Captain Serious Pilsner
Brewed: 4/30/2023 Kegged: 5/13/2023
If you look around this website or the SheppyBrew Blog, it is probably pretty obvious that the Brew Master's favorite Hockey Team is the Chicago Blackhawks.
Until 2010, It had been 49 years ... 1961 when they won their last cup. I was born in 1970, I had literally been waiting my whole life to see the Blackhawks win a Stanley Cup. It been a long time since they won a cup, but the team started to turn around when they drafted 18 year old Jonathan Toews in 2006.
He scored a goal on his first shot in his first NHL game and didn't really slow down until covid screwed the world.
He became the captain of the Blackhawks at age 19, earning the nickname "Captain Serious" because of an intense will to win and great leadership on and off the ice even at such a young age.
The Blackhawks put together a great team and in 2010, they won their first Cup in 49 years. Jonny was the Conn Smythe winner that year.
They won again in 2013 and then again in 2015.
If you have not figured it out yet ... Jonny Toews is one of my favorite all-time hockey players.
The last game of the 2023 was Toews' last game as a Chicago Blackhawk. Shortly after that game I decided to brew a beer in his honor.
Captain Serious Pilsner.
This is that beer.
It turned out absolutely fantastic. Crisp clean. Great fruity hop flavor without being overly bitter or overpowering.
On Untappd: Captain Serious Pilsner
For more about this beer, see Sheppy's Blog: Captain Serious
| Captain Serious Pils --- Batch 1 (333) |
| Style | German Pils | Batch Size | 5.50 gal | |||
| Type | All Grain | Boil Size | 6.60 gal | |||
| Brewhouse Efficiency | 68.00 | Boil Time | 60 minutes |
Recipe Characteristics
| Recipe Gravity | 1.046 SG | Estimated FG | 1.010 SG | ||||
| Recipe Bitterness | 28.9 IBUs (Rager) | Alcohol by Volume | 4.8 % | ||||
| BU : GU | 0.627 | ||||||
| Recipe Color | 3.4 SRM |
|
|||||
| Measured OG: | 1.049 | Measured FG: | 1.012 | ||||
| ADF: | 74.4 | Measured ABV: | 4.9 |
Ingredients
| Amt | Name | Type | # | %/IBU | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.83 gal | Denver, Colorado | Water | 1 | - | - |
| 10.00 g | Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) (Mash) | Water Agent | 2 | - | - |
| 2.00 tsp | Lactic Acid (Mash) | Water Agent | 3 | - | - |
| 10 lbs | Pilsner (2 Row) Ger (2.0 SRM) | Grain | 4 | 100.0 % | 0.78 gal |
| 0.500 oz | Magnum [15.80 %] - Boil 40.0 min | Hop | 5 | 24.6 IBUs | - |
| 1.00 Items | Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 10.0 mins) | Fining | 6 | - | - |
| 1.00 tsp | Yeast Nutrient (Boil 10.0 mins) | Other | 7 | - | - |
| 1.000 oz | Talus (HBC 692) [6.20 %] - Boil 5.0 min | Hop | 8 | 4.2 IBUs | - |
| 1.0 pkg | Saflager Lager (DCL/Fermentis #W-34/70) [50.28 ml] | Yeast | 9 | - | - |
| 1.000 oz | Talus (HBC 692) [6.20 %] - 3.0 Days Into Primary for 2.0 Days | Hop | 10 | 0.0 IBUs | - |
| 0.50 tsp | Gelatin (Secondary 5.0 hours) | Fining | 11 | - | - |
| 1.000 oz | Talus (HBC 692) [6.20 %] - 3.0 Days Into Aging for 0.0 Days | Hop | 12 | 0.0 IBUs | - |
Mash Profile
| Name | Description | Step Temperature | Step Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saccharification | Add 31.33 qt of water at 155.8 F | 150.0 F | 240 min |
If steeping, remove grains,
and prepare to boil wort
From Denver water, gypsum puts my water profile at
Ca=110,Mg=8,Na=21,SO4=239,Cl=23,HCO3=104
Acid to bring water pH to around 5.2
Overnight mash if desired.
Boil as directed.
Chill water to as close to 50F as possible.
Pitch yeast and pre-load fermentor to 10psi.
Pressure ferment with spunding valve set to 15psi.
Dry hop 1oz a day or two into fermentation.
After main fermentation is done set spunding valve to 10psi. Let total fermentation go a total of 2 weeks.
Pressure transfer into keg with 1 oz dry hop.
Chill and add gelatin after a couple days in the fridge.
Brewing Record
| Brew Date: | Strike Temp: | |||||
| Mash Temps: | ||||||
| Pre-boil OG | (1.042 SG) | Pre-boil Vol | (6.60 gal) | |||
| Actual Mash Efficiency | Pitch Temp | |||||
| Fermentation | ||||||
| Day 1: | ||||||
| Day ... | ||||||
| Day ... | ||||||
Brewing Notes
4/14/2023 Yesterday was the Captain's last game as a Blackhawk. Makes me sad, but it is probably the right call for both Toews and the team. Hopefully the Blackhawks will start to improve.
