N.T.S. Faux Pilsner
Brewed: 8/4/2024 Kegged: 8/10/2024

However, somehow I killed off that yeast and it wouldn't take off. (see Shoddy Pale Ale Take II (Batch 294) )
I had been seeing on lots of forums and podcasts people claiming that you could use Kveik yeast fermented hot to make lager-like beers.
I didn't really believe it, and since I had the yeast, I decided to give it a try.
What does N.T.S. Stand for?
Noble. Tettnang. Saaz?Nocturnal Tired Spider?
Napping Troll Saint?
Night Time Sleep?
Never Try Slime?
Not Too Special?
Nachos Take Slop?
Nefarious Taco Soup?
Naval Troublesome Snake?
Nepotism Tributes Socialism?
Nuclear Training System?
Napoleon Tried Sheep?
Northern Telescope Snow?
Not The Same?
Nothing To Say?
Not To Scale?
Needless To Say?
Note To Self?
Number the stars?
Not Too Shabby?
Norad Tracks Santa?
Note the Sarcasm?
As it turns out, the resulting beer was good, but I would not call it pilsner-like. The Voss yeast had a lemony ester that was nice, but it just didn't taste like a pilsner.
My second batch of this beer was a double batch that I split into two fermentors. One used the Voss yeast fermented at a high temperature. The other was fermented with a lager yeast at traditional lager temperatures.

For more information about this beer, see Sheppy's Blog: NTS.
For more information about Kveik yeast, see Sheppy's Blog: Kveik
NTS Faux Pilsner --- Batch 3 (360) |
Style | Experimental Beer | 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 | 1.009 SG | ||||
Recipe Bitterness | 26.0 IBUs (Rager) | Alcohol by Volume | 4.8 % | ||||
BU : GU | 0.566 | ||||||
Recipe Color | 3.6 SRM |
|
|||||
Measured OG: | 1.045 | Measured FG: | 1.010 | ||||
ADF: | 77 | Measured ABV: | 4.6 |
Ingredients
Amt | Name | Type | # | %/IBU | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
7.83 gal | Denver, Colorado | Water | 1 | - | - |
6.00 g | Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) (Mash) | Water Agent | 2 | - | - |
2.00 g | Calcium Chloride (Mash) | Water Agent | 3 | - | - |
1.50 tsp | Lactic Acid (Mash) | Water Agent | 4 | - | - |
9 lbs | Pilsner (2 Row) Ger (2.0 SRM) | Grain | 5 | 90.0 % | 0.70 gal |
1 lbs | Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM) | Grain | 6 | 10.0 % | 0.08 gal |
0.500 oz | Magnum [12.60 %] - Boil 45.0 min | Hop | 7 | 23.2 IBUs | - |
1.00 Items | Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins) | Fining | 8 | - | - |
1.000 oz | Saaz [2.00 %] - Boil 5.0 min | Hop | 9 | 1.4 IBUs | - |
1.000 oz | Tettnang, U.S. [2.10 %] - Boil 5.0 min | Hop | 10 | 1.4 IBUs | - |
1.0 pkg | Voss Kveik Ale Yeast (Lallemand #- ) [50.28 ml] | Yeast | 11 | - | - |
0.50 tsp | Gelatin (Bottling 1.0 days) | Fining | 12 | - | - |
Mash Profile
Name | Description | Step Temperature | Step Time |
---|---|---|---|
Saccharification | Add 31.33 qt of water at 155.8 F | 150.0 F | 45 min |
Heat | Heat to 156.0 F over 10 min | 156.0 F | 20 min |
If steeping, remove grains, and prepare to boil wortRecipe Notes
Nobel Tettnang and Saaz. Lager - like recipe fermented with Voss Kveik yeast.
If harvesting yeast from previous batch, make 6 cup starter a day or two before brew day.
Brewing salts in the mash water. This should bring Denver water profile (as defined by BeerSmith) to
Ca=90,Mg=14,Na=21,SO4=156,Cl=66,HCO3=104
Acid addition based on BeerSmith predicted pH. Should lower from 5.7 to 5.4.
Mash and boil as directed
"Chill" to around 85 degrees. Rack to fermentor and add Kveik yeast. Keep warm for 2 to 3 days.
Keg. Add geletin after a day or two in the refridgerator.
Carbonate and drink.
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
7/30/2024 Updating the recipe and ordering malts. Will probably brew on Sunday.
8/1/2024 Picked up malts and yeast from Tom's. Still planning on brewing this weekend.
8/4/2024 Brew day went well. Got started a little before 6 and pitched yeast before 9. Pre-boil gravity was low, but somehow og actually isn't far off. Pitched yeast at about 80. Pack of yeast expired a couple months ago, so I'll keep an eye on fermentation the next couple hours. I have a back up pack in case this one is dead. Calling og 1.045.
8/4/2024 Fermentation was rocking after a three hour bike ride. Tilt already down 4 points at 1.040 and temp is 89. Might be done by tomorrow.
8/5/2024 Less than 24 hours and the fermentation seems pretty much done. No krausen. Little bubbling. Tilt says 1.014 at 86. degrees. Very hazy still, so I need some flocculation to occur. Not sure when I'll bring inside from garage.
