Pilsner Urquell National Award-Winning Clone (Decoction and Non-Decoction Version) - Beer Recipe - Brewer's Friend

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Pilsner Urquell National Award-Winning Clone (Decoction and Non-Decoction Version)

160 calories 16.5 g 330 ml
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Beer Stats
Method: All Grain
Style: Czech Premium Pale Lager
Boil Time: 90 min
Batch Size: 23 liters (fermentor volume)
Pre Boil Size: 36.7 liters
Pre Boil Gravity: 1.033 (recipe based estimate)
Efficiency: 63% (brew house)
Source: Courtesy of Lil' Wheaty's Original
Calories: 160 calories (Per 330ml)
Carbs: 16.5 g (Per 330ml)
Created: Thursday June 21st 2018
1.052
1.013
5.1%
41.2
3.5
n/a
n/a
 
Fermentables
Amount Fermentable Cost PPG °L Bill %
6 kg German - Pilsner6 kg Pilsner 38 1.6 100%
6 kg / $ 0.00
 
Hops
Amount Variety Cost Type AA Use Time IBU Bill %
43.10 g Saaz43.1 g Saaz Hops Pellet 3.5 Boil 90 min 20.81 27.3%
57.50 g Saaz57.5 g Saaz Hops Pellet 3.5 Boil 20 min 15.71 36.4%
28.60 g Saaz28.6 g Saaz Hops Pellet 3.5 Boil 10 min 4.68 18.1%
28.60 g Saaz28.6 g Saaz Hops Pellet 3.5 Boil 0 min 18.1%
157.80 g / $ 0.00
 
Other Ingredients
Amount Name Cost Type Use Time
5.78 ml Lactic Acid - Mash Water Agt Mash 1 hr.
1 each whirlfloc Fining Boil 15 min.
200 g rice hulls Fining Mash 1 hr.
 
Yeast
Wyeast - Czech Pils 2278
Amount:
1 Each
Cost:
Attenuation (avg):
72%
Flocculation:
Med-High
Optimum Temp:
10 - 14 °C
Starter:
Yes
Fermentation Temp:
13 °C
Pitch Rate:
1.5 (M cells / ml / ° P) 444 B cells required
$ 0.00 Yeast Pitch Rate and Starter Calculator
 
Target Water Profile
Welford Water
Ca+2 Mg+2 Na+ Cl- SO4-2 HCO3-
56 5 11 25 37 68
Lactic acid added to augment a mash pH of ~ 5.3.
Mash Chemistry and Brewing Water Calculator
 
Mash Guidelines
Amount Description Type Start Temp Target Temp Time
16.9 L Protein Rest - Pull the first decoction when finished Temperature -- 52 °C 15 min
16.9 L Beta Rest - Add the first decoction back, aiming for a temperature of 148F. Hold this rest for 30min, then pull the second decoction Decoction -- 64 °C 30 min
16.9 L Alpha Rest - Add the second decoction back, aiming for a rest temperature of 158F. Hold at this temperature for 30min Decoction -- 70 °C 30 min
16.9 L Mash Out - Raise the temperature to 167F and hold for 10min Temperature -- 75 °C 10 min
14.9 L Sparge - Sparge as usual after mash Temperature -- 77 °C 20 min
Starting Mash Thickness: 3.7 L/kg
Quick Water Requirements
Water Liters
Strike water volume at mash thickness of 3.7 L/kg 22.2
Mash volume with grains 26.2
Grain absorption losses -6
Remaining sparge water volume (equipment estimates 17 L) 21.4
Mash Lauter Tun losses -0.9
Pre boil volume (equipment estimates 32.3 L) 36.7
Boil off losses -8.6
Hops absorption losses (first wort, boil, aroma) -0.8
Post boil Volume 23
Going into fermentor 23
Total: 43.6  
Equipment Profile Used: System Default
 
Notes

Double Decoction:

Note: Pilsner Urquell uses a triple decoction method with an initial acid rest, but I use well enough modified malts and correct for pH already so the first of three decoctions is unnecessary. The decoction measurements below are ones I developed for an electric system and err on the side of caution, so they are the lower amounts needed to potentially reach the next temperature step and direct heat can be applied to compensate.

Perform a protein rest at 125F for 15min, then pull off slightly less than 1/3 (1.16gal/4.4L) of the thickest mash and place it in a separate pot. Bring the pot slowly up to 158F and hold for 15min, then slowly bring it up to a boil and proceed to boil for 10min. Stir often so the grains do not burn, but try to allow some 'browning' to help darken the colour and enhance the flavour/aroma profiles. Add the decoction back to the 125F mash, little by little, aiming for a beta rest temperature of 148F. Hold this temperature for 30min while adding back any leftover decoction (if any) as it cools. After this has finished, pull off roughly 1/6 (0.7gal/2.6L) of the thickest mash a second time and place it in the separate pot. Slowly bring the pot up to a boil and continue to boil for 10min. Add the second decoction back to the mash, little by little, aiming for an alpha rest temperature of 158F. Hold this temperature for 30min while adding back any leftover decoction (if any) as it cools. Once this rest has finished, raise the temperature up to a mash out rest of 167F and hold for 10min. After the decoctions and mash out are finished proceed to sparge/lauter as usual.

No Decoction:

Instead of the labour intensive double decoction mash schedule you could:

  • Substitute some of the pilsner malt for vienna and/or munich to add colour and depth.
  • Include some melanoidin malt for a slight decoction 'feel'.
  • Add some carapils malt (or your preferred alternative) for improved head retention.
  • After which, just carry out a temperature/infusion mash schedule based on your preferences.

    **This beer won a national silver medal at the Saskatoon Headhunters Competition (2017) and has consistently scored 40's at other national competitions.


Award Winning Recipe
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  • Last Updated: 2018-06-21 19:14 UTC