you think 24% could be great I’m sure it could be too.

Note that based on everyone’s input, the grain bill has been modified. See above post.

[Iliff Ave]

24% crystal malt is too much for any beer but that’s just my opinion which I realize doesn’t hold much weight. I would expect mostly pils as the base. Maybe push the ibus up around 35 to cut through the malt?

I’m sure it will make amazing beer. Disregard. Brew on

For these beers 15% is not too much. That fly's in the face of today's Homebrew conventional wisdom. 24%? I think I wouldn't brew with that much, but what do I know? I thought 15% would not be good, but it was.

That’s why I told him to brew on. 24% is a lot more than 15% in my opinion. If you think 24% could be great I’m sure it could be too.

Note that based on everyone’s input, the grain bill has been modified. See above post.

I realize that. I was just responding to Jeff. I also realize I’m not being helpful at this point and derailing. Carry on.

[TXFlyGuy]

Just so all of you know, your input was not only sought, but much appreciated.
Stand by for a full progress report on this beer.
We have some perfect yeast slurry from a previous brew, and this should work nicely.

[BrewBama]

...

The above is from the link provided by BrewBama.

...

Note: that’s for 11.25 gal. Scale accordingly.

FWIW: Ivan Chramosil, who served as the brewmaster at U Fleků for over 44 years, recommends 50 percent Pilsner malt, between 30 and 40 percent Munich malt, up to 15 percent of a caramel malt like CaraMunich, and at most 5 percent of a very dark malt like Weyermann’s Carafa II Special.


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[TXFlyGuy]

...

The above is from the link provided by BrewBama.

...

Note: that’s for 11.25 gal. Scale accordingly.

FWIW: Ivan Chramosil, who served as the brewmaster at U Fleků for over 44 years, recommends 50 percent Pilsner malt, between 30 and 40 percent Munich malt, up to 15 percent of a caramel malt like CaraMunich, and at most 5 percent of a very dark malt like Weyermann’s Carafa II Special.
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Our final volume will be 8.5 gallons.
U Fleku? Drank a lot of beer there! And the food was good too.
Our recipe will be in the general ballpark.

Thanks again for all of the suggestions. You have saved me from making a beer that would be non-drinkable.

[hopfenundmalz]

...

The above is from the link provided by BrewBama.

...

Note: that’s for 11.25 gal. Scale accordingly.

FWIW: Ivan Chramosil, who served as the brewmaster at U Fleků for over 44 years, recommends 50 percent Pilsner malt, between 30 and 40 percent Munich malt, up to 15 percent of a caramel malt like CaraMunich, and at most 5 percent of a very dark malt like Weyermann’s Carafa II Special.


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The 10P that I brewed was 50% Weyermann Bohemian Pils, 30% Wyermann Dark Munich, 15% CaraBohemian, 5% Carafa Special. It really was a great beer.

I've been thinking I need a stronger version, like U Fleku.

[ynotbrusum]

Remember that a Dunkel needs to be highly drinkable.  More Pils malt in there and less crystal is my suggestion.  But you should make the beer you want!

[TXFlyGuy]

Remember that a Dunkel needs to be highly drinkable.  More Pils malt in there and less crystal is my suggestion.  But you should make the beer you want!

We cut the crystal to less than 10%. Munich and Vienna make up most of the bill. 50-50.

Per their website, Munich and/or Vienna can make up to 100% of the grain bill.