McBride's Copper Bee Lager

After brewing two ales I decided to venture on to a lager. Beautifully clear beer was the result.

Brewer:	Two Gals Brewing		Email:	bmeyer@iland.net
Beer:	McBride's Copper Bee Lager		Style:	American Dark Lager
Type:	Extract w/grain		Size:	5.0 gallons
Color:	18 HCU (~11 SRM)		Bitterness:	17 IBU
OG:	1.054		FG:	1.016
Alcohol:	4.9% v/v (3.8% w/w)
Water:	Well water with Culligan water softner.
Grain:	7 oz. American crystal 40L 2 oz. Belgian Special B 7 oz. British crystal 50-60L
Steep:	Placed grains in steeping bag and placed in 2 gal.water. Brought water to 150° then removed bag and added 4 1/2 gal. water in bigger kettle.
Boil:	90 minutes	SG 1.041	6.50 gallons
	5.75 lb. Light malt extract 1 lb. Honey
	1 lb. Clover Honey with 15 min. left in boil 1 tsp. Irish Moss with 15 min.left in boil
Hops:	1.0 oz. Hallertauer Hersbrucker (2.1% AA, 60 min.) 0.50 oz. Willamette (5.5% AA, 30 min.) 0.50 oz. Spalt (aroma)
Yeast:	Wyeast 2112 California Lager, started 32 hours prior in sterile wort solution of 1/2 cup liquid light malt extract and 2 cups water.
Log:	Primary fermentation at 67° for 1 week. Secondary fermentation at 40° for 1 week. Due to higher primary fermentation temps. fermentation was completed sooner than normal. Original gravity was actually 1.046
Carbonation:	3/4 cup corn sugar.
Tasting:	This is a nice full bodied dark lager, with heavier malt tones to begin with and ending up with good hop overtones. Has gotten better with time. The yeast used made for a beautifully clear beer with the sediment really sticking to the bottom of the bottle, even when vigorously pouring it. Next time I may cut back on the hops just a bit or cut back on the boiling time, as the hops are very prominent in my opinion.

Recipe posted 07/23/00.