U Fleku beer

Crawfordid · Jul 30, 2016

Hi everyone I was wondering if I can draw upon your collective wisdom for a recipe for a beer I had in Prague which was by far one of the best beers I have ever tasted! It was a dark Czech beer at the brewery U Fleku, I think called a Tmave Pivo. Has anyone heard of this or had success in replicating it? The only half decent recipe I've found is

http://www.themadfermentationist.com/2015/12/tmave-pivo-czech-dark-lager.html

Any thoughts?

Innes

Crawfordid · Jul 30, 2016

Also the recipe from mad fermentationist involves using a multi step infusion, would I get away with doing a single infusion mash or lose something of the character if I do this?

GlentoranMark · Jul 30, 2016

I totally agree about the beer!

http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=591519&postcount=13

I haven't been able to brew any lagers until this weekend after I purchased a larder fridge and I'll be giving that U-Fleku recipe a go in the coming weeks.

It's very hard to replicate any beer, if you want an exact clone then you'll need an exact recipe along brewed at the correct temperature along with the correct water profile. Yes I'd go for a single infusion first of all, maybe tweaking it for further recipes. If your like me it's the beer style I want to replicate the most. There are a couple of different recipes out there http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=216341, I'd try them all and see which you prefer.

Today I'll be attempting my first Czech Lager. I have clarity issues so I've been sticking to clear beers to perfect that problem. I will have a go at the U-Fleku recipe in a week or 2 however.

Keep us posted on how you get on.

Crawfordid · Jul 30, 2016

I've finally got a proper fermentation chamber which is opening up a huge range of options of brewing! I've just done a Hefeweizen fermented at 17 degrees and is looking really good! I'm planning on doing a citra/elderflower iPa next week then will be trying the u Fleku recipe! Tempted to use the fermentationist recipe but with the Munich malt instead of the Bavarian dark and may tweak the percentages as he suggests.

I've looked at the recipes on that thread you've posted and they seem similar although talk about doing decoctions which sounds like a total pain in the ass. So may just start it simple and See how it turns out first!

I came across this article below which also mentions a good way of improving clarity if it helps
http://brulosophy.com/methods/lager-method
Although haven't tried it myself yet. Let me know how ur u Fleku turns out!

GlentoranMark · Jul 30, 2016

It seems we're on the same wavelength! I checked that article along with the Gelatin link on that page I too got a fridge last week to control temps although waiting on my Inkbird. I'm about to brew my own recipe and my first lager.

4kg German Pilsner
250g Carapils

50g Saaz 90mins
30g Saaz 15 mins
20g Saaz Flameout

Whirflock 15 mins (usually use Irish Moss so it will be a good comparison)

Czech Pilsner Lager Yeast

I'm hoping to brew a sessionable 4% 22L batch. Might try the Gelatin if I can get a hold of it.

That U Fleku recipe will be next, probably tweaked and not as complicated like our discussion.

Crawfordid · Jul 30, 2016

Out of curiosity what does the stepwise mash and or decoctions add to the beer as most articles I can find on it seem to say it's a redundant technique with modern malts. Although the adding of the speciality malts half way through the mash must change what flavours etc you extract.

I still can't believe I'm doing all this! Just started off doing kits talking about doing all grain brews with fermentation chambers/ multi stage mashes and altering water characteristics etc. It's mad but oh so tasty!

Crawfordid · Jul 30, 2016

Does anyone know if you can even buy any beer in th UK that's similar to compare as all I can find online is dark kozel and budvar?

GlentoranMark · Jul 30, 2016

I've no idea Crawfordid, like you I'm still a newbie for a lot of things.

Like you I came to home brewing because of this. I tried a bock kit but it tasted nothing like the U Fleku beer. Luckily at that time Clibit posted his very helpful article on a simple 5L all grain while a local HBF member, Niman was giving away a Peco Boiler which I fortunately got. It all timed in so well. I've done a load of ales, some turned out well others not so but it was only last week I bought a used larder fridge. Ultimately my reason for brewing is this beer and it will now happen.

I guess when I do it I'll keep doing it making tweaks each time trying to improve.

I've tasted nothing like it and found nothing like this anywhere in the UK. It gives you a reason to go back to Prague though!

GlentoranMark · Jul 30, 2016

Have you sourced all the ingredients from that recipe?

I'm trying now and struggling to find the specialised malts.

Crawfordid · Jul 30, 2016

Try malt miller! They normally pretty good!