8/6/2024 Brought the fermenter in from the garage today to cool down some. Tilt said 1.012 at 79 degrees when I brought it in. Still planning on kegging this weekend, but may get to it before then. Probably won't be able to chill for awhile yet.
8/7/2024 It looks ready to keg now too. Tilt says 1.012 at 70 degrees. Need to get a keg cleaned and then finish up one of the beers currently on tap. I think Hand Bock-sket is probably the next keg to kick.
8/10/2024 Kegged. Calling the FG 1.010. The good come through strong with a touch of sulphur. Don't have cold place to put this, but I think I will soon. Maybe tonight or tomorrow.
8/11/2024 Killed Helles in a Hand Bock-sket, so this keg went into the beer fridge.
8/13/2024 Added gelatin. 1/2 tsp into about 3/4 cup water heated over 150 degrees. Carbonation starts now. Should start sampling in a day or two.
8/15/2024 Poured from keg. Carbonation is actually pretty good. Not very clear, but it is the first pour. Hoppy. A bit of sulphur. Very pilsner like. Maybe a bit thin.
8/22/2024 Really getting nice and clear. Straw colored. The sulphur/ light-struck character is starting to fade. Refreshing and crisp.
9/6/2024 I think the sulphur/ light-struck character is pretty much gone. The "Voss" orange pith flavor comes through more than I remember last time I tasted the beer. Crystal clear. Great bubbling carbonation. Crisp and refreshing. Really nice beer.
9/12/2024 Checked into untappd. Nice and crisp with a hoppy pilsner finish. Strangely foamy. Great bubbly carbonation. Not sure how much is left. Need to get brewing.
9/21/2024 Yep. Nice beer. Delicious.
9/29/2024 Crisp. Clean. Clear. Does have that Visa lemon zest ester. Very nice. Not much left.
10/20/2024 Pale and crisp. Pilsner lager. Not much left.
11/3/2024 Surprised the keg didn't kick during Learn to Homebrew Day. People seemed to really like this beer.
11/7/2024 Killed the keg. Crisp. Clear. A bit lemony. Lasted almost 3 months, which is a bit surprising. Nice beer while it lasted.
7/30/2024 Updating the recipe and ordering malts. Will probably brew on Sunday.
8/1/2024 Picked up malts and yeast from Tom's. Still planning on brewing this weekend.
8/4/2024 Brew day went well. Got started a little before 6 and pitched yeast before 9. Pre-boil gravity was low, but somehow og actually isn't far off. Pitched yeast at about 80. Pack of yeast expired a couple months ago, so I'll keep an eye on fermentation the next couple hours. I have a back up pack in case this one is dead. Calling og 1.045.
8/4/2024 Fermentation was rocking after a three hour bike ride. Tilt already down 4 points at 1.040 and temp is 89. Might be done by tomorrow.
8/5/2024 Less than 24 hours and the fermentation seems pretty much done. No krausen. Little bubbling. Tilt says 1.014 at 86. degrees. Very hazy still, so I need some flocculation to occur. Not sure when I'll bring inside from garage.
8/6/2024 Brought the fermenter in from the garage today to cool down some. Tilt said 1.012 at 79 degrees when I brought it in. Still planning on kegging this weekend, but may get to it before then. Probably won't be able to chill for awhile yet.
8/7/2024 It looks ready to keg now too. Tilt says 1.012 at 70 degrees. Need to get a keg cleaned and then finish up one of the beers currently on tap. I think Hand Bock-sket is probably the next keg to kick.
8/10/2024 Kegged. Calling the FG 1.010. The good come through strong with a touch of sulphur. Don't have cold place to put this, but I think I will soon. Maybe tonight or tomorrow.
8/11/2024 Killed Helles in a Hand Bock-sket, so this keg went into the beer fridge.
8/13/2024 Added gelatin. 1/2 tsp into about 3/4 cup water heated over 150 degrees. Carbonation starts now. Should start sampling in a day or two.
8/15/2024 Poured from keg. Carbonation is actually pretty good. Not very clear, but it is the first pour. Hoppy. A bit of sulphur. Very pilsner like. Maybe a bit thin.
8/22/2024 Really getting nice and clear. Straw colored. The sulphur/ light-struck character is starting to fade. Refreshing and crisp.
9/6/2024 I think the sulphur/ light-struck character is pretty much gone. The "Voss" orange pith flavor comes through more than I remember last time I tasted the beer. Crystal clear. Great bubbling carbonation. Crisp and refreshing. Really nice beer.
9/12/2024 Checked into untappd. Nice and crisp with a hoppy pilsner finish. Strangely foamy. Great bubbly carbonation. Not sure how much is left. Need to get brewing.
9/21/2024 Yep. Nice beer. Delicious.
9/29/2024 Crisp. Clean. Clear. Does have that Visa lemon zest ester. Very nice. Not much left.
10/20/2024 Pale and crisp. Pilsner lager. Not much left.
11/3/2024 Surprised the keg didn't kick during Learn to Homebrew Day. People seemed to really like this beer.
11/7/2024 Killed the keg. Crisp. Clear. A bit lemony. Lasted almost 3 months, which is a bit surprising. Nice beer while it lasted.