Mark's Oktoberfest Tap Handle

Batch 89

Time to brew this year’s Oktoberfest.  I haven’t brewed a Marzen for several years, but Brenda has been asking for it.  If all goes well, it should be ready for the Brenda’s staff’s end of October TGIF.  I didn’t have any Tettnangers, so I had to sub in some Saaz in the last five minutes of the boil.  I’m sure it will still turn out to style and be pretty tasty.

This is pretty much the same recipe Stephen and I took a second place with in the regional finals several years ago.  This lager has always been well received over the years, but for some reason, we just haven’t brewed it.  I’ll need to find a tap handle to offer this brew out, but it’s a nice seasonal brew to have on tap.  Time to bring it back for the Oktoberfest season!

Here’s today’s recipe:

Mark’s Octoberfest
3-B Oktoberfest/Maerzen
Author: Mark Ranes
Date: 8/22/09

Size: 10.08 gal
Efficiency: 75.0%
Attenuation: 75.0%
Calories: 197.69 kcal per 12.0 fl oz

Original Gravity: 1.059 (1.050 – 1.056)
Terminal Gravity: 1.015 (1.012 – 1.016)
Color: 11.65 (7.0 – 14.0)
Alcohol: 5.84% (4.8% – 5.7%)
Bitterness: 31.6 (20.0 – 28.0)

Ingredients:
10.0 lb Pale Malt(2-row)
10.0 lb Munich Malt(2-row)
1.0 lb Aromatic Malt
1.0 lb CaraVienne Malt
1.0 lb Cara-Pils Dextrine Malt
2.0 oz Organic Hallertau (8.0%) – added during boil, boiled 60.0 min
0.0 oz Whirlfloc – added during boil, boiled 10.0 min
1.0 tsp Wyeast Nutrient – added during boil, boiled 10.0 min
1.0 oz Czech Saaz (5.0%) – added during boil, boiled 5.0 min
2000.0 mL Starter White Labs WLP820 Octoberfest – Marzen

Overall, the brew day went well, but the temperature was high and the day was very humid.  I was glad to wrap up the brew, clean up and then hit the showers for a nice cool session.  I missed my projected OG by a couple points, coming in at 1.056.

I had a big 2000 mL starter, and as of 7:00 pm, the fermentation hadn’t taken off.  Such is the life of a lager brewer:)  I’m sure by tomorrow morning things will be cranking along nicely.

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