Drei Liebchen Deutsche Pils NHC06

Category 2: Pilsener

Gold Medal NHC 2006

Sponsored by Beer & Wine Makers Warehouse

Joe Formanek, Bolingbrook, Ill., Urban Knaves of Grain 

"Drei Liebchen Deutsche Pils"

German Pilsener

Ingredients for 5 U.S. gallons (19 liters)

10.0     lb (4.5 kg) M/W Pilsner malt

2.0       oz (56 g) Mt. Hood whole hops, 4.4% alpha acid (60)

1.0       oz (28 g) Hallertau whole hops, 3.7% alpha acid (30 min)

1.0       oz (28 g) Saaz whole hops, 2.8% alpha acid (15 min)

1.0       oz (28 g) Hallertau whole hops, 3.7% alpha acid (2 min)

1.0       oz (28 g) Saaz whole hops, 2.8% alpha acid (0 min)

White Labs WLP 802 Czech Budejovice lager yeast

0.5 cup corn sugar to prime

Original Specific Gravity: 1.054

Final Specific Gravity: 1.014

Boiling Time: 90 minutes

Primary Fermentation: 10 days at 50° F (10° C) in glass

Secondary Fermentation: 21 days at 40° F (4° C) in glass

Tertiary Fermentation: 15 days at 40° F (4° C) in glass

Directions

Mash grains at 152° F (67° C) for 60 minutes. Raise temperature to 170° F (77° C) and mash out for 10 minutes.

Judges' Comments

"Moderate maltiness. Hop bitterness is present from start to finish. Finish has nice hop character."

"A nice beer and a good interpretation of the style. Although a high level of hop bitterness is expected, I found the levels to be a bit too big. Suggest taming it a bit by [lowering] hop level or [substituting] a later addition. Very nice effort though."