Yep, it's that time again. About the only time of the year that I fiddle with German style biers. And, as usual, I'm reminded why. For this year's Oktoberfest - the 2nd Annual - I brewed up a German Pilsener and, like last year an Marzen/Oktoberfest. The Pils went well, very well actually, considering I did Noonan's Triple Decoction mash schedule for the first time ever. Not perfect but not a disaster - the Pils, that is! I've done decoction before and find it worth doing as I'm a purist. This schedule was just a bit different than what I've done previously.
The Marzen/Oktoberfest, however, is a complete unknown. So many things went wrong with this brew it will be a wonder if it turns out at all. Basically, it was SO popular last year that the 5 gallon keg was gone in no time. So, this year I decided, well, I'll use the same recipe but just brew 10 gallons. I've never done more than a 5 gallon batch and I truly exceeded the capacity of my equipment and it may have cost me the entire brew. We'll see in a number of weeks.
Well, I finished the batch, tasted the gravity sample and I think we're OK. Again, we'll see. One thing though - both of these came out over gravity so they are a bit potent!
Yours Aye!
Neil
Brewing and blogging in Austin, Texas wishing I were somewhere in Scotland.
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