Mr. Awesome Merican Lager

When I first met my wife (aka The SheppyBrew Beer Model), she raved about a guy that she had dated prior to me.

She referred to him as "Mr. Awesome".

Apparently, he was a world-class quarters player. Or maybe it was darts. Or maybe it was something else. I'm old. I don't exactly remember what his talent was. Perhaps all of the above and more.

But regardless ... he was Awesome.

Awesome.

Really .. he was. He asserted confidently to whomever was interested ... quite often ... "I'm so Awesome!"

Somehow I was able to take advantage of the Beer Model's bad judgement and steal her away from Mr. Awesome. 

But still, from time to time she would wistfully bring up "Mr. Awesome".

"I'm so Awesome!"

My wife and I have been married for quite awhile. She has not brought up Mr. Awesome for quite awhile, but I'm sure she thinks about him quite often.

How could she not?

I thought it would be fun to name a beer after the guy who dated my wife prior to me.

Mr. Awesome Premium Lager is inspired by a beer that New Belgium recently started making (or at least I've only noticed it recently) ... Mountain Time Premium Lager.

Both the Beer Model really like it. It is an American lager ... with more character than your typical BMC beer.

I designed the beer to match Mountain Time's ABV and hops. I kept the GU:BU ratio pretty low (for me), but didn't really skimp on the amount of hops.

I use Nugget, Cascade, and Willamette hops late in the boil to keep the bitterness down. I do use 3 oz total, so the hop flavor is significant.

The malt bill is really simple ... just American pale malt. 

Looking forward to trying the beer and discovering how it turns out.

For more information about this beer, see Sheppy's Blog: Mr Awesome

Mr. Awesome Merican Lager --- Batch 2 (321)

Style		American Lager		Batch Size		5.50 gal
Type		All Grain		Boil Size		6.60 gal
Brewhouse Efficiency		68.00		Boil Time		60 minutes

Recipe Characteristics

Recipe Gravity		1.045 SG		Estimated FG		1.010 SG
Recipe Bitterness		17.5 IBUs (Rager)		Alcohol by Volume		4.5 %
BU : GU		0.390
Recipe Color		3.4 SRM		Color
Measured OG:		1.046		Measured FG:		1.013
ADF:		71		Measured ABV:		4.3

Ingredients

Ingredients

Amt	Name	Type	#	%/IBU	Volume
7.83 gal	Denver, Colorado	Water	1	-	-
4.00 g	Calcium Chloride (Mash)	Water Agent	2	-	-
2.00 g	Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) (Mash)	Water Agent	3	-	-
2.00 tsp	Lactic Acid (Mash)	Water Agent	4	-	-
10 lbs	Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM)	Grain	5	100.0 %	0.78 gal
1.00 Items	Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins)	Fining	6	-	-
1.00 tsp	Yeast Nutrient (Boil 15.0 mins)	Other	7	-	-
0.500 oz	Nugget [15.20 %] - Boil 10.0 min	Hop	8	6.2 IBUs	-
1.000 oz	Cascade [8.90 %] - Boil 5.0 min	Hop	9	6.1 IBUs	-
1.000 oz	Willamette [7.60 %] - Boil 5.0 min	Hop	10	5.2 IBUs	-
1.0 pkg	Saflager Lager (DCL/Fermentis #W-34/70) [50.28 ml]	Yeast	11	-	-

Mash Profile

Mash Steps

Name	Description	Step Temperature	Step Time
Saccharification	Add 31.33 qt of water at 158.0 F	152.0 F	45 min
Heat	Heat to 158.0 F over 10 min	158.0 F	15 min
Mash Out	Heat to 170.0 F over 7 min	170.0 F	10 min

If steeping, remove grains, and prepare to boil wort

Recipe Notes
Brewing salts in the mash water. This should bring Denver water profile (as defined by BeerSmith) to
Ca=84,Mg=8,Na=21,SO4=88,Cl=88,HCO3=104
Acid addition to bring calculated pH below 5.3
Boil and add hops as instructed above.
Chill as close to 50 degrees as possible.
Ferment cold for first week, raising temp 1 degree per day.
2nd week, ferment at room temperature.
Keg and chill add geletin.
Carbonate and enjoy.

Brewing Record

Brew Date:				Strike Temp:
Mash Temps:
Pre-boil OG		(1.041 SG)		Pre-boil Vol		(6.60 gal)
Actual Mash Efficiency				Pitch Temp
Fermentation
Day 1:
Day ...
Day ...