Rocktoberfest Lager (archive)

Seasonal beer to drink during the baseball playoffs ... hopefully while the Rockies are going to another world series.  The first one was a dark, balanced, almost sweet brew with a decent ABV.  It was sort of a dunkle munich style ale.  2010 is closer to a traditional Ocktoberfest lager without any Mr. Beer ingredients.  Am planning to brew this every August to be ready around October.

To see the current recipe for this beer click here.

Brewing Notes:

08/06/2018 esheppy I think this is going to be the next beer I brew. Only change is the bittering hops. Might think about water salts too. But again ... maybe not.  08/10/2018 esheppy Bought ingredients.  08/12/2018 esheppy Brew day today. Spilled a significant amount of wort when I forgot about it draining from the mash tun. Adding in .75lb DME to compensate.  08/14/2018 esheppy Fermentation going. Nice kraussen.  08/21/2018 esheppy Put tilt hydrometer into fermenter last night. SG fell from 1.023 to 1.014.  08/21/2018 esheppy 1.013. 5.8% abv. Been off cooling for awhile. 69 degrees.  08/23/2018 esheppy Tilt hydrometer hovering between 1.012 and 1.013. It appears to be done. 71 degrees  08/25/2018 esheppy Kegged today. FG is 1.013, which might be low for the style. Tastes great, though. Very balanced.  08/26/2018 esheppy Rocked some co2 into the beer. Tried a little sample from the keg .Tasting wonderful.  09/30/2018 esheppy Drank a few while helping the Rockies beat the Nationals to force a tie breaker with LAD. You're welcome, Rockies fans.  10/07/2018 esheppy Watching the Rockies in a pathetic offensive display against the Brewers in game 3 of the nlds. The beer isn't helping the Rockies, but it tastes great.  10/18/2018 esheppy Keg blew while I was watching the Broncos destroy the Cardinals.

Brewing Notes:

08/08/2017 esheppy Need to update the recipe. Hoping to brew this weekend.  08/11/2017 esheppy Bought ingredients today. Will brew on Sunday.  08/13/2017 esheppy Brew day today went very well. OG 1.057. See SheppyBrew facebook feed for a pretty detailed timeline.  08/19/2017 esheppy Have not been great about controlling temp after the first couple days. Good thing I don't believe the myths around brewing lagers.  08/26/2017 esheppy Time to think about kegging this.  08/27/2017 esheppy Kegged today. Thought attenuation would be better than the 1.018. But it tastes great. Nicely balanced. Great Munich malt richness without being too much. Chilling for October. Go Rockies! 08/27/2017 esheppy 5.1% abv  09/14/2017 esheppy Grabbed a couple little samples from the keg. Could use some settling for clarity and it needs carbonation. It is however tasting great. Very smooth and balanced. Perfect color. Tastes rich and bready. Might like it a little drier. I think for future batches, I might cut way down on caramunich. Go Rockies.  09/16/2017 esheppy A little preview of Rocktoberfest Lager. Generally, I want to save this keg for the baseball playoffs as the Colorado Rockies make their way to the World Series. Great Amber lager even if the Rockies don't make it. #PipeDream #AutumnWeather #Oktoberfest #Rocktoberfest #AmberLager #Lager #HomeBrew #GoRockies #GnomesLikeBeer #GnomeLand #GNuisance  09/29/2017 esheppy Delicious. Rockies could clinch a wildcard spot tonight.  10/06/2017 esheppy Well, the Rockies lost the play-in game. I think it was that I was out of town and not drinking this beer. Oh well... There is always next year. The beer is extremely clear and tasting great.  11/13/2017 esheppy Still have some of this. Gave a bomber to "Casey". She said it was "fantastic". Not sure how much is left probably not much.  12/01/2017 esheppy Killed the keg. Now I have something to put Xmas ale in. ??