Keats · Jul 30, 2016

I've not had the U Fleku so don't know how similar it is but Lidl stock a Czech black lager brewed by Herold. Very nice it is too, especially for ÃÂ£1.49.

Crawfordid · Jul 31, 2016

GlentoranMark said:
Have you sourced all the ingredients from that recipe?

I'm trying now and struggling to find the specialised malts.

You find them all? Managed to get all ingredients for 33 quid including delivery on malt Miller

GlentoranMark · Jul 31, 2016

Crawfordid said:
You find them all? Managed to get all ingredients for 33 quid including delivery on malt Miller

Stopped looking after I made the post, I'll source later in the week.

I'm still having clarity problems if you read my protein clumps thread. I thought I had a decent rolling boil but my boiler may be the problem.

I may go for a simplified recipe on that thread I gave the link to.

50% Weyermann Floor-Malted Bohemian Pilsner Malt @ 1.8 ÃÂ°L
30% Weyermann Munich I @ 6 ÃÂ°L
15% Weyermann CaraMunichÃÂ® II @ 45.5 ÃÂ°L
5% Weyermann CarafaÃÂ® II @ 45.5 ÃÂ°L (at sparge)

3.9 oz (110 g) Saaz @ 4.5% AA (10 minutes into the boil)
3.9 oz (110 g) Saaz @ 4.5% AA (20 minutes into the boil)
4.3 oz (122 g) Saaz @ 4.5% AA (115 minutes into the boil)

O.G: 1.048+ //F.G: 1.012// 30 (?) SRM// 28 IBU

I'm also going to order a Saaz hop plant for my garden as Saaz is a very low alpha and quite expensive. Can't order/ plant until December.

GlentoranMark · Jul 31, 2016

Revised plan of action, assuming I can get the ingredients.

19L batch.

2.25kg Pilsner Malt
1.35kg Munich Malt
675g Caramunich Malt
225g Carafa II (added at sparge)

15g Sterling 8% hops 90 minutes (thought this would be cheaper than using solely Saaz, Saaz is mostly an aroma hop)
30g Saaz 5 minutes

The trub from my current brew M84 bohemian lager. I'll also save some trub for further brews)

Planning this for 3 weeks time when my current brew should be finished.

Total cost from Geterbrewed is ÃÂ£9.46. The good thing about Geterbrewed is you can get the exact quantities meaning no wastage or ingredients to measure out. It's also a local company to me so I can order and then drive up the next day and pick up.

Crawfordid · Aug 6, 2016

Was also thinking of making a king cobra beer too! It's nothing like the normal cobra beer and is amazing! Especially with curry lol

GlentoranMark · Aug 14, 2016

I went to Geterbrewed yesterday and picked up my order, the only problem being that the Carafa II was mixed in with all the other grains. It's my first customised box from Geterbrewed so I'll remember next time when I order. It may make a difference but I'll not know until I make another of these brews.

I'm now wondering what temperature to mash at? I normally mash around 67-68ÃÂ° but would a lower temperature be more suitable for a lager type?

I'm waiting on a pump to arrive so I can recirculate the wort, it's due on Monday so I'll probably not brew this until next weekend, I've a lager in my fridge but I can fit another if need be.

I've seen Cobra in the supermarket but never tried it, I'll maybe buy a bottle later.

I've also a supply of apples for cider to brew over the coming weeks. I'm not a big cider drinker but it's rude to turn down a freebie

Crawfordid · Aug 14, 2016

That's a bit of a pain! I've been struggling to find anywhere that sells carafa,can only find carafa special. Im ordering mine next week n will keep u updated! I was going to brew it as per brulosophy

http://brulosophy.com/methods/lager-method/

Haven't been this excited about a brew since I first started brewing!

Crawfordid · Aug 14, 2016

Oh and cobra is okay but it's the King cobra you want! 7.5% of goodness! I think the only place I've seen that sell it outside of a curry house is tesco

Johnny H · Aug 15, 2016

Don't be scared of decoction mashing. Clearly, it's a bit more elaborate than a single step infusion and your brew day might take a bit longer but it's not rocket science either, and it may just add that little bit extra of overall roundness that may turn your beer from very good to truly excellent.

Decoction mashing in this case would also be typical for the beer style.

strange-steve · Aug 15, 2016

If you can't find carafa II you could substitute chocolate malt in its place.

U Fleku beer

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