Planning a Octoberfest Party

[CrealCritter]

Like new the works, wipe clean with acetone soaked rag, then a coat of oil based primer, then oil based paint.

It's about time to fill up those kegs with some Oktoberfest homebrew, so they will be ready come the end of September. I also bought some root beer extract, that I'll keg for the kids to drink, non-alcoholic with co2 gas of course.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Looks great - you did good!

 

[CrealCritter]

Looks great - you did good!

I really did come out good. I'm glad I was able to get the rust stopped.

 

[CrealCritter]

I brewed up two 5 gallon batches of Oktoberfest, a amber & a dark. I'm fermenting in my new/old corny kegs, with blow off tubes, into a bucket of Starsan. Both with be fermented with Safelager 34/70 that needs to primary ferment @ 55 degrees. Hopefully 10 gallons of Oktoberfest will be enough for the party. I'm also going to make 5 gallons of root beer (non alcoholic/CO2 gassed) for the grand kids to drink during the party.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

That's going to be a great party!

 

[CrealCritter]

That's going to be a great party!

The beginnings of the Oktoberfest party started this morning. I have ignition from the blow off tubes of both Oktoberfest brews

 

[CrealCritter]

Both Oktoberfest brews are blowing a bubble about once every 90 seconds now. So its time for diacetyl rest. I unplugged the kezzer and opened the lid, so the kegs come up to room temperature. This is needed to allow the lager yeast (Saflager 34/70) to finish fermenting and clean up diacetyl (buttery flavored keytones) that it produced during primary fermentation. I'll most likely rack into secondary and start the long lager phase this weekend.

 

[CrealCritter]

After 5 days of diacetyl rest, I racked both Oktoberfests, it helps to have 3 korny kegs when your racking 2 kegs . I set my keezer to 50 degrees and will drop the temperature 3 - 5 degrees every day until 35 degrees is reached. Then I'll hold 35 for several weeks to lager. Then it will have to be racking again with primer dry malt extract to carbonate before its drinkable.

I sampled both Oktoberfests and I have a feeling both will turn out tasty.

 

[CrealCritter]

After 6 weeks lagering @ 35 degrees. My son in law and and I racked both Oktoberfest's into corny kegs along with priming sugar. We sampled both and I'm very happy with the taste of both. They tasted great warm and flat.

Now I'm going to let them sit at room temp sealed up in the kegs to carbonate until a week or so before Oktoberfest party time, then I'll chill them to about 35 degrees again to get ready for Oktoberfest party time.

Since both Oktoberfest brews turned out, it looks like my plans for a Oktoberfest party is starting to take shape.

note to self... Go with like 1/4 the amount of hops recommended and you'll get a good tasting beer.

 

[CrealCritter]

Well I sent out a mass text to the family and the Oktoberfest party has taken on a life of it own since then. Family from up north are coming and even Rottweiler's are coming. I told my kids to bring a beer mug and their tents because unless they have a DD, they are not leaving drunk. Looks like It'll be tent city out back. But looks like many are bringing authentic German food too. Should be a great time