Vienna Lager
Another successful brew day is in the books! Yesterday, I brewed another lager and I decided on the recipe for a Vienna Lager from my copy of Brewing Classic Styles. It was my second time doing a 90 minute boil, so I decided to up my total water by about a gallon since I was about a half to three quarters of a gallon short on my volume into the fermenting bucket on my last lager.
Yesterday was warm, but not too hot. The weather forecast was calling for a chance of showers all afternoon, but I decided to press my luck and brew anyway! My friend Jim came over to hang out while I brewed and his good luck kept the rain away. As soon as he left, it poured! 
All in all, it was a very successful brew day. I didn’t come up short in my final volume going into the fermenting bucket, and my brewhouse efficiency was 66%. I used to be obsessed with my efficiency, but with my system I seem to be consistent in the mid 60′s. After all, the most important part is that the final product tastes good right?
The wort is chilling in my fridge down to the pitching temp of 50 degrees. I will be pitching the yeast tonight!
Here’s the Vienna Lager recipe that I brewed. Happy brewing everyone!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BeerSmith Recipe Printout - http://www.beersmith.com Recipe: North Of The Border Vienna Brewer: Karmabrew Asst Brewer: Style: Vienna Lager TYPE: All Grain Taste: (35.0) Recipe Specifications -------------------------- Batch Size: 5.25 gal Boil Size: 8.35 gal Estimated OG: 1.053 SG Estimated Color: 11.9 SRM Estimated IBU: 26.8 IBU Brewhouse Efficiency: 66.80 % Boil Time: 90 Minutes Ingredients: ------------ Amount Item Type % or IBU 5.00 lb Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM) Grain 43.37 % 3.40 lb Pilsner (2 Row) Ger (2.0 SRM) Grain 29.49 % 3.00 lb Munich Malt - 10L (10.0 SRM) Grain 26.02 % 0.13 lb Carafa II (412.0 SRM) Grain 1.13 % 1.50 oz Hallertauer Hersbrucker [4.00 %] (60 min)Hops 21.6 IBU 1.00 oz Hallertauer Hersbrucker [4.00 %] (10 min)Hops 5.2 IBU 1 Pkgs Southern German Lager (White Labs #WLP838)Yeast-Lager Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Medium Body, Batch Sparge Total Grain Weight: 11.53 lb ---------------------------- Single Infusion, Medium Body, Batch Sparge Step Time Name Description Step Temp 60 min Mash In Add 17.30 qt of water at 161.7 F 152.0 F
It looks so good, and I can’t wait to try it!!!
I know!! Well at least we’ll have the hefeweizen to tide us over until the lager is ready right?
Pingback: Update: Vienna Lager « The Thirsty Commuter
Hey Thirsty,
I just brewed this recipe myself and figured I’d search the web for others who had brewed it. How did it turn out? I used Saflager S-23, it’s fermenting at 57.
Hi Ben!
It turned out really well. I’m very happy with it. It’s a definite keeper!