So this is what I came up with the night before last, I was looking to get rid of some grain leftover from previous bulk purchases and I did not have time to go buy anything at all from the HBS.
I hit a 1.052 OG on a 60 minute boil and lazy pitched two half full pint jars of 34/70 slurry @ 60. Will ramp to 65 tomorrow probably, maybe.
BeerSmith puts it at 4.3 SRM, which I would say is probably accurate based on what I saw in the hydrometer. We shall see how she goes… I guess I’ll at least find out how shoddy I can get with lager brewing and still make a decent beer.
I have been wanting to experiment with 34/70 at higher temps to see if I can discern any off flavors. Call it a palate test, or what have you, however I feel like I could use a challenge. I hope your enjoy your kitchen sink lager… as long as it ferments you’re doing better than drinking hams and natty-ice.
Out of curiosity, what were your pitch temps for these? I’ve fermented this yeast in the low-mid 60’s on many occasions, but I’ve always pitched it in the mid-upper 40’s before ramping it up quickly even in those cases. I’m wondering whether that low pitch temp is really necessary, and I’m just doing it out of habit/old brewer’s voodoo.
Low 60s and then let it come up to the mid-60s, which is what I normally do with American/English ale yeasts. I’ve done that both with dry yeast and harvested slurry.
FWIW I pitched at exactly 60. I let it sit for 48 and then to 63 for 24 hours, its now rolling along at 65 where it will stay for a week more. I will let you know how it turns out. I have pitched and kept it lower for longer as well as rocked it for 65 straight through. As long as it gets a good cold crash/fining/lager period, I haven’t noticed a difference besides much slower lag time when pitching cold (under 58).
For anyone who is wondering, this beer turned out fairly solid. It had an almost vinous/honey sweetness the first week on tap while it cleared. Then, almost overnight the white wine hints faded. It is now a brilliantly clear very light colored lager with a solid head. I have finally tasted the biscuit/nutty flavor people say they get from marris otter! I have always struggled to perceive it as anything more than a fuller mouthed pale malt. I have no idea how I would categorize this beer, except that it is like drinking a full flavored light lager with very nice complex nutty notes that leave it anything but one dimensional.