Some people like IPA’s and some people hate them, some folks out there will only drink lagers while others like barrel aged stouts. It is rare when you find a beer that just about everyone will enjoy. I am not sure if I have accomplished that, but so far everyone that has tried this experimental Oktoberfest has liked it!
So why do I call it experimental? Well, about a month ago some friends and I were sitting at a brewery having beers and one suggested that we should brew up an Oktoberfest since October was approaching. I chimed in that we did not really have enough time to pull off a traditional lager. So we discussed it and decided that maybe we should do an Oktoberfest Ale, and in stead of stopping there, perhaps we can do an American twist on it and celebrate both German and American brewing heritage with it. So I worked on a recipe that did just that. I used both German and American grains and a single German hop, with higher than normal IBU’s and an American Ale Yeast! The results were a beautifully balanced beer, with a rich color and notable flavor!
So here is my crazy recipe. One of the only tweaks I would make is removing the 2oz’s of roasted wheat ( I removed it from the home brewing recipe listed here) . I added it for some additional color at the last minute and I probably should not have. The color is beautiful but a little too dark for an Oktoberfest.
Beer Name: Kaiser Washington Oktoberfest Ale
Style: American Oktoberfest Ale
Estimated OG: 1.056
IBUs: 40.0
Color: 16.2 SRM
ABV: 5.6
Amt | Name | Type | # | %/IBU |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 lbs | Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) | Grain | 1 | 76.2 % |
2 lbs | Munich Malt (9.0 SRM) | Grain | 2 | 15.2 % |
1 lbs | Caramel/Crystal Malt -120L (120.0 SRM) | Grain | 3 | 7.6 % |
Amt | Name | Type | # | %/IBU |
---|---|---|---|---|
1.00 oz | Mandarina Bavaria [8.50 %] – Boil 60.0 min | Hop | 5 | 26.7 IBUs |
1.00 Items | Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins) | Fining | 6 | – |
1.00 oz | Mandarina Bavaria [8.50 %] – Boil 15.0 min | Hop | 7 | 13.3 IBUs |
I fermented with Wyeast 1056 American Ale and used a touch of biofin clarifier to really make it shine after fementation completed. Just make sure you cold condition it for at least 2 weeks before passing judgement!
If anyone decides to brew it, please let me know what you think!