You don’t have to have the pils, but I think it helps balance the flavors out, and allows you to decrease the mash time and I really feel it helps you to hit the proper AA.
I can’t say I have ever brewed one of JZ’s recipes. And I don’t own BCS. No disrespect to JZ but I had most of my recipes figured out before that book came out. 
One must have the ability to think for themselves when it comes to certain homebrew living legends. Read between the lines, right? For example, doing a show on dunkels and half of the guests have never brewed one, and the last time you brewed one was over ten years ago… I’ll keep that in mind when deciding how authoritative the info it.
Just saying
JZ’s advice is pretty sound. I don’t think you would go wrong with any of his recipes. The only thing I have against BCS is not JZ, it’s that everyone takes those recipes for gospel instead of guidelines.
I have no problem either. I agree that BCS is a good recipe book with a place to start on a lot of styles. But saying that 100% of the podcast iinfo is undebatable gold, or that the recipes are as good as it gets… I disagree.
Yeah, BCS isn’t gospel to me either. It has some good recipes, some are better than others. I’ve brewed a few of his on styles I hadn’t brewed before and then tweaked them to my liking the next time. It’s a good starting point for a style you haven’t brewed before, and that’s about it.
So I’m about done with the mash. Based on aroma alone, the difference between Weyermann Munich and GW Munich is like the difference between a good German pils and GW pils. World of difference.
To tie the discussion together, Zainashef always says to use ingredients from the region you’re trying to brew to. That’s gold for sure.
Yep, agreed.
I have not listened to the podcast you are speaking of.
It’s good stuff. Better than normal morning talk radio (politics and weather) I suggest you go to Brewing Network and try it out. The Session is entertaining and has great laid back interviews with pros and such. Zainashef has a BCS type show and a duo show with Palmer. Try it out. There’s a Denny episode or three.
Now I’m looking forward to a Yellow Hammer episode
Oh, yeah, I am familiar with the BN. Haven’t listened in 5 years or so. It was great for while and there was a lot of great sessions. I used to listen to it fairly religiously when I had a desk job. Now I just don’t really have time, or it is too noisy to hear what is going on.
FTR I have tried to play it at brewery but if you can’t follow what is going on it sounds like gibberish and annoys the employees. So we just listen to music.
Well we still need a Yellow Hammer episode on the Session
A few years back I approached Justin at NHC about doing one on our brewery and he was not interested.
Well that sucks. His loss.
Meh, no big deal. He was gracious and friendly enough. Apparently they had done a show with Avondale, another AL brewery and weren’t interested in bringing AL back on the show right then. Plus, he could tell I didn’t really listen to the show so maybe he was offended.
I wasn’t then, nor am I now, offended in any way. I have spoken to those guys a couple times at NHC and they are super nice dudes.
Good for you. And I’m withholding further comments on the BN due to this not being the proper time and place for that.
My hope is that I get big enough with this next expansion that I can turn them down for the interview. ;D
Love Dunkels! My last recipe went like this.
Best Munich Dark 88%
Best Pils 10%
Caramunich 2%
Midnight Wheat 2%
25 IBU Magnum
Wyeast 2124
I’ve been tweaking this recipe for awhile, sometimes no caramunich or differing amounts of pilsner malt or light verses dark munich. I like them all, can’t really settle on one recipe.
All of this talk about dunkels makes me thirsty. I need to go to local bar for a KC Bier Co Dunkel. I’d like to brew one now too. Let us know how it turns out Jim!
Will do. I think I’m getting closer to what I’m shooting for. I need to order up more of the Weyermann Munich, both light and dark. I like my GW Munich in American beers, but I’m becoming convinced that it takes actual german munich for a top notch Dunkel