Rocktoberfest Ale

Yes, the Rockies' run to the World Series was a couple years ago and they quickly returned to the dismal team we are used to, but in honor of that amazing month and a half in 2007, I am naming my octoberfest beer "Rocktoberfest Ale".  Amazingly, after a pretty pathetic start in 2009, the Rockies turned things around from the 2nd to the worst record in the league to actually making the playoffs as the wild card again.  They really should thank me for making this beer, because I am sure without it, they never would have been able to make it.

Rocktoberfest Ale should a dark, balanced, almost sweet brew with a modest bitterness... great to drink on a cold October night watching someone else in the NLCS or World Series, or along with brats grilled in my backyard.  Heck, I may even crack open a few while watching the Broncos stink this year.

To be ready by October, I started brewing this toward the beginning of August.

Date Note
08/01/2009 Sat Made yeast starter with 1/2 cup dark DME and 2 cups water.  Added yeast nutrient to the boil (about 5 minutes).
08/04/2009 Tues Mixed up batch.  Steeped a bit longer due to kids' bedtime.  Used yeast nutrient over last 10 minutes of the boil.  Did not add UME until the very end of the boil. 
08/24/2009 Mon Racked to bottling keg and bottled.  Sample was very good. 
09/08/2009 Tues Placed in conditioning cooler.  Hoping to try a taste around the last weekend in September.  Can I wait that long?  Probably not.
09/11/2009 Fri Placed one in the beer fridge in case we want to try tonight with Jerry and Lisa.  If do not taste tonight, might leave in fridge to see how different it tastes with cold cond than warm cond.
09/27/2009 Sun Placed most of these in the beer fridge.  Leaving 1 liter and 5 12oz bottles in conditioning cooler for a few more days.
10/01/2009 Thur As luck would have it, the Rockies clinched the wild card and are indeed going to the playoffs.  They even have a chance to win the division and possibly even secure the best record in the NL.  I credit my beer for all the success.
10/06/2009 Tues Tasted a couple.  Deep, malty ... maybe a bit sweet.  A fine beer.  I can detect the tartness of the WY1272, but not nearly as pronounced as Eric's Red.  Could definitely feel the high ABV after 2.  Not a great head.  Think it needs more priming sugar.
10/08/2009 Thur Had a couple watching the Rockies on a cold snowy afternoon.  Rocks won.  I am wondering if I should have used another .25 oz of hops at about 10 minutes to make it a more balanced beer.
10/09/2009 Fri Changed the recipe in QBrew.  No honey changed to Crystal 40 and added in some CaraPils.  Also, did go with more hops.  Had myself one of the liter bottles (you can see the pour on top of this page).  The head was actually pretty good, although it is probably thanks more to pouring the whole bottle in quicker than usual (which I did for the picture).  I do really like this beer.  A whole liter makes it a "stay at home" beer.
10/11/2009 Sun Tracy tried the beer while watching the Rockies and said "very tasty".  It is pretty dark for her, so I think she was just being kind.  I had another liter too.  Very good, but the low carbonation really bothers me.
10/12/2009 Mon Placed the rest in the beer fridge.
10/17/2009 Sat Had a couple more.  A pour where I do not tip the glass at all actually gives a pretty good head. 
10/28/2009 Wed Finishing these up with the world series.  Yankees lose game one. 
10/29/2009 Thur Got an update for the Mr.B ingredients.  The BU/GU ratio went from .35 to .57 which is actually quite nice.  I guess more of the sweetness I thought I tasted was due to flatness?
10/29/2009 Thur Drank the last of these.  We'll brew it again next year around the beginning of August.
 
Rocktoberfest Ale

Recipe Octoberfest Ale Style Munich Dunkel
Brewer SheppyBrew Batch 2.13 gal
Extract

Recipe Characteristics
Recipe Gravity 1.060 OG Estimated FG 1.015 FG
Recipe Bitterness 21 IBU Alcohol by Volume 5.8%
Recipe Color 15° SRM Alcohol by Weight 4.6%

Ingredients
Quantity Grain Type Use
0.50 lb Crystal 15L Grain Steeped
0.25 lb Dark DME Extract Extract
1.21 lb MrB. Mellow Amber UME Extract Extract
0.25 lb Honey Sugar Other
1.21 lb MrB. Octoberfest Vienna Lager Extract Extract
Quantity Hop Type Time
0.25 oz Perle Pellet 25 minutes
1.00 oz MrB. Octoberfest Vienna Lager Pellet 5 minutes
Quantity Misc Notes
1.00 unit American Ale yeast Yeast Harvested WY1272 from Eric's Red.

Recipe Notes

3 days before brewing, prepare starter with harvested yeast.
Steep Crystal in 1 gallon water @155 for 40 minutes.  Remove grain sack and let drain into wort.
Add DME, UME and hops, then bring to boil for 25 minutes. Add honey for last 5 minutes of the boil. Remove from heat and add HME. Pitch yeast as usual.
Ferment 3 weeks. Batch prime with 2.0 oz table sugar.

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