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There are many ways to make a great lager, and not all involve decoctions or multistep mashes—not if you’ve got great ingredients, a clear idea of your target, and a dialed-in process to get you there.
This pilsner from Twin Barns Brewing in Meredith, New Hampshire, near the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, thrilled our blind judging panel and became one of our Best 20 Beers in 2022. According to Twin Barns head brewer Randy Booth, this is a German-style pilsner ”designed to be clean and crisp yet finish with a substantial hop character.”
For more from Booth about his detail-oriented approach on this beer and others, check out Podcast Episode 277: Randy Booth of Twin Barns Tells a Story with Belknap Pils in this Best in Beer 2022 Brewer’s Perspective.
We especially note the attention to generous hopping, from first wort through the ample whirlpool additions.
Here’s how our review panel described the beer: “Spicy herbal hops and a hint of piecrust malt come together for an inviting aroma. Clean, floral, and perfume-like aromatics are balanced by a hint of malt and create a pleasant and inviting nose.
“Cracker and lightly grainy malt notes serve as a perfect canvas to both balance and showcase the floral and soapy hop bitterness. That bitterness, while distinct and present, is sufficiently restrained, allowing for a near-perfect balance. The flavor develops the hop character nicely, adding a little more detail with some light floral notes.
“There’s enough clean malt to balance the crisp bitterness, without cloying or softening the finish. Hop flavor and bitterness last into the dry and taut finish—clean and refreshing, with just a hint of lingering bitterness.”
ALL-GRAIN
Batch size: 5 gallons (19 liters)
Brewhouse efficiency: 72%
OG: 1.051
FG: 1.010
IBUs: 38
ABV: 5.4%