How best to replicate a Czech/German-style dark lager?

[Pablo_C]

Afternoon,

Having been brewing since Christmas, I am still happily trundling along using the beer kits.

However, having recently returned from a week’s beer-tasting holiday around the Czech Republic, and having had my eyes opened to the wonders of dark/black lagers such as Eggenberg Dark and Budvar Dark, in the name of experimentation, I would like to try and brew as close of a match to such dark lagers as is possible using a suitable available beer kit…

For example, a written review of Budvar Dark states it has flavours of ‘Roasted grain, coffee and bitter chocolate’ rated at 22 units of bitterness.

I see that Coopers produce a Dark Ale kit, but how would I go about introducing the other elements into the brewing process if simply using a kit?

Is it simply a matter of trial and error as regards the ratios to be used for each of the separate elements, and more importantly, wouldn't a lager yeast need to be used given that they are lagers?

How would I introduce a roasted grain flavour to the brew?
Am I correct in assuming that the coffee and chocolate elements would simply be added having being dissolved/melted in boiling water and left to cool? (Wouldn’t the chocolate solidify though once the temperature fell sufficiently?)

As can be seen, I'm thinking out loud, and would be very grateful for any advice or a nudge in the right direction!!

Regards

Paul

 

[Sandimas]

You could always do a German Dark Lager kit like Munton's Bock, here's a review I posted:
viewtopic.php?f=58&t=31174

It was an instant favourite with my friends and family, out of 25 brews I've done I'd say definately in the top 5, and that includes a few Extract brews. Brew it short to 20L and with Brew Enhancer 2 instead of sugar, and you're onto a winner I'm desparately trying to ignore the last few bottles of mine until Xmas.

 

[wilsoa1111]

get the kit would be easy but fwi:
steep some roasted malts- 20-40mins in max 72 degree water gonna use for brew - roasty ness (also generally coffeeness in a v dark roast)
FOR CHOCO appaerently way to do is mess about with some cocoa powder and kill the head-which have done and doesnt seem v chocolately or use cocoa nibs (infinatly better) or easier-some would say cheating... use chocolate extract like in cooking wen priming or dry hopping

 

[Pablo_C]

Hi,

Thanks for the advice, I think I'll give the Muntons Bock a go :)

So, is the benefit of brewing to 20L as opposed to 23L an increase in flavour?

Also, if I chose to use DME, should I be looking to use one as dark as possible i.e. Extra Dark?

Regards

Paul

 

[rpt]

Am I correct in assuming that the coffee and chocolate elements would simply be added having being dissolved/melted in boiling water and left to cool? (Wouldn’t the chocolate solidify though once the temperature fell sufficiently?)

Aren't the chocolate flavours from the use of chocolate malt rather than actual chocolate?

 

[Sandimas]

Hi,
So, is the benefit of brewing to 20L as opposed to 23L an increase in flavour?

Also, if I chose to use DME, should I be looking to use one as dark as possible i.e. Extra Dark?

Yea and yes. I always tend to brew the 1-can kits a few litres short to give them a bit more flavour and ABV, never done a back-to-back test so can't say exactly how much difference it makes, just seems to be the done thing. And the Bock is a dark/black beer, so the darker the DME the better, although again not sure how much difference it will make if you use standard DME - I just used Enhancer 2 'cos I could readily lay my hands on it

 

[mmaguy41]

you could add extra dark dme to a pilsner or lager kit, you could go witht he bock kit or you could steep malts as has been mentioned. You could also steep some grains and add them to the kit, another option still is to do a mini mash instead of adding dme, you would only need a 10l or so pan for this and a large muslin bag, you could then mash a couple of lbs of base malt with some speciality grains of your choice to give you more control of the flavours you want. You then also have the option of doing a hop boil (only for aroma and flavour) this would only need to be a short boil as your bittering hops are already in the can. Id be happy to talk you through the process if you like and its a great stepping stone to biab or all grain brewing