Spaten Premium Lager clone
Spaten Münchner Hell (Premium Lager)
Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
(5 gallons, partial mash)
OG = 1.051 FG = 1.011
IBU = 18 SRM = 5 ABV = 5.2%
Ingredients
6 oz. (0.17 kg) German Munich malt (6 °L)
12 oz. (0.34 kg) Carafoam® malt
4 oz. (113 g) melanoidin malt
5 lb. (2.3 kg) Pilsen dried malt extract
2 AAU Spalt hops (60 min.) (0.5 oz./14 g at 4% alpha acid)
3 AAU German Northern Brewer hops (60 min.) (0.5 oz./14 g at 6% alpha acids)
1 tsp. Irish moss (15 min.)
Wyeast 2206 (Bavarian Lager) or White Labs WLP920 (Old Bavarian Lager)
1-1/4 cup Muntons extra-light dry malt extract for priming
Step by Step
Bring one gallon of water to 155 °F (74 °C), add crushed grain and hold for 30 minutes at 150 °F (66 °C). Strain the grain into the brewpot and wash the grains with one gallon of 168 °F (76 °C) water. Add the dried malt extract and bittering hops.
Bring the total volume in the brewpot to at least 3 gallons (11 L). Boil for 45 minutes, then add the Irish moss. Boil for 15 minutes, then remove the pot from the stove. Cool wort in an ice bath or chill with wort chiller. Strain into the primary fermenter and add water to obtain 5.25 gallons (20 L). Add yeast when wort has cooled to below 80° F. Oxygenate-aerate well.
Start fermentation at 60-62 °F (16-17 °C) until fermentation begins (approximately 24 hours). Bring primary fermenter to 47-52 °F (8-11 °C) for 14 days, then rack into secondary. Ferment at 52 °F (11 °C) until target gravity has been reached and the beer has cleared (approximately 4 weeks). Then prime and bottle or keg and force carbonate. If bottling, carbonate at 70-72 °F (21-22 °C) for 2 to 3 weeks. Store at cellar temperature.
All-Grain option: Acidify the mash water to below 7 pH. Mash 9 lbs. (4.1 kg) German Pilsner malt and remaining grains in 3.5 gallons (13.3 L) of water at 122 °F (50 °C) for 25 minutes, then up to 150 °F (66 °C) for 60 minutes. Sparge with 5 gallons (19 L) of water at 5.7 pH and 168 °F (76 °C). The total boil time is approximately 90 minutes.
This Munich helles is ready to drink as soon as it is carbonated. It will peak between one and five months and will keep for eight months at cellar temperatures.
Written by Tess and Mark Szamatulski
Spaten’s roots can be traced back to the 1300s. The name of the brewery is derived from the Spaeth family, who purchased the 225-year-old brewery in 1622. Spaten’s modern tradition began in Munich in 1807 when Gabriel Sedlmayr I, brewmaster for the Royal Court of Bavaria, took over the brewery. His son, the legendary innovator Gabriel Sedlmayr II, later became brewmaster and created Munich helles as an alternative to pilsner.
Spaten’s Munich Helles is smooth, delicate, simple and subtle. It has an enticing balance between hop bitterness and malt. Spaten is a beautiful yellow-gold color and has a creamy head. This is a delicious, easy-drinking lager.
