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Recipe: Alma Mader Premiant
Courtesy of Tania Hewett-Mader and Nick Mader of Kansas City’s Alma Mader Brewing, this locally popular pilsner embraces Bohemian malt and Noble hops, including an aromatic burst of spicy Saaz in the whirlpool.
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“Premiant is our take on a traditional Czech pilsner,” says Alma Mader brewer and cofounder Nick Mader. “We rely on two varieties of Bohemian pilsner malt that help to lay a bready malt foundation, which balances the spicy and snappy Saaz bitterness. Floral and dried-lemon aromas, effortlessly crisp, and a perfect pairing with absolutely anything.”
ALL-GRAIN
Batch size: 5 gallons (19 liters)
Brewhouse efficiency: 72%
OG: 1.046
FG: 1.008
IBUs: 35
ABV: 5%
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“Premiant is our take on a traditional Czech pilsner,” says Alma Mader brewer and cofounder Nick Mader. “We rely on two varieties of Bohemian pilsner malt that help to lay a bready malt foundation, which balances the spicy and snappy Saaz bitterness. Floral and dried-lemon aromas, effortlessly crisp, and a perfect pairing with absolutely anything.”
ALL-GRAIN
Batch size: 5 gallons (19 liters)
Brewhouse efficiency: 72%
OG: 1.046
FG: 1.008
IBUs: 35
ABV: 5%
[PAYWALL]
MALT/GRAIN BILL
5.55 lb (2.5 kg) Weyermann Bohemian Pilsner
2.65 lb (1.2 kg) Weyermann Floor-Malted Bohemian Pilsner
5.6 oz (159 g) Weyermann Acidulated (see below)
4.2 oz (119 g) Weyermann Carafoam
HOPS SCHEDULE
0.3 oz (9 g) Hallertauer Magnum at 75 minutes [15 IBUs]
0.7 oz (20 g) Saaz at 15 minutes [5 IBUs]
2.7 oz (77 g) Saaz at whirlpool [15 IBUs]
YEAST
White Labs WLP800 Pilsner Lager or other Czech lager strain
DIRECTIONS
Mill the grains and mash at 149°F (65°C) for 30 minutes. Aim for a mash pH of 5.2–5.25, adjusting acidulated malt as necessary. Use an iodine test to ensure starch conversion (see “On the Road to Conversion,” beerandbrewing
.com). Vorlauf until your runnings are clear, then run off into the kettle. Sparge at 166°F (74°C) and top up as necessary to get 6 gallons (23 l) of wort—or more, depending on your evaporation rate. Boil for 75 minutes, adding hops according to the schedule. After the boil, do a whirlpool step: Stir for 5 minutes to create a vortex, add hops, and allow 20 minutes to settle. Chill to about 47°F (8°C), aerate thoroughly, and add plenty of healthy yeast. Ferment at 50°F (10°C), allowing the temperature to rise on Day 5 or 6 for a diacetyl rest. Once fermentation is complete and the beer is clear of diacetyl, crash to 32°F (0°C). Drop the yeast or rack into secondary and lager for at least 3 weeks. Filter and/or fine as desired before packaging.