4/19/2023 Bought malt and yeast today at Brew Hut.
4/30/2023 Decided to brew today. Didn't do any prep last night. Still really didn't take too long for strike water to get to temp. Still doing a long mash ..over church instead of overnight.
4/30/2023 Brew day went well. Everything done a little after noon. Pumped up psi to around 15. Two hop bags attached with magnets to top of fermenter. One of them is dangerously close to wort, but oh well.
5/1/2023 Not much going on in the morning, but rocking by the time I got home after work. Tilt says 1.041 at 64. Spunding right at 15psi.
5/4/2023 Tilt says 1.013 at 69 and the kraussen is gone. 15psi. The spunding control is really touchy. Pulled the magnet to drop the dry hop bags this morning.
5/9/2023 Tilts says 1.037 at 67 degrees. It appears the hop bags are interfering with its ability to float free. But I'm pretty sure this beer is done fermenting. Should probably keg this week.
5/12/2023 Kegged. Another pressure transfer leaving much to be desired. Better than previous. I still feel like mostly foam is going through the line. But, the thing that drove me craziest was how slow the transfer is. And ... I have no idea how much volume is in the keg. On the plus side... I really like the dry hop flavor on the samples. And ... It is already carbonated some.
5/12/2023 1.012 FG Makes this a 4.9% abv beer.
5/14/2023 Added gelatin today. Looks like I got a full keg despite my concern that I didn't know how much was in there.
5/17/2023 Nice pale pilsner colored beer. Carbonation about where I want it. Great hoppy character. Just needs to clarify a little bit.
5/21/2023 Not crystal clear but close enough for this page's beer photo. Hops are very fruity. Nice crisp pilsner finish. This is my favorite of the beers I have on tap right now.
6/11/2023 My BIL has been drinking a ton of this. Pretty sure it will kick soon. Compared to Westbound and Down Italian Pils. This is much better side by side. I'm certainly going have to brew this again.
6/18/2023 Really starting to look clear. Still a great hoppy finish. Love this beer. Not sure how much longer it will last.
6/20/2023 Needed to make room for my Alpine Tundra IPA. Put the rest of the keg into a growler.
6/25/2023 Killed the growler on Thursday night. Want to brew again.
4/14/2023 Yesterday was the Captain's last game as a Blackhawk. Makes me sad, but it is probably the right call for both Toews and the team. Hopefully the Blackhawks will start to improve.
4/19/2023 Bought malt and yeast today at Brew Hut.
4/30/2023 Decided to brew today. Didn't do any prep last night. Still really didn't take too long for strike water to get to temp. Still doing a long mash ..over church instead of overnight.
4/30/2023 Brew day went well. Everything done a little after noon. Pumped up psi to around 15. Two hop bags attached with magnets to top of fermenter. One of them is dangerously close to wort, but oh well.
5/1/2023 Not much going on in the morning, but rocking by the time I got home after work. Tilt says 1.041 at 64. Spunding right at 15psi.
5/4/2023 Tilt says 1.013 at 69 and the kraussen is gone. 15psi. The spunding control is really touchy. Pulled the magnet to drop the dry hop bags this morning.
5/9/2023 Tilts says 1.037 at 67 degrees. It appears the hop bags are interfering with its ability to float free. But I'm pretty sure this beer is done fermenting. Should probably keg this week.
5/12/2023 Kegged. Another pressure transfer leaving much to be desired. Better than previous. I still feel like mostly foam is going through the line. But, the thing that drove me craziest was how slow the transfer is. And ... I have no idea how much volume is in the keg. On the plus side... I really like the dry hop flavor on the samples. And ... It is already carbonated some.
5/12/2023 1.012 FG Makes this a 4.9% abv beer.
5/14/2023 Added gelatin today. Looks like I got a full keg despite my concern that I didn't know how much was in there.
5/17/2023 Nice pale pilsner colored beer. Carbonation about where I want it. Great hoppy character. Just needs to clarify a little bit.
5/21/2023 Not crystal clear but close enough for this page's beer photo. Hops are very fruity. Nice crisp pilsner finish. This is my favorite of the beers I have on tap right now.
6/11/2023 My BIL has been drinking a ton of this. Pretty sure it will kick soon. Compared to Westbound and Down Italian Pils. This is much better side by side. I'm certainly going have to brew this again.
6/18/2023 Really starting to look clear. Still a great hoppy finish. Love this beer. Not sure how much longer it will last.
6/20/2023 Needed to make room for my Alpine Tundra IPA. Put the rest of the keg into a growler.
6/25/2023 Killed the growler on Thursday night. Want to brew again.