Geoff Humphrey's BrewBlog > BrewBlogs

Franconian-Style Rotbier

Batch #:

2024-15

Batch Size:

11.00 gallons

Boil Time:

90 min

Conditioning:

Keg

Brew Date:

December 8, 2024

Tap Date:

February 3, 2025

Statistics

OG:

1.054 13.3° P

FG:

1.014 3.6° P

Real Extract:

5.4° P

Attenuation:

72.9% Apparent
59.4% Real

Carbonation:

2.6 volumes

Color:

15.8SRM

IBU:

BU/GU:

0.52

ABV:

5.9%

ABW:

4.2%

Calories:

181 12 oz

Fermentables

Amount	Fermentable	% of Grist
23.00 pounds	Red X BestMalz	100%
23.00 pounds	Total Fermentable Weight	100%

Hops

Amount	Hop	Time	Use	Form	AA
1.50 ounces	Hallertauer Mittelfrueh	90 minutes	First Wort	Pellet	2.5%
1.00 ounces	Magnum	60 minutes	Boil	Pellet	16.8%
2.00 ounces	Hallertauer Mittelfrueh	10 minutes	Boil	Pellet	2.5%
4.50 ounces	Total Hop Weight

Non-Fermentables

Amount	Non-Fermentable	Type	Use	Time
1.00 g	Calcium Chloride (CaCl2)	Water Agent	Mash	0 minutes
2.00 g	Epsom Salt (MgSO4)	Water Agent	Mash	0 minutes
2.00 g	Gypsum (CaSO4)	Water Agent	Mash	0 minutes
3.00 ml	Lactic Acid	Water Agent	Mash	0 minutes
1.00 g	Calcium Chloride (CaCl2)	Water Agent	Sparge	0 minutes
1.50 g	Epsom Salt (MgSO4)	Water Agent	Sparge	0 minutes
1.00 g	Gypsum (CaSO4)	Water Agent	Sparge	0 minutes
3.50 ml	Lactic Acid	Water Agent	Sparge	0 minutes

Yeasts

Name	Lab/Manufacturer	Product ID	Form
German Bock Lager	White Labs	WLP833	Liquid

Equipment Profile Geoff's Electric Equipment

Batch Size:

11.00 gallons

Boil Volume:

13.23 gallons

Boil Time:

90 minutes

Evaporation Rate:

7.56% per hour

Hop Utilization:

100%

Trub Chiller Loss:

0.26 gallons

Mash Profile Step Mash - Traditional Grain With Max Fermentability

Ideal Grain Temp:

68°F

Mash Steps

#	Name	Type	Time	Temp.
1	Temperature	Temperature	30 minutes	140° F
2	Temperature	Temperature	30 minutes	158° F
3	Mash Out	Temperature	20 minutes	170° F

Fermentation and Aging

Primary:

14 days @ 50° F

Secondary:

3 days @ 62° F

Tertiary:

30 days @ 34° F

General Info

Ferment at 53, keg day 13 and lager 5 weeks at 34.

Quatsch means "gibberish" in German as in “Das ist totaler Quatsch.” If you say that something is “Quatsch," it means that it’s utter nonsense or complete gibberish.

Did a side-by-side with the only German red lager I could find here - Tucher Rotbier. Apparently, it's a blend of oak-aged and non-oak-aged beers of the same recipe.

The German version is sweeter with a more pronounced caramel flavor. Mine is less caramel forward. With proper carbontion, it should pop a bit more. Color was virtually identical. The German beer was a tad hazy and mine is more hazy. Needs time to clear. Overall, comparable, but the German version is definitely sweeter and more effervescent.

Quatsch