Vienna style with Maris Otter (thoughts?)

[beerbeerbeer]

Hi all,

After 2 batches of pils I want to reuse the yeast (WLP800) on another lager batch, but would like to use Maris Otter, partly because thats what I have most of at the moment. I'm planning on something like this:



Any thoughts on this much appreciated!

Tim

[seymour]

I think you'll get something that looks like a Vienna, but I think you gotta include some true Vienna malt to produce a true Vienna lager. Your's will be a nice, biscuity, nutty, subtly caramelly amber lager, probably tastier in some ways than a true-to-style Vienna.

In the grand scheme of things...so what? Presumably you aren't a Viennese brewer brewing in Vienna nor submitting this to a BJCP contest in the Vienna category. Just brew what you want to brew, with what you have, which you enjoy drinking, as people have been doing for millenia, right?

[beerbeerbeer]

Hi Seymour. cheers for the reply. You're right, Im not worried that it won't be to style. i just wanted to check out other opinions as Im not v experienced at this. i do like slightly darker lagers so think ill really like this one!

[zgoda]

Czech brew their Vienna-style polotmave without Vienna malt, just plzensky, mnichovsky (munich) and barveny. I guess it's local availability what drives grain bills.

[seymour]

Good info, zgoda. I've read Vienna is a very similar, slightly less dark malt to Munich. Is that your impression?

[Rookie]

I'm a firm believer in using up what you have on hand before buying more, so I say go for it.

[Barley Water]

This is homebrewing man, you can do whatever the hell you want.

I think of Vienna lagers as an Octoberfest light. I usually make one in the spring and if I remember correctly it's almost 100% Vienna malt with maybe just a touch of Melonodin malt thrown in (well yeah ok, I also do a single decoction on the stuff). Mine has an O.G. of about 1.048 and if I do it right it comes off just a slight bit hoppier than an Octoberfest. I personally would refrain from adding crystal because I am always trying to dry out my beers but I know many people like it better with a bit of crystal. You can also darken it up a bit with Carafa II if you so desire, very small quanitities won't really affect the flavor.

[zgoda]

Good info, zgoda. I've read Vienna is a very similar, slightly less dark malt to Munich. Is that your impression?

Or more bready and bit darker pilsner.