Batch #6: California Common

This was intended to be a basic, straightforward, decently hoppy beer using a high-temperature "California lager" yeast. Like Anchor Steam, it features Northern Brewer hops.

Recipe

Grain Bill

9 lbs. Schreier 2-row
1 lb. Briess Crystal 40L

Hops

1 oz. Northern Brewer (7.7% AA) @ First-Wort
1 oz. Northern Brewer (7.7% AA) @ 60 min.

Yeast

Weyast 2112 California Lager yeast, smack pack with 1.5-qt starter.

Mash

Single infusion mash, 70 minutes at 152F.

Vitals

OG: 1.056
FG: 1.015
Calculated IBUs: 43
Carbonation: 15 psi at 48F

Timeline

Brew day: October 12, 2002

1:30 pm: Mash in @152F (readings varied from 149-154F)
2:40 pm: Begin sparge, add first wort hops.
3:20 pm: Finish sparge, 6.5 gallons collected.
4:40 pm: Almost boiled over, scrape first wort hops from the side of the kettle back into wort.
5:00 pm: Add 60 minute hops.
5:40 pm: Add chiller and Irish moss.
7:14 pm: Done with brew day, OG 1.056.

Racked to secondary October 29th, SG 1.015.

Kegged November 10th.

Finished December 23, 2002.

Tasting notes

11/20/2002

Drinkable, at last. Yeast character is smooth and malty, with a decent shot of sulfur. The sulfur has been reducing as time goes by. The yeast is definitely a keeper, and would make a wide variety of malty lager styles.

The malt character is mild, smooth, and bready, with a very light caramel character from the crystal malt. The bitterness is still bracing, although it has mellowed substantially. The first-wort hops give a woody, resiny, and slightly spicy aroma and malt-balancing flavor. Good everyday beer, great with pizza.

11/22/2002

This is perhaps the clearest beer I have ever made. At this point, it looks filtered.

12/02/2002

I think this beer is at or near its peak at this point. The hop and yeast harshness have subsided. Malt flavor is light and smooth, with a dry finish. Hop bitterness is clean, blending well with the malt. This is definitely a hoppy beer, though.

The aroma from the first wort hops is very subtle, and complements the malt beautifully. Hop flavor is round and complex. Late hop additions might add to this beer, but perhaps at the cost of its simplicity. It is a good, everyday beer-and-pizza beer with the current low level of hop aroma.

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