I’m brewing a CAP this weekend and bought Wyeast 2278 (Czech Pils) instead of the American Pilsner strain. Does anyone have any experience brewing this style with 2278? Based on Wyeast’s description, it sounds like a great option. What say you?
Here’s the recipe:
Classic American Pilsner 2-C Classic American Pilsner
Size: 5.15 gal
Efficiency: 80.0%
Attenuation: 77.0%
Calories: 185.91 kcal per 12.0 fl oz
Ingredients:
7.5 lb Pilsner Malt
2.75 lb Polenta (Instant)
.50 oz Magnum (12.1%) - added during boil, boiled 60 min
1 oz Saaz (3.0%) - added during boil, boiled 20 min
1 oz Saaz (3.0%) - added during boil, boiled 10 min
1 oz Saaz (3.0%) - added during boil, boiled 5 min
1 oz Saaz (3.0%) - added during boil, boiled 0 min
1.0 ea Whirlfloc Tablets (Irish moss) - added during boil, boiled 5 min
1.0 gal starter of Wyeast 2278 Czech Pils
Would a small amount of Victory (~2.5%) be out of place in a CAP? I’m not asking whether it would be to style, but whether it would be a complimentary malt to a CAP grain bill of, say, 6-row and flaked corn.
I have made several CAPs the last few years, usually with Wyeast’s Bohemian Lager strain (my go-to lager strain). I have experimented and made the same basic recipie using the Wyeast Budvar Lager and Saflager strains as well. I have found they all turned out fine, were well within style, and bring home ribbons when entered in comps. Of the 3 strains, I like the saflager the least, but it still produced a nice clean beer and I will probably use it again (depending on price). I make at least one or two CAPs a year, often substituting hops and yeast with whatever is free and available at the time. The style is pretty robust. I have also diluted my CAP, 3 gallons of water to 12 gallons of beer to produce 3 kegs of premium american lager.
