Black Lager Recipe

If you’re a fan of stouts but want something with a lighter finish, this Black Lager recipe might just be the beer for you. With a surprisingly clean and refreshing taste, this beer combines the best of both worlds. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to flex your homebrewing skills and impress your friends with your ability to make an unusual and delicious beer.

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Black Lager

As black as a stout but with a clean, refreshing, and light lager finish, this is a fantastic and unusual beer that will surprise and impress.

Prep Time1 hour hr

Cook Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

TO FERMENT28 days d

Total Time28 days d 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Course: Beer

Cuisine: Larger

Keyword: BLACK LAGER

Servings: 40 pints

Calories: 196kcal

Author: Dan Smullen

Equipment

• 1 Brew kettle
• 1 Mash tun
• 1 Fermenter (plastic bucket or glass carboy)
• 1 Airlock and stopper
• 1 Hydrometer
• 1 Thermometer
• 1 Long stirring spoon or paddle
• 1 Auto-siphon
• 1 Bottling bucket
• 1 Bottles and caps
• 1 Bottle capper
• 1 Cleaning and sanitizing supplies (e.g. PBW, Star San)

Ingredients

For the Mash – Liquor 13 Litres (23 Pints) – Mash Time 1 hr – Temperature 65°C (149°F)

• 10 lb Pale malt Quantity 4.5kg
• 9 oz Melanoidin malt Quantity 250 g
• 3 1/2 oz Chocolate malt Quantity 100 g
• 5 1/2 oz Carafa special III malt Quantity 150 g

For the Boil – 27 Litres (47 1/2 Pints) – Boil Time 1 hr – 15 mins

• 1 oz (Hops) Centennial 8.5% When to add – At start of boil (IBU 28.5)
• 2 oz (Hops) Hallertauer Hersbrucker 3.5% When to add – For last 15 mins of boil (IBU 9.9)
• 1 1/2 oz (Hops) Hallertauer Hersbrucker 3.5% When to add – At turn off (IBU 0.0)
• 1 tsp Protofloc Other – When to add – For last 15 mins of boil

To Ferment – 14°C (57°F) – Conditioning 4 weeks at 3°C (37°F)

• 1 White Labs WLP802 Czech Lager Yeast

Instructions

Mash:

• Heat 13 liters (23 pints) of water to 65°C (149°F).
• Add the Pale, Melanoidin, Chocolate, and Carafa special III malts to the water and stir.
• Allow the mixture to sit for 1 hour at 65°C (149°F).
• After 1 hour, remove the grains and discard.

Boil:

• Heat 27 liters (47.5 pints) of water to a boil in a large pot.
• Once the water is boiling, add the Centennial hops and let it boil for 1 hour.
• After 1 hour, add the Protofloc and the Hallertauer Hersbrucker hops and boil for an additional 15 minutes.
• At the end of the 15 minutes, add the final 1.5 oz of Hallertauer Hersbrucker hops and turn off the heat.
• Chill the wort to 14°C (57°F) using a wort chiller or an ice bath.

Fermentation:

• Transfer the chilled wort to a fermenter.
• Add the White Labs WLP802 Czech Lager Yeast to the fermenter.
• Place an airlock on the fermenter and let the beer ferment at 14°C (57°F) for about 5 days, or until the fermentation is complete.
• After the fermentation is complete, transfer the beer to a secondary fermenter or to a bottling bucket.
• Allow the beer to condition for 4 weeks at 3°C (37°F).

Bottling:

• Sanitize your bottles and caps.
• Add 1-2 tablespoons of sugar to the bottling bucket and stir.
• Use an auto-siphon to transfer the beer to the bottling bucket.
• Fill each bottle with the beer, leaving about 1 inch of headspace.
• Cap the bottles using a bottle capper.
• Allow the beer to carbonate in the bottles at room temperature for about 2 weeks.
• After 2 weeks, refrigerate the beer and enjoy!

Unique and Delicious Flavor

If you’re a fan of stouts but want something with a lighter finish, this Black Lager recipe is the beer for you. With a surprisingly clean and refreshing taste, this beer combines the best of both worlds.

Impress Your Friends

Brewing a Black Lager is a great opportunity to flex your homebrewing skills and impress your friends with your ability to make an unusual and delicious beer.

Quality Ingredients

This recipe features Pale malt, Melanoidin malt, Chocolate malt, and Carafa special III malt, as well as Centennial and Hallertauer Hersbrucker hops, resulting in a complex and rich flavor profile.

Perfect for Any Occasion

Whether you’re enjoying a cold one after a long day of work or serving it at a party, this Black Lager is sure to please. With an estimated ABV of 5.1%, 38 IBU, and 57 EBC, it’s a versatile beer that can be enjoyed year-round.

A Fun and Rewarding Brewing Experience

While this recipe takes a bit of time and effort to make, it’s well worth it for the final product. Plus, brewing your own beer is a fun and rewarding experience that can be enjoyed by both novice and experienced homebrewers.

FAQ on Making this Black Lager Recipe