DIRECTIONS
Mill the grains and mash at 152°F (67°C) for 30 minutes, or until conversion is complete. Recirculate until the runnings are free of particles, then run off into the kettle atop the first-wort hops. Sparge and top up as necessary to get about 6 gallons (23 liters) of wort, depending on your evaporation rate. Boil for 40 minutes. After the boil, do a whirlpool step: Cool the wort to 160–165°F (71–74°C), recirculate or stir to create a vortex, and add the whirlpool hops; steep for 20 minutes. Chill the wort to 67°F (19°C), aerate, and pitch the yeast. Ferment at 67°F (19°C). Once the beer is more than 50 percent attenuated (i.e., below 1.038), raise the temperature to about 70°F (21°C) until fermentation is complete. Once the beer has passed a VDK test (see “Hunting for Diacetyl,” beerandbrewing.com), lower the temperature to 60°F (16°C), optionally harvest the yeast, and add the dry hops. After 3–4 days, crash, package, and carbonate to about 2.4 volumes of CO2.

BREWER’S NOTES
Acidulated malt: We use acidulated malt for mash pH, but you can optionally pivot its share of the grist to pilsner and use your own preferred way to hit a mash pH of 5.15–5.25.