Rocktoberfest Lager (AG) --- Batch 3

Style		Oktoberfest/Marzen		Batch Size		5.50 gal
Type		All Grain		Boil Size		7.00 gal
Mash Efficiency		70.00		Boil Time		90 minutes

Recipe Characteristics

Recipe Gravity		1.057 SG		Estimated FG		1.012 SG
Recipe Bitterness		27.8 IBUs (Rager)		Alcohol by Volume		5.9 %
BU : GU		0.485
Recipe Color		11.7 SRM		Color
Measured OG:		1.058		Measured FG:		1.011
ADF:		81%		Measured ABV:		6.3%

Ingredients

Ingredients

Amt	Name	Type	#	%/IBU
5 lbs 12.0 oz	Pilsner (2 Row) Ger (2.0 SRM)	Grain	1	46.5 %
3 lbs 1.9 oz	Munich Malt (9.0 SRM)	Grain	2	25.2 %
2 lbs	Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM)	Grain	3	16.2 %
1 lbs 8.0 oz	Caramunich Malt (56.0 SRM)	Grain	4	12.1 %
0.50 oz	Hallertauer [4.30 %] - Boil 15.0 min	Hop	7	2.1 IBUs
0.57 tsp	Irish Moss (Boil 15.0 mins)	Fining	6	-
0.57 tsp	Yeast Nutrient (Boil 10.0 mins)	Other	8	-
2.0 pkg	Saflager Lager (DCL/Fermentis #W-34/70) [50.28 ml]	Yeast	9	-
0.50 oz	Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.20 %] - Boil 55.0 min	Hop	5	25.7 IBUs

Mash Profile

Mash Steps

Name	Description	Step Temperature	Step Time
Saccharification	Add 31.62 qt of water at 156.5 F	150.0 F	60 min

Remove grains, and prepare to boil wort Recipe Notes
Boil and add hops as instructed above. Add irish moss and yeast nutrient as directed. Cool as close to 55 as possible and pitch rehydrated yeast. Aerate with blender. Ferment between 50 and 55 for 10 days followed by 7 days around 68F.

Brewing Record

Brew Date:		9/11/2011		Strike Temp:		156
Mash Temps:		150 - 152
Pre-boil OG		(1.053 SG)		Pre-boil Vol		(7.00 gal)
Actual Mash Efficiency		85.5		Pitch Temp		65

Brewing Notes: 09/06/2011 Updated Recipe esheppy
Will most likely brew this up over the upcoming weekend. 

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09/11/2011 Brew Day esheppy
Brewed it up. Everything went pretty well. 

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09/12/2011 esheppy
Both are at a good temperature. Tuke is visually fermenting away. Rutt is lagging, but looks like he should be going by the end of the day.

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09/12/2011 esheppy
Now both are at 52 and chugging away.

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09/18/2011 esheppy
Well, Tuke seems pretty much done. I'll let his temperature rise to finish up. Rutt still seems to be working away. I'll keep his temp low. I probably had a bit more variation in temperature than I really wanted in both coolers. They certainly stayed in the right range, but they went back and forth between 52 and 56 depending on what phase the ice bottles were in. 

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09/21/2011 Samples esheppy
Took a couple of samples. Tuke was right at 1.012 and Rutt was about 1.014. Average out to 1.013 means about 6% ABV and 77 ADF. Both samples taste absolutely fantastic. 

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10/04/2011 Kegged esheppy
Kegged these up with about 4.75oz table sugar. Set the psi to 15 or so to seal the keg up. OG ended up right at 1.011 for both fermenters. Sample tasted great. Exactly what I think a flat Oktoberfest should taste like. 

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10/06/2011 esheppy
Looks like I made the same mistake with this as I did with Buckwheat ... I primed as if I had 5.5 gallons instead of the 4.8 gallons in the keg. Am going to off-gas this a little bit every day. 

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10/20/2011 esheppy
Have had the keg in the keggerator for a few days. Tried a draft tonight. Might have have been a bit undercarbed so I pressured up the CO2 to 15psi. Will leave it for a few days. The beer tasted perfect to me. The rich malty munich was balanced perfectly with hop bitterness. Loved the flavor. 

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10/30/2011 esheppy
Tastes great. Not much head retention. What is up with that? 

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12/29/2011 esheppy
Head retention has improved greatly since the last note. Been drinking and enjoying it from the keg. Need to beer gun some bottles so I can empty the keg and get my black IPA into the keggerator. 

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01/01/2012 beer gun esheppy
Bottled up 12 with the beer gun. Bottling didn't go all that well. Too much foam. Think I wasted about a beer and a half getting all 12 filled. Keg is close to gone. Did not chill the gun and tubing as I should have. Oh well. Had one that was just wonderful. Very yummy. 

