27F1. Pre-Prohibition Lager Beer Recipe | All Grain Pre-Prohibition Lager | Brewer's Friend
Brew your best beer EVER. Save 10% on Brewer's Friend Premium today. Use code TAKE10. Sign Up ×

27F1. Pre-Prohibition Lager

194 calories 18.9 g 12 oz
Beer Stats
Method: All Grain
Style: Pre-Prohibition Lager
Boil Time: 60 min
Batch Size: 5.5 gallons (fermentor volume)
Pre Boil Size: 7.5 gallons
Post Boil Size: 6 gallons
Pre Boil Gravity: 1.044 (recipe based estimate)
Post Boil Gravity: 1.054 (recipe based estimate)
Efficiency: 75% (brew house)
Source: WAWooldridge
Calories: 194 calories (Per 12oz)
Carbs: 18.9 g (Per 12oz)
Created: Friday September 8th 2017
1.059
1.013
6.1%
28.3
3.3
5.4
n/a
 
Fermentables
Amount Fermentable Cost PPG °L Bill %
9 lb American - Pale 6-Row9 lb Pale 6-Row 35 1.8 75%
3 lb Flaked Rice3 lb Flaked Rice 40 0.5 25%
12 lbs / 0.00
 
Hops
Amount Variety Cost Type AA Use Time IBU Bill %
1 oz Saaz1 oz Saaz Hops Pellet 3.5 Boil 60 min 12.82 20%
1 oz Saaz1 oz Saaz Hops Pellet 3.5 Boil 20 min 7.76 20%
1 oz Saaz1 oz Saaz Hops Pellet 3.5 Boil 10 min 4.65 20%
1 oz Saaz1 oz Saaz Hops Pellet 3.5 Boil 5 min 2.56 20%
1 oz Saaz1 oz Saaz Hops Pellet 3.5 Boil 1 min 0.55 20%
5 oz / 0.00
 
Mash Guidelines
Amount Description Type Start Temp Target Temp Time
4.69 gal Single Infusion Infusion -- 152 °F 90 min
5.13 gal Batch Sparge Sparge -- 170 °F 5 min
Starting Mash Thickness: 1.5 qt/lb
 
Other Ingredients
Amount Name Cost Type Use Time
1 tsp Irish Moss Fining Boil 15 min.
59.30 ml Phosphoric acid Water Agt Mash 1 hr.
8.27 ml Phosphoric acid Water Agt Sparge 1 hr.
 
Yeast
White Labs - American Lager Yeast WLP840
Amount:
1 Each
Cost:
Attenuation (avg):
77.5%
Flocculation:
Medium
Optimum Temp:
50 - 55 °F
Starter:
Yes
Fermentation Temp:
52 °F
Pitch Rate:
1.75 (M cells / ml / ° P) 529 B cells required
0.00 Yeast Pitch Rate and Starter Calculator
Priming
CO2 Level: 2.5 Volumes
 
Target Water Profile
Pilsen (Light Lager)
Ca+2 Mg+2 Na+ Cl- SO4-2 HCO3-
7 3 2 5 5 25
If you use corn instead of rice, flaked corn gelantizes quickly, so be sure to only very fresh corn. As an alternative, consider using polenta.

Rice Hulls:
Add 1lb for every 5 lbs of malt to help with heat distribution.

Flaked Corn:
Beta-glucanase rest @ 97-113 F (20 min)
Followed by Protein Rest @ 122F (10 min)
Bring up to 152F and add to mash.
Mash Chemistry and Brewing Water Calculator
 
Notes

Overall Impression:
A clean, refreshing, but bitter pale lager, often showcasing a grainy-sweet corn flavor. All malt or rice-based versions have a crisper, more neutral character. The higher bitterness level is the largest differentiator between this style and most modern mass-market pale lagers, but the more robust flavor profile also sets it apart.

Aroma:
Low to medium grainy, corn-like or sweet maltiness may be evident (although rice-based beers are more neutral). Medium to moderately high hop aroma, with a range of character from rustic to floral to herbal/spicy; a fruity or citrusy modern hop character is inappropriate. Clean lager character. Low DMS is acceptable. May show some yeast character, as with modern American lagers; allow for a range of subtle supporting yeast notes.

Appearance:
Yellow to deep gold color. Substantial, long lasting white head. Bright clarity.

Flavor:
Medium to medium-high maltiness with a grainy flavor, and optionally a corn-like roundness and impression of sweetness. Substantial hop bitterness stands up to the malt and lingers through the dry finish. All malt and rice-based versions are often crisper, drier, and generally lack corn-like flavors. Medium to high hop flavor, with a rustic, floral, or herbal/spicy character. Medium to high hop bitterness, which should neither be overly coarse nor have a harsh aftertaste. Allow for a range of lager yeast character, as with modern American lagers, but generally neutral.

Mouthfeel:
Medium body with a moderately rich, creamy mouthfeel. Smooth and well-lagered. Medium to high carbonation levels.

Comments:
The classic American Pilsner was brewed both pre-Prohibition and post-Prohibition with some differences. OGs of 1.050–1.060 would have been appropriate for pre-Prohibition beers while gravities dropped to 1.044–1.048 after Prohibition. Corresponding IBUs dropped from a pre-Prohibition level of 30–40 to 25–30 after Prohibition.

History:
A version of Pilsner brewed in the USA by immigrant German brewers who brought the process and yeast with them, but who had to adapt their recipes to work with native hops and malt. This style died out after Prohibition but was resurrected by homebrewers in the 1990s. Few commercial versions are made, so the style remains mostly a homebrew phenomenon.

Characteristic Ingredients:
Six-row barley with 20% to 30% flaked maize (corn) or rice to dilute the excessive protein levels; modern versions may be all malt. Native American hops such as Clusters, traditional continental hops, or modern noble-type crosses are also appropriate. Modern American hops such as Cascade are inappropriate. Water with a high mineral content can lead to an unpleasant coarseness in flavor and harshness in aftertaste. A wide range of lager yeast character can be exhibited, although modern versions tend to be fairly clean.

Style Comparison:
Similar balance and bitterness as modern Czech Premium Pale Lagers, but exhibiting Native American grains and hops from the era before US Prohibition. More robust, bitter, and flavorful than modern American pale lagers, and often with higher alcohol.

Vital Statistics:
OG: 1.044 – 1.060
FG: 1.010 – 1.015
IBUs: 25 – 40
SRM: 3 – 6
ABV: 4.5 – 6.0%

Commercial Examples:
Anchor California Lager, Coors Batch 19, Little Harpeth Chicken Scratch

Tags:
standard-strength, pale-color, bottom-fermented, lagered, north-America, historical-style, pilsner-family, bitter, hoppy

Brewer's Friend Logo
Last Updated and Sharing
 
1,218
Views
0
Brews
Recipe QR Code
  • Public: Yup, Shared
  • Last Updated: 2019-10-29 22:12 UTC
Discussion about this recipe:
You must be logged in to add comments.

If you do not yet have an account, you may register here.

Back To Top