Chelsea Dagger Pre-Prohibition Lager

You may have picked up on certain clues that I, the SheppyBrew Brew Master, am a Chicago Blackhawks fan. 

In 2015, the Blackhawks had just won their third Stanley Cup in 6 years after having gone 49 years without winning any. I hardly knew what to do with myself. I did know, however, that I wanted to make a beer to help celebrate the wonderful accomplishment.

If you are a Chicago Blackhawk fan, or just happen to watch the Blackhawks from time to time, you know that when the Hawks score a goal, the United Center plays part Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis. 

Quite often when the team is on the road, I play Chelsea Dagger after goals since obviously the team that the Hawks are visiting won't do it for them. Generally speaking, I am not a superstitious person, but if I think the team needs a "lift", I will play the song too. 

It's been awhile, but when the Hawks are in the playoffs, we hear a lot of Chelsea Dagger.

And, not to brag, but the results speak volumes. Since I started helping the team with the song, they won 3 cups in 6 years. Since 1926, they've only won a total of 6.

Coincidence? Nope!

Even though they have not been as good in recent years, my playing the song helps them a bunch.

And what style would a fine upstanding lady like Chelsea drink? Well, I thought an American Pre-Prohibition Lager would do the trick. As a totally unrelated bonus, it gave me a start on brewing styles in the new 2015 BJCP Categories.(Category 27 Historical Beer).

And it turned out awesome. This was the first time I used Cluster hops and it turned out that I really really like them. The beer came out hoppier than any other pre-prohibition lager I've ever had, but I really really like it that way. Yum!

I'm hoping having Batch 3 brewed in 2021 will allow me to watch the Hawks go deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Batch 3 was brewed on my Anvil Foundry. Also playing around with adding lactic acid to manage mash pH.

For for about Chelsea Dagger on the blog, see Sheppy's Blog: Chelsea Dagger.

Chelsea Dagger Pre-Prohibition Lager --- Batch 3

Style		Pre-Prohibition Lager		Batch Size		5.50 gal
Type		All Grain		Boil Size		6.57 gal
Brewhouse Efficiency		70.00		Boil Time		60 minutes

Recipe Characteristics

Recipe Gravity		1.051 SG		Estimated FG		1.011 SG
Recipe Bitterness		29.8 IBUs (Rager)		Alcohol by Volume		5.3 %
BU : GU		0.586
Recipe Color		3.6 SRM		Color
Measured OG:		1.049		Measured FG:		1.008
ADF:		83.1		Measured ABV:		5.4

Ingredients

Ingredients

Amt	Name	Type	#	%/IBU	Volume
7.51 gal	Denver, Colorado	Water	1	-	-
4.00 g	Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) (Mash)	Water Agent	2	-	-
2.00 tsp	Lactic Acid (Mash)	Water Agent	3	-	-
10 lbs	Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM)	Grain	4	90.9 %	0.78 gal
1 lbs	Corn, Flaked (1.3 SRM)	Grain	5	9.1 %	0.08 gal
0.500 oz	Cluster [10.10 %] - Boil 40.0 min	Hop	6	16.2 IBUs	-
1.00 Items	Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins)	Fining	7	-	-
0.500 oz	Magnum [10.90 %] - Boil 15.0 min	Hop	8	6.1 IBUs	-
1.00 tsp	Yeast Nutrient (Boil 15.0 mins)	Other	9	-	-
1.500 oz	Cluster [7.10 %] - Boil 5.0 min	Hop	10	7.5 IBUs	-
1.0 pkg	Mexican Lager (White Labs #WLP940) [35.49 ml]	Yeast	11	-	-

Mash Profile

Mash Steps

Name	Description	Step Temperature	Step Time
Saccharification	Add 29.51 qt of water at 156.7 F	150.0 F	45 min
Heat	Heat to 156.0 F over 10 min	156.0 F	20 min

If steeping, remove grains, and prepare to boil wort

Recipe Notes
Make a starter a day or two before brew day.
4g gypsum in the mash water. This should bring Denver water profile (as defined by BeerSmith) to
Ca=66,Mg=8,Na=21,SO4=131,Cl=23,HCO3=104
Acid addition based on BeerSmith predicted pH. Should lower from 5.8 to 5.3.
Brew as directed from recipe.
Cool wort to as close to 50 degrees as possible.
Ferment rising 1 degree a day for the first week, let rise to high 60's for another week.
Keg carbonate.

Brewing Record

Brew Date:				Strike Temp:
Mash Temps:
Pre-boil OG		(1.045 SG)		Pre-boil Vol		(6.57 gal)
Actual Mash Efficiency				Pitch Temp
Fermentation
Day 1:
Day ...
Day ...