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01/07/2012 esheppy
Killed the keg. Glad I have those few bottles fun beer gun last week. 

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03/15/2012 esheppy
Tried one of the bottles. Great marzen flavor. Wish it was a bit better carbonated. 

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04/22/2012 esheppy
Very disappointed with carbonation. Flavor is great. 

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06/10/2012 esheppy
Used a couple bottles to brine a chicken. Carbonation was not as bad on the taste I had. Still not great but better than last bottle I tired of this. For the most part I have been only using this beer for cooking, but maybe I should drink some too.

Rocktoberfest Lager (AG) Batch 2 --- cost $15.68

Style		Oktoberfest/Marzen		Batch Size		2.40 gal
Type		All Grain		Boil Size		3.01 gal

Recipe Characteristics

Recipe Gravity		1.057 SG		Estimated FG		1.014 SG
Recipe Bitterness		27.9 IBU (Rager)		Alcohol by Volume		5.53 %
BU : GU		0.490
Recipe Color		12.1 SRM		Color
Measured OG:		1.056		Measured FG:		1.012
ADF:		78.6%		Measured ABV:		5.74%

Ingredients

Amount	Item	Type	% or IBU
2 lbs 12.0 oz	Pilsner (2 Row) Ger (2.0 SRM)	Grain	47.83 %
1 lbs 8.0 oz	Munich Malt (9.0 SRM)	Grain	26.09 %
1 lbs	Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM)	Grain	17.39 %
8.0 oz	Caramunich Malt (56.0 SRM)	Grain	8.70 %
0.75 oz	Hallertauer [3.80 %] (50 min)	Hops	24.9 IBU
0.25 oz	Hallertauer [3.80 %] (20 min)	Hops	3.0 IBU
0.25 tsp	Irish Moss (Boil 15.0 min)	Misc
0.25 tsp	Yeast Nutrient (Boil 10.0 min)	Misc
1 Pkgs	SafLager West European Lager (DCL Yeast #S-23)	Yeast-Lager

Mash Profile

Single Infusion, Light Body, Batch Sparge

Step Time	Name	Description	Step Temp
75 min	Mash In	Add 7.19 qt of water at 161.4 F	150.0 F

Batch Sparge Round 1: Sparge with 0.52 gal of 168.0 F water
Batch Sparge Round 2: Sparge with 1.63 gal of 168.0 F water
Recipe Notes
Use Fermcap as instructed on bottle. Boil and add hops as instructed above. Add Irish moss and yeast nutrient as directed. Cool as close to 55 as possible and pitch rehydrated yeast. Aerate with blender. Ferment between 50 and 55 for 10 days followed by 7 days around 68F.

Brewing Notes:
01/16/2011 Brewing Day esheppy
Brewed it up. My mash efficiency was not even as good as it used to be. Ended up with 1.056 OG, but did not fill up all the way. Need to get a temperature strip for the Mr. Beer bottling "bucket". It will be hard to monitor the temp until I do.

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01/17/2011
Got a temp strip today. Put it on when I got home. Temp right at 48/50 which is a bit cooler than I would like it to be, but there is a good start at kraussen and there is some activity.

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01/22/2011
Pretty steady rise up to 55 or 56. Still going well. Keeping temp right there with one frozen water bottle. Brewing lagers in winter is so nice!

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01/24/2011
Kraussen pretty much gone.Going to let temp rise for cleanup. 55 right now. Will let it go where it wants now.delete

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01/29/2011 esheppy
Up to about 64. Took out of cooler.

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02/10/2011 Bottled esheppy
Bottled today. Used the big bottling bucket. Have to say, I'm not wild about using this for little batches. Of course my last double batch wasn't that great either. I guess I just have to get used to it. Only got 18 12oz plus 1 liter bottle. Sample tasted great, though. The Munich malt came through beautifully.

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02/24/2011 into the cooler esheppy
Put these into the conditioning cooler with an ice bottle. This batch seems ridiculously small. Will certainly have to brew a double batch for fall.

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03/12/2011 esheppy
Had the LB. Lots of floaties in this beer, but Soooooo good.

