Back in February, five San Diegans traveled to Chico, CA to participate in Sierra Nevada Beer Camp. The group — George Mora & Grant Tondro from URGE American Gastropub, Frank Miller from The Tipsy Crow & Bub’s @ The Ballpark, Jeff Motch from Blind Lady Ale House & Tiger!Tiger! Tavern, and Sam Chammas from Live Wire & Station Tavern — wanted to brew a sessionable, hoppy beer that was full of character. According to Mora from URGE, they used Ballast Point Fathom India Pale Lager and The Bruery Humulus Lager as examples. Sierra Nevada Assistant Brewmaster and Field Educator Terence Sullivan commented that “this was one of the best groups to visit Beer Camp in a long time… They were all so enthusiastic about the opportunity to participate, it just made for a great group of people (friends).”
Try the beer — We San Diegans will have our first chance to try Beer Camp #70: Token Lager tonight at URGE American Gastropub in Rancho Bernardo, where there will be food and keep-the-glass specials to go with 10 Sierra Nevada beers, starting at 5p.m. This Friday, Motch and Chammas’ bars will team up for a dual release, complete with limited edition bootleg t-shirts, starting at Tiger!Tiger! Tavern in North Park at 11:30a.m. before rolling down El Cajon Boulevard to Live Wire Bar at 5p.m. Later this month, Miller will tap Token Lager during cask night on Tuesday the 26th at The Tipsy Crow and then again at Bub’s Thursday the 28th at 5p.m. to coincide with an “Around the World” basketball contest.
Here’s the beer recipe, courtesy of Jeff Motch:
Malts:
– Pale 2-row: 61%
– Pilsner: 29%
– Munich: 8%
– Acidulated: 2%
· Mash in at 142F, ramp to 152F, ramp to 162F (90 minute mash)
· Original Gravity: 15.6 Plato = SG 1.062
· Ending Gravity: 1.9 Plato = SG 1.008
· ABV: 7.4%
Hops:
– 0 min: German Magnum
– 60 min: Nelson Sauvin
– 75 min: Nelson Sauvin
· Boil off at 75 minute
· IBU: 54
· Dry Hop/Torpedo: ½ Nelson, ¼ German Magnum & ¼ Crystal
· Yeast: Lager Yeast pitch at 48F and ferment at 52F