As featured in CAMRA’s – The Modern Homebrewer – Andy Parker & Jamil Zainasheff and sponsored by ourselves The Malt Miller.

We would highly recommend purchasing and reading this book as it feature not only a wide selection of recipes but some great knowledge and techniques from Andy and Jamil on how to brew the best beer possible at home.

This recipe was provided for the book from a professional brewer, all of the recipes were scaled by the writers to a 20ltr batch size using 75% efficiency.

Where ever possible we have matched the exact ingredients, however in some recipes slight changes may be required and volume adjustments based on ingredient available to homebrewers. Be sure to fully read the below details before purchasing so you are fully confident in the process and aware of any ingredients which are not included with this kit that you will need to add.

Weights are removed on this page due to publishing agreements but will be provided on the bags when the recipe is purchased or are present in the book for those who purchase it.

 

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Ingredients Included

Warminster x Utopian – Czech Style Lager Malt
Harlequin T90 Pellets (164 grams)

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Method

Beer Style (main): European Lagers
Beer Style (sub): German-Style Pilsener
Batch Size: 20
Original Gravity: 1.048
Final Gravity: 1.010
ABV %: 5.0
IBU: 40
Mash efficiency: 75

THE MASH (Double Decoction 150 Minutes Total)

Mash notes:

Water: We start with soft Mid-Devon water and adjust using calcium chloride and calcium sulphate to achieve our target profile of 60ppm calcium, 75ppm chloride and 50ppm sulphate. The mash is acidified to pH 5.4 with lactic acid.

Mash (Double Decoction 150 Minutes)

Mash in @ 55°C/131°F then heat to 60°C/140°F

Decoct 30% of the mash and boil for 10 minutes, mixing back to achieve 70°C/158°F
Decoct 25% of the mash and boil for 10 minutes, mixing back to achieve mash out @ 76°C/169°F

THE BOIL
Boil time (mins): 60

Hop / kettle additions and timing:

Harlequin T90 14g/0.5oz @ 60 min

Whirlpool / hop stand:

Whirlpool (for 20 mins @ Post Boil)

Harlequin T90 30g/1.1oz

Yeast: NOT INCLUDED SafLager™ W-34/70
Fermentation temperature/steps: Pitch 2 packs (or build starter) of SafLager™ W-34/70 at 9°C/48°F and ferment for around 2 weeks or until diacetyl is no longer present. Chill to 0°C/32°F or as cold as possible then lager for a minimum of 28 days

Secondary additions:

Dry Hop

Harlequin T90 120g/4.2oz

Utopian adds dry hops towards the end of fermentation.

Comments:

Utopian British Pilsner

Utopian Brewing is a young independent brewery based on a farm site near Crediton Devon. The brewery was set up to produce a range of high quality accessible lagers using only British grown ingredients.

Harlequin™ Pils is an unabashed celebration of British hops. They’ve taken one of their favourite styles – German Pilsner – brewed authentically with a double decoction mash and long, cold fermentation, and heaped in the juicy, fresh hop variety Harlequin™.

They first released a ‘British Pilsner’ in 2019 hopped with Jester and Olicana, and in the following years that beer has grown into a single hopped Pilsner series focussing on newly developed, and traditional UK hop varieties. They aim for 40 IBU’s in the kettle, and dry hop at 6g/L. Harlequin has a complex floral aroma of citrus and pine while retaining some unique English characteristics.

For brewing the base pilsner Utopian focuses on a few things which they find make a big difference. First off they start with a less modified lager malt which helps increase the body and foam retention of the beer. Then they use a double decoction mash which amplifies those characteristics further, and ferment cold with an authentic lager yeast. Decoction mashing is super easy at home and makes for quite a fun brewday, and feel free to sub in your favourite hop varieties!

Be sure to check out our YouTube channel where you will be able to find lots of great content featuring other breweries.

Don’t forget we also have an amazing range of beer to buy in our online beer shop Indie Beer Fridge for your enjoyment at home