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04/12/2011 esheppy
Had O, which was probably the 2nd to LB. Very clear until almost the very bottom when some floaties came up. Still a wonderful tasting beer. Hopefully the rest don't have so much trub, though.

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04/17/2011
Found 2 from last batch.Crystal clear and absolutely wonderful munich malt flavor.

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05/13/2011 esheppy
Really like the balance with this beer.
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Rocktoberfest Lager (AG) Batch 1 --- cost $15.68

Style		Oktoberfest/Marzen		Batch Size		2.40 gal
Type		All Grain		Boil Size		3.01 gal

Recipe Characteristics

Recipe Gravity		1.057 SG		Estimated FG		1.014 SG
Recipe Bitterness		27.9 IBU (Rager)		Alcohol by Volume		5.53 %
BU : GU		0.490
Recipe Color		12.1 SRM		Color
Measured OG:		1.058		Measured FG:		1.011
ADF:		81%		Measured ABV:		6.1%

Ingredients

Amount	Item	Type	% or IBU
2 lbs 12.0 oz	Pilsner (2 Row) Ger (2.0 SRM)	Grain	47.83 %
1 lbs 8.0 oz	Munich Malt (9.0 SRM)	Grain	26.09 %
1 lbs	Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM)	Grain	17.39 %
8.0 oz	Caramunich Malt (56.0 SRM)	Grain	8.70 %
0.75 oz	Hallertauer [3.80 %] (50 min)	Hops	24.9 IBU
0.25 oz	Hallertauer [3.80 %] (20 min)	Hops	3.0 IBU
0.25 tsp	Irish Moss (Boil 15.0 min)	Misc
0.25 tsp	Yeast Nutrient (Boil 10.0 min)	Misc
1 Pkgs	SafLager West European Lager (DCL Yeast #S-23)	Yeast-Lager

Mash Profile

Single Infusion, Light Body, Batch Sparge

Step Time	Name	Description	Step Temp
75 min	Mash In	Add 7.19 qt of water at 161.4 F	150.0 F

Batch Sparge Round 1: Sparge with 0.52 gal of 168.0 F water
Batch Sparge Round 2: Sparge with 1.63 gal of 168.0 F water
Recipe Notes
Use Fermcap as instructed on bottle. Boil and add hops as instructed above. Add Irish moss and yeast nutrient as directed. Cool as close to 55 as possible and pitch rehydrated yeast. Aerate with blender. Ferment between 50 and 55 for 10 days followed by 7 days around 68F.

Comments 08/21/2010 Brewing Day esheppy
My second all-grain brew. Everything went well, but I would really like to improve my mash efficiency. Should be a nice beer, though. I am looking forward to it.

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08/22/2010
This morning, the ambient temp of the cooler is 48. The strip on the keg reads 52. Nice layer of krausen on top. Sort of weird to see that in such a cold environment. So far, so good on the lager temperatures.

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08/27/2010
The strip has still consistently been right at 50/52. Looks like krausen and activity may be slowing down, so would like to let the temp rise to 55 or so. Just going to not change bottles until the temp starts to come up.

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09/02/2010
Ambient up to 59. Strip up to 58. Seems that this fermentation has been about perfect (at least as far as temperature goes). I'll let it warm up to clean up any diacetyl, and then ideally bottle at the end of the weekend.

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09/07/2010 Bottled esheppy
Yesterday, I bottled this batch up. Good attenuation. Sample tasted great and really thought the clarity was wonderful. Really looking forward to drinking this beer in a month or so.delete

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09/26/2010 esheppy
Had the lb and compared it to a sam adams octoberfest. Really like my beer! Not as clear as I would like, and head retention could use some help, but taste is perfect imho. Mine is better than sams's. delete

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10/09/2010 esheppy
Had one. Clarity has improved considerably. The rich malty flavor is still there. Wonderful color. Nice balance. Great beer.

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10/22/2010
Had one last night. Wonderful beer. This one had very little head.

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10/31/2010
Had a liter to take the picture for this beer. The picture doesn't do the color justice. Really wonderful taste. Great Beer. Good head this time.

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11/28/2010 esheppy
Had a liter while watching football. Man, this is a yummy beer!

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12/09/2010 esheppy
Had another. This is the best Ocktoberfest style lager I have ever had.

Brewing Notes