Czech Pilsner Review and Homebrewed Recipe (All Grain / BiaB)
If you’re curious, when Mike says he has the “Thrills for the Pils”, that’s a Brooklyn 99 reference. You should watch it if you haven’t.
Also known as a Czech Premium Lager, category 3b, the Czech Pilsner has become one of Mike’s favorite style. Of course, he’s shooting to make something comparable to a Pilsner Urquell. Not to spoil you, but this recipe isn’t quite there. Of course, it was a simple single infusion mash, with a mash out. If Mike had done a decoction, then it would have at least added some color, maybe gave it some more complex sugars. Recipe posted after show notes.
This homebrew recipe tastes more like an American lager, and is just too darn light. Needs more grain aroma and flavor, as well as some more hops. It’s a starting point, and a drinkable beer.
There was an extremely long time between brewing and tasting on this beer because Mike has been wrestling with kegerator and CO2 problems, with a bunch of lost CO2 bottles.
In any case, do you have a favorite Czech Pilsner recipe? Go ahead and let us know!
Recipe Details
| Batch Size | Boil Time | IBU | SRM | Est. OG | Est. FG | ABV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 gal | 60 min | 35.0 IBUs | 3.0262854 | 1.040 | 1.005 | 4.5 % |
Fermentables
| Name | Amount | % |
|---|---|---|
| Pilsner (2 Row) Ger | 8.71 lbs | 97.02 |
| Acid Malt | 4.28 oz | 2.98 |
Hops
| Name | Amount | Time | Use | Form | Alpha % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saaz | 1.6 oz | 60 min | Boil | Pellet | 4.5 |
| Hallertauer Mittelfrueh | 0.57 oz | 60 min | Boil | Pellet | 3.1 |
| Saaz | 1.6 oz | 30 min | Boil | Pellet | 4.5 |
| Saaz | 1.6 oz | 5 min | Boil | Pellet | 4.5 |
Miscs
| Name | Amount | Time | Use | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lactic Acid | 2.00 ml | 60 min | Mash | Water Agent |
| Epsom Salt (MgSO4) | 0.39 g | 60 min | Mash | Water Agent |
| Chalk | 0.36 g | 60 min | Mash | Water Agent |
| Baking Soda | 0.31 g | 60 min | Mash | Water Agent |
| Calcium Chloride | 0.29 g | 60 min | Mash | Water Agent |
Yeast
| Name | Lab | Attenuation | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilsner Lager (WLP800) | White Labs | 75% | 50°F - 55°F |
Mash
| Step | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Saccharification | 144°F | 90 min |
| Mash Out | 168°F | 10 min |
Notes
| Loosly based off of https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/homebrew-recipe/tougher-than-the-sun-pale-lager/ OG 1.055 FG 1.003 5.3% ABV 7/26/23 - This beer is OK. It needs about 10% more hops, in flavor and bitterness to start, and could stand to have more grain flavor. |
Download
| Download this recipe's BeerXML file |
