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Mr. Awesome Merican Lager

Brewed: 10/02/2022   Kegged: 10/16/2022

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

MrAwesome.jpgShe 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 ... 

Click here to see previous recipes
 
Brewing Notes:
10/02/2022 esheppy
Brew day went well. Started at around 4:30. Done before 9AM. OG a little high at 1.046, but that's ok. Only got the wort down to around 60 before racking to fermentor.
10/04/2022 esheppy
Bubbling took longer to start than I expected with the harvested yeast I used. But it is going strong now. Tilt says 1.043 at 55.
10/07/2022 esheppy
Bubbling pretty much stopped. Tilt says 1.016 at 60. Weirdly, the anvil controller says 55. Unplugged the pump. Should be ready to keg next weekend.
10/16/2022 esheppy
Kegged. Tilt said 1.014 and the hydrometer was pretty close at 1.013. A little higher FG than expected, but that's ok. 4.3% abv.
10/18/2022 esheppy
Added gelatin.
10/21/2022 esheppy
Carbonation pretty good. Still a bit hazy. Wonderful flavor. Beer Model drinking too.
10/28/2022 esheppy
Clarity pretty good now, although not as brilliant as Jethro. Carbonation perfect. I think the Merican lagers are ready to compare.
11/18/2022 esheppy
Yummy. Beautiful. Won't last much longer.
11/26/2022 esheppy
Really a delicious beer. Nice beautiful yellow color. Nice and clear. Great head. Just enough hops to make it interesting. Love this beer. Been leaving for the wife recently because it is the only one on tap she really likes at the moment, but I just had to have one. Not sure how much longer this will last.
12/16/2022 esheppy
Still going. Crystal clear and awesome. Great beer. Still (mostly) saving for the Beer Model. 🍺
01/28/2023 esheppy
3 months old and still wonderful. Crystal clear. Can still taste the finishing hops. I think there is still about a gallon left. Good stuff.
02/05/2023 esheppy
Killed the keg today. Amazing that this lasted almost 4 months.
Comments:
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