Derelict Lager

Derelict Lager is the new brew for Reed brewing. It is my second lager in a row, and it is easy to see why some people brew lagers exclusively, they require patience and strong brewing processes, and pay off in really nice clean beer.

I am not a fan of most American lagers, but I am a big fan of the lagers I had while visiting Europe. I have read that an American Light Lager is the most challenging beer to brew. They are so light and without a lot of flavour, so any off-flavour is easily noticed.

Tonight I racked from primary to secondary and tasted a sample. Derelict has the potential to be one of my favourite beers to date. The gravity came down from 1.056 to 1.006 giving it a 6.5% ABV and still not completely finished. I will cold crash tomorrow or the next day, as I have it in a diacetyl rest. 


I'm afraid I probably can't enter this one into a homebrew competition, because it just doesn't fit any of the lager styles. It's too big for an American light lager, and hopped too weird for any of the european styles. We shall see.

Rack to secondary

Derelict Lager

Premium American Lager

Type: All Grain	Date: 1/5/2007
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.00 gal	Brewer: John Reed
Boil Size: 7.47 gal	Asst Brewer:
Boil Time: 70 min	Equipment: Lemy's equipment
End of Boil Volume 5.72 gal	Brewhouse Efficiency: 80.00 %
Final Bottling Volume: 4.50 gal	Est Mash Efficiency 88.0 %
Fermentation: Lager, Two Stage	Taste Rating(out of 50): 35.0
Taste Notes:
Ingredients
Ingredients Amt Name Type # %/IBU 7 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 70.0 % 1 lbs Corn, Flaked (1.3 SRM) Grain 2 10.0 % 1 lbs Munich Malt (9.0 SRM) Grain 3 10.0 % 1 lbs Rice, Flaked (1.0 SRM) Grain 4 10.0 % 1.00 oz Saaz [4.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 5 14.7 IBUs 1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 30.0 min Hop 6 15.6 IBUs 0.50 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 mins) Fining 7 - 0.50 oz Saaz [4.00 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 8 2.7 IBUs 1.0 pkg Czech Budejovice Lager (White Labs #WLP802) [35.49 ml] Yeast 9 -
Beer Profile
Est Original Gravity: 1.058 SG	Measured Original Gravity: 1.056 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.013 SG	Measured Final Gravity: 1.006 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 5.9 %	Actual Alcohol by Vol: 6.6 %
Bitterness: 33.0 IBUs	Calories: 183.9 kcal/12oz
Est Color: 4.3 SRM
Mash Profile
Mash Name: Decoction Mash, Single	Total Grain Weight: 10 lbs
Sparge Water: 3.67 gal	Grain Temperature: 40.0 F
Sparge Temperature: 168.0 F	Tun Temperature: 40.0 F
Adjust Temp for Equipment: TRUE	Mash PH: 5.20
Mash Steps Name Description Step Temperature Step Time Protein Rest Add 22.00 qt of water at 133.0 F 122.0 F 35 min Saccharification Decoct 9.36 qt of mash and boil it 154.0 F 45 min Mash Out Heat to 168.0 F over 10 min 168.0 F 10 min
Sparge Step: Fly sparge with 3.67 gal water at 168.0 F
Mash Notes:
Carbonation and Storage
Carbonation Type: Keg	Volumes of CO2: 3.0
Pressure/Weight: 20.72 PSI	Carbonation Used: Keg with 20.72 PSI
Keg/Bottling Temperature: 45.0 F	Age for: 30.00 days
Fermentation: Lager, Two Stage	Storage Temperature: 60.0 F
Notes