Brew Dudes

The Jar speaks again! For our fifteenth round in the Jar of Destiny beer style challenge, we dove back into that magical container filled with all styles from the 2015 BJCP guidelines. We blindly pull a style out and then commit to brewing it. There are no take-backs (well, almost no take-backs).

This time, the Jar gave us two very different paths to follow. I (John) drew 1D – American Wheat Beer, while Mike ended up with 8B – Schwarzbier (Dark Lager). It’s a nice seasonal split. A light and citrusy beer on one end, dark and smooth on the other. Let’s break down our initial thoughts as we prepare to brew these over the next couple of months.

My Pick: 1D – American Wheat Beer

I was happy to see this one pop up. American Wheat Beer is refreshing, crisp, and not too complicated. It is exactly the kind of beer you want to drink in the summer months. It’s been a while since I’ve brewed this style, but I’m looking forward to getting back into it.

My plan is to lean into the American hop profile, aiming for something citrusy and bright. The style allows for a little bit of haze, a big fluffy head, and an overall clean profile. It should be a quaffable beer; light-bodied and super drinkable. I’m hoping to split the difference between classic and modern with an American wheat malt base. I will ferment it clean and punch it up with late-addition hops for that fresh aroma. Stay tuned to see how that turns out.

Mike’s Pick: 8B – Schwarzbier

Mike got the darker side of the deal with a Schwarzbier. He thinks it is a great challenge with a beer that looks like a stout but drinks like a Pilsner.

His inspiration comes from a German beer called Köstritzer, a wonderfully smooth and crisp dark lager. The goal is to brew something black in color but clean and refreshing in taste. Expect muted noble hop character and easy drinkability. It’s a style that rewards precision and patience with a good lagering period.

What’s Next?

As always, the real fun begins now. Over the next couple of months, we’ll each work on brewing the best version of these styles we can. Then, we’ll reconvene to taste, compare, and critique the final results.

Until then, wish us luck on this round and let us know how you’d approach either of these styles. Would you go hoppy with your wheat? What’s your favorite Schwarzbier to clone?

BREW ON!

Check out the First Pick and the start of it all!
Check out the Second Pick
Check out the Third Pick
Check out the Fourth Pick
Check out the Fifth Pick
Check out the Sixth Pick
Check out the Seventh Pick
Check out the Eighth Pick
Check out the Ninth Pick
Check out the Tenth Pick
Check out the Eleventh Pick
Check out the Twelfth Pick
Check out the Thirteenth Pick
Check out the Fourteenth Pick

Ah, the Jar of Destiny strikes again! This time around, Mike dove headfirst into brewing a Tropical Stout. That is style 16C on the 2015 BJCP guidelines for those keeping score at home.

I’ve got to admit, neither of us had brewed one before this challenge. After extensive research, Mike learned that a Tropical Stout should be refreshingly sweet but without lactose. It should lean on the malt and adjuncts to deliver a smooth sweetness.

It typically has a bit more kick, making it an interesting fit for tropical climates. With excitement, Mike set out to brew this unique beer.

Tropical Stout Recipe

3.5 US Gallon batch

Grain Bill:
Golden Promise: 75%
Flaked Corn: 10%
Blackprinz (dehusked black malt): 6%
Crystal 60L: 5%
Roasted Barley (400L): 2%
Crystal 120L: 1.5%

Adjunct:
D-90 Belgian Candy Syrup: 1 lb (added to boil)

Hop Schedule:
Target: ~1 oz (60 min)
Target: 8 g (10 min)

Yeast:
Saflager 34/70 (2 packs)

Instructions:
Mash grains (Golden Promise and Flaked Corn) at 150°F for 60 minutes.
Separately, finely mill specialty grains (Blackprinz, Crystal 60, Roasted Barley, Crystal 120) and add as a top mash before mash-out.
Ramp to 168°F over 20 minutes for mash-out, hold for 20 minutes.

60 minutes total boil time
Fermentation temperature was around 62°F, ferment until completion (about 7-10 days primary).

Outcomes:
Original Gravity (OG): 1.066
Final Gravity (FG): 1.018
Approximate ABV: 6.3%

Tasting and Final Thoughts

Pouring the beer, the deep color and hints of red caught our eyes immediately. On the nose, we picked up enticing notes of turbinado sugar and sweet tobacco, complemented by dark fruits and a pleasant burnt sugar aroma.

Upon tasting, the sweetness balanced beautifully with the gentle bitterness from Target hops. There was no harsh roasted malt bitterness here, thankfully. The beer had a nice medium-full body, satisfying yet surprisingly refreshing.
Could we picture drinking a few of these on a hot tropical afternoon? Sure. While neither Mike nor I can claim expertise on Tropical Stouts, we’re pretty thrilled with how this turned out. It was a tasty, rewarding brewing adventure and certainly one of the better stouts we’ve brewed. Cheers to more explorations from the Jar of Destiny!

BREW ON!

Links To The Jar of Destiny Series Results
Check out the British Strong Ale post
Check out the Black IPA post
Check out the International Amber Lager post
Check out the Belgian Tripel post
Check out the Double IPA post
Check out the Kölsch post
Check out the English IPA post
Check out the Wood-Aged Beer post
Check out the Belgian Golden Strong Ale post
Check out the American Amber Ale post
Check out the German Pils post
Check out the Brett Beer post
Check out the Munich Helles post
Check out the Imperial Stout post
Check out the Foreign Extra Stout post
Check out the Belgian IPA post
Check out the Eisbock post
Check out the Czech Dark Lager post
Check out the California Common post
Check out the American Light Lager post
Check out the Pale Kellerbier post
Check out the Belgian Pale Ale post
Check out the Trappist Single post
Check out the Classic Style Smoked Beer post
Check out the Czech Amber Lager post
Check out the Gueuze post
Check out the Irish Stout post
Check out the Tropical Stout post
Check out the Schwarzbier post
Check out the American Wheat Beer post