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Mardi Bock

Brewed: 02/12/2023   Kegged: 02/26/2023

MardiBock.jpgSo, my homebrewing friend "Doc" invited me over to brew on Groundhogs Day. 

When I asked my wife (aka The SheppyBrew Beer Model) what I should brew. Her response was "A Mardi Gras Beer". Lent was coming up in about a month, so that seemed like a good one.

But what is a Mardi Gras beer?

Upon research and reflection, we agreed that it had to be a Bock-style beer.

I remember J. Wilson, the homebrewer and columnist who back in 2011 decided to follow the tradition of 17th century monks of Neudeck ob der Au outside Munich, Germany, developed the rich-and-malty beer to sustain them during Lenten fasts, the traditional 46-day lead-up to Easter.

Here is an article about the Lenten journey he took: My Faith: What I learned from my 46-day beer-only fast

He also wrote a book: Diary of a Part-Time Monk . 

And his blog on the project was Diary of a Part-time Monk

Anyway, J. Wilson picked (and the 17th century monks) picked dopplebock as their chosen style. I didn't want to go quite that big, so I went with a Dunkles Bock.

I had just brewed "PBR", so I had harvested lager yeast to help with the fermentation. And, of course, In the SheppyBrew 2018 Year-End Brewing Stats article, I said I would like to do more new recipes and more lagers in 2019. 

So, I came up with a recipe. 

I decided to keep the color and OG on the lighter side of the style. I decided to keep the bitterness a bit higher in the range just because I don't like overly sweet beers.

The resulting recipe is below.

The beer turned out fantastic. One of the beers that both the BrewMaster and Beer Model enjoyed. 

Batch 2 was ready for 2021 Lent. 

Batch 3 was pressure fermented and finished up about a week into 2023 Lent.

For more information on this beer see Sheppy's Blog: Mardi Bock


Mardi Bock --- Batch (329)

Style Dunkles Bock Batch Size 5.50 gal
Type All Grain Boil Size   6.57 gal
Brewhouse Efficiency   68.00   Boil Time   60 minutes

Recipe Characteristics

Recipe Gravity 1.064 SG Estimated FG 1.015 SG
Recipe Bitterness 26.0 IBUs (Rager) Alcohol by Volume 6.6 %
BU : GU   0.404        
Recipe Color 14.7 SRM
Color
   
Measured OG:   1.064   Measured FG:   1.016 
ADF:   74   Measured ABV:   6.4 

Ingredients

Ingredients
Amt Name Type # %/IBU Volume
7.62 gal Denver, Colorado Water 1 - -
8.00 g Calcium Chloride (Mash) Water Agent 2 - -
9 lbs Munich Malt - 10L (10.0 SRM) Grain 3 62.1 % 0.70 gal
4 lbs 8.0 oz Pilsner (2 Row) Ger (2.0 SRM) Grain 4 31.0 % 0.35 gal
8.0 oz Caramunich Malt (60.0 SRM) Grain 5 3.4 % 0.04 gal
4.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt -120L (120.0 SRM) Grain 6 1.7 % 0.02 gal
4.0 oz Melanoiden Malt (20.0 SRM) Grain 7 1.7 % 0.02 gal
1.000 oz Magnum [15.80 %] - Boil 25.0 min Hop 8 26.0 IBUs -
1.00 Items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins) Fining 9 - -
1.00 tsp Yeast Nutrient (Boil 15.0 mins) Other 10 - -
1.0 pkg Saflager Lager (DCL/Fermentis #W-34/70) [50.28 ml] Yeast 11 - -
0.50 tsp Gelatin (Bottling 1.0 days) Fining 12 - -

Mash Profile

Mash Steps
Name Description Step Temperature Step Time
Saccharification Add 30.54 qt of water at 160.3 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
Make yeast starter before brew day.
Water profile assumes BeerSmith Denver profile start
Final: Ca=107; Mg=9; Na=21; SO=51; Cl=157; HCO3=104;
Mash / boil as directed on recipe.
Chill as close to 50 degrees as possible. Ferment cold for one week, let the temperature rise 1 or 2 degrees a day until in the 60's.
After a week, let the fermentation finish off at room temperature.
Keg. Once the keg has chilled for 24 hours, add geletin to 3/4 cup 150F water, and add to keg.
Carbonate.
Drink and enjoy.

Brewing Record

Brew Date:   Strike Temp:  
Mash Temps:  
Pre-boil OG   (1.057 SG)   Pre-boil Vol   (6.57 gal)
Actual Mash Efficiency   Pitch Temp    
Fermentation            
Day 1: 
Day ... 
Day ... 

Click here to see previous recipes
 
Brewing Notes:
02/08/2023 esheppy
Bought ingredients today. I actually hadn't looked at the recipe much before pouring out grains and the high amount of Munich malt sort of surprised me. When I got home I looked at the Bock recipe in Brewing Classic Styles, and it looks in line with the munich amount here. Should brew this weekend. This will be my first pressure fermentation.
02/12/2023 esheppy
Beer brewed. About 5.75 gallons into fermenter at 1.064 og. Yeast sprinkled on top. Pressurized fermenter by 8.45.
02/13/2023 esheppy
Seeing starts of fermentation,but it isn't active yet. Probably will be while I'm at work. Tilt says 1.061 at 62 degrees. Pressure on the spunding valve just below 10 psi.
02/13/2023 esheppy
When I got home, fermentation was going strong. The valve was at just over 15 psi. Tilt said 1.057 at 62 degrees. I set the dial a little lower and let out a little pressure.
02/14/2023 esheppy
Tilt at 1.048 at 65 degrees. Pressure looks to be at 16 psi again. Cool looking tan kraussen looks like the pressure is holding it down.
02/15/2023 esheppy
Tilt says 1.018 at 73. PSI at 14. Kraussen almost gone. Beer still very cloudy.
02/16/2023 esheppy
Tilt says 1.016 at 68. The pressure is at about 12. Beer really starting to clear up.
02/26/2023 esheppy
Kegged. Pressure transfer was a minor disaster due to the brew master not paying attention. I put the liquid transfer tube on the gas in, which obviously didn't work. I thought I'd give it a shot of CO2 to get things going, but because that was in the liquid, my nice clear lager became instantly hazy. Eventually I figured it out, and got the beer in the keg, but certainly not O2-free. FG right at 1.016. The sample tasted good and once the keg clears I'll really like the beer. Note to self ... Pay attention to gas vs liquid posts next time.
03/02/2023 esheppy
Added gelatin. May give this a try later this evening.
03/03/2023 esheppy
First pour off the keg was very cloudy. Still good, and I should quickly get past the trub on the bottom.
03/05/2023 esheppy
Pretty clear now. Lighter in color than I remember previous batches. Very red looking. Delicious.
03/18/2023 esheppy
Wonderful Bock beer. Clear. Dark red. Bready. Balanced. Yummy.
04/08/2023 esheppy
Still really enjoying this beer.
04/21/2023 esheppy
Clean. Beautiful. Malty. Nice and drinkable. Not sure how much is left. But I'll enjoy it while I can.
05/10/2023 esheppy
Still tasting great. Crystal clear. Lots of Munich malt flavor. Will probably be the next keg to kick. Need the space for Captain Serious.
05/14/2023 esheppy
Killed the keg a few days ago. Good timing because it made room for Captain Serious. Wonderful beer while it lasted, but I'm glad to have something new on tap.
Comments:
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