Sam Adams Nobel Pils came in tied for 20th in Zymurgy's Best Beer in Amercian poll and the Boston Beer company was kind enough to submit a homebrew version of the recipe for the magazine.

5 gallons

7.2 lb (75%) 2-row
2.4 lb (25%) German Pils

2.0 oz Haller tau (4.6%) 60 min
.5 oz Saaz (4%) 5 min
.25 oz Tettnang (4%) 5 min
.8 oz Tettnang dry
.6 oz Saaz dry
.4 oz Spalt dry
.2 oz Hersbrucker dry

Lager yeast such as Wyeast 2206

Target OG 1.049
Target FG 1.012
IBU 34
SRM 5
Efficiency 70%

Mash in a 122 for 10 min.
Raise to 154 for 15 min.
Raise to 170 for mash out.
Boil for 60 min.
Ferment @ 50 until complete
Dry hop 1 week.
Rack and lager 4 weeks @ 32.

For extract, sub 6.7 lbs extra light liquid malt for above grain bill.

Only 10 minutes at 122° and 15 minutes at 154°? That's gotta be a typo, right? Surely it's 45-60 minutes at 154, isn't it?

I'm guessing they're figuring in time to raise from one temp to the next. But, the average homebrewer would do it via a hot water infusion, right? That would be much quicker.

I was also surprised with the 60 minute boil since the grain bill is 25% Pilsner.

Boy, I'd probably still go 90 on it...
Was this in the July/August Zymurgy? I am a newly minted AHA member so this should be my first issue!

Yep, July/August issue. There are some other clone recipes in there too. This one caught my eye because it said "Recipe provided by Boston Beer Co." Most other clones you see are just a recipe somebody calls a clone.

Another reason I need to try all grain...mmm I can't wait!! Thanks for the recipe

They had an extract version too I believe. I'll check and get back.

They do! My copy of zymurgy is at home, but I'm pretty sure it was a simple light or extra-light extract sub for the grain bill.

Came back to take a realistic look at brewing this one up before the end of summer... maybe. That hop schedule looks like a bit of a pain on a homebrew level with the small quantities of various hops. Some of the additions add up to rounder numbers, but not the Spalt and Hersbrucker

for extract, would one boil the extract with the hops as well?>

You could, but you wouldn't have to boil it for the entire 60 minutes. Bringing it to a boil at least would make me feel more comfortable that everything is sanitized. I'm not handy with extract brewing, but I think you'd want at least some in there for better hop utilization. Adding hops to just plain water might not work as well, but there are others on here that can give better advice than I can.

Bump...

I think this one will be on my late winter to early spring "to brew" list.

Rebump...

Shame on the Boston Brewing Co. for making me wait on something that wasn't coming. I really think they dropped the ball not keeping this in the seasonal rotation.

This would make my 5th lager in a row, but I just might have to do it. It's either brew it or do without.

Bite me Sam Adams.

last i'd heard, they took it out of seasonal rotation... replaced as the spring seaosnal by alpine spring. but that's because noble pils is going to start full time/year-round production.

Yep Chunk is right


http://www.samueladams.com/enjoy-our-beer/beer-detail.aspx?id=c0321623-376d-4c12-9c8f-a4b0cecdff80

"Availability: Year round beginning in March 2012" From the horses mouth

I heard it was going to be year round as part of a collection. I want a collection of 12 Nobel Pils in one box.

Hey, there still is hope.

if that's true that is lame...