Been thinking about my Czech/Kiwi Pilsner this morning, I was planning to do an overnight mash tonight and this is how it's going to go.....
5kg Bohemian Pilsner
250g Carapils
Mashed overnight at 65c (thought i'd go somewhere down the middle to allow for temp fluctuations)
Hops
Magnum 20g @60
Riwaka 20g @5
Riwaka 20g Whirlpool at 71-76c for 15 mins.
This gives it 40.3 IBU according to Beersmith, which at the very top end of the range for a pilsner, i may drop the magnum a little.
This will leave me 10g Riwaka left, I had originally planned to dry hop but can't see it's worth it for 10g, shall I just do 30g whirlpool?
Not done a whirlpool properly before, do I take out the boil hops on flameout? I presume so....
Yeast- Saflager w34-70 at 12c
Would it be helpful if I reply now, or shall I leave it until Monday lunchtime?
I would add the spare Riwaka and go for the full 30g in the whirlpool (I believe it adds kumquat flavours don't you know
)
(FWIW, in his IPA book Scott Janish suggests 1-2lbs/bbl (pounds/barrel) is typical for the whirlpool, which works out about 2.8g/L - so I tend to do 30g in my 10L-ish batches).
I would go a tad warmer for the whirlpool, maybe 80-85degC. I don't bother taking out the boil hops, I just stick the chiller and the big spoon in (the heat will kill any bugs) and give the chiller a tiny squirt to cool the wort a little, then throw in the whirlpool hops.
I try to cover it with the lid of the Klarstein, or cling film to keep the heat in. You can sit there stirring it, or just give it a gentle stir every now and then or just pick up the Klarstein and agitate it a bit.
You're right, you will get a bit more bittering from your boil hops by leaving them in - the actual amount is hard to quantify, but consider this...
Almost all the bittering is maxed out by 60mins, so the difference between 60 and 75 mins is negligible. Plus you'll be at whirlpool temps, not boiling.
That said, I might be inclined to drop the Magnum a wee bit to 10 or 15g to give you a calculated 30-35 IBUs compared to your 40+ at the moment.
I was a bit surprised when you said you were making this as I thought you're not really a lager man. But from what you've said I believe your water is bang on for this style.
And from experience a well made and not chemical tasting Pilsner you made yourself is very refreshing on a hot day!
Sounds good - have fun with it