marzen

Beer Recipes
1

I’m back posting yet again  :wink:

Need help on a grain bill for a Marzen. It seems that there is quite a variety of proportion of munich to pils to vienna out there.

34.8% munich 9L
30.4% vienna
30.4% pilsner
4.3% caramunich III

2

In my humble opinion, the right answer is about 50-75% Vienna malt, with Munich and Pilsner malts playing a supporting role, and just a touch of CaraMunich (like you have it already) for that little something extra. But overall, Vienna malt is awesome, so let it shine. This might not be most traditional, I can’t say for sure, but I don’t know why not because it sure is yummy.

Here’s my recipe for Vienna lager (very similar style – together Ray Daniels refers to these as “VMO”, Vienna/Marzen/Oktoberfest) that won some awards.

EDIT: And hey, our names are all over this thread as well from earlier this year – I’m hearing echos from the past:

https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=26517.5;wap2

Here, I found an even prettier copy of my recipe:

811×915 111 KB

3

FWIW, I just did one with 65% Vienna, 21% Munich 9L, 10% Pils, and 4% melanoidan IIRC.

Edit -  Also, this one’s on the light end of the color range. I believe it’s 7.7 SRM.

4

Thanks. I actually have that beer on tap still. It has developed into quite a nice beer but I still am not sure where it fits. I have just been calling it an Amber Lager and am entering it as an International Amber Lager due to the corn.

One thing that a lot of recipes seem to have in common is the use of more vienna like you have suggested. I will adjust accordingly.

5

I’ve been dialing mine in for a bit, and this is where I like it (3 gallon batch):

2 lb Light Munich
2 lb Pilsner
1 lb Vienna
6 oz Aromatic

I like mine leaning more towards the Munich than the Vienna. I was really happy with the change from CaraMunich III to Aromatic - it seems to amp up that Munich character I’m shooting for. It also hits that light orange color that I’m shooting for as well.

6

Thanks Jon. I was also thinking about incorporating some melanoidin instead of the caramunich. This one has got me a little puzzles because I don’t want it to be too much like the lager I have on tap right now which is about 60% vienna. I guess similar styles will taste similarly…

7

Thanks for sharing! I think my goal might be similar to yours. Is the light munich around 6L?

8

I believe so. I’ve been using Avangard, and I’m pretty sure it’s listed at 6L.

9

Cool. Thanks. I use Schill base malts with Weyermann specialty malts mostly.

10

The one I just won a silver with was:

Munich 10L      37.7%
  Pilsner            30.2%
  Vienna            22.6%
  Caramunich III    7.5%
  Melanoidan        1.9%

I think this year I’m lowering the Pils percentage and raising the Vienna and possibly the Munich.

11

Another good point of reference. Thanks. I am leaning toward something like this which is similar to my original version or possibly going with just Munich/Pils for the base which I have seen on some other threads.

12

Hard to argue with those results, though. Congrats!

13

Started subbing some Kolsch malt for pils in several lager recipes.  I’ve been pretty happy with the results- seems like the malt became more pronounced with fewer and smaller crystal malt additions.  Ofest on tap right now is:42% Kolsch, 28% Vienna, 28% Munich, and 2% Caramunich added at vorlauf just for a little color.

14

I’ll drink to that!  Cheers.

15

I have really been enjoying the use of kolsch malt lately too. I really like the overall bready (slight toast) notes it brings to the beers. I actually am trying out the exact same grist bill for my munich helles as I am for my kolsch. Hop schedule is a bit different though.

16

Mine is similar but with a little more Pils and a little less Munich. Like you though, I keep turning the dial more toward Munich and away from Pils. In my mind it’s more Marzen than Ofest, but I realize it’s not a clear cut distinction. Either way, I tend to like it darker and richer. I want it very drinkable, but maybe by the half liter instead of the full liter :wink: