Bock - Extract Beer Brewing Kit (5 Gallons)

I brewed the extract kit. This was my first lager,
though I've been brewing ales for about 9-10 years.
I've always liked Bock, but the commercial ones I've
tried in the last few years were too hoppy for my
taste. I followed the directions closely. I used 3
packets of dry yeast, one of Saflager W-34/70
Bohemian Lager Yeast, and two of Saflager S-23
Lager Yeast. There was no particular reason to use
two types of yeast, its just what I could buy locally
Fermented in a chest freezer equipped with a cheap,
Chinese temperature controller, with the heat cycle
via a germination mat, and the cooling via the
freezer. Primary fermentation was for 25 days and
50°F. Transferred to a secondary fermenter, and
fermented at 42-46°F for 27 days, Increased the
temperature to 58°F for 4 days, then dropped the
temperature to 42°F for three days before kegging.
Lagered at 35-36°F for about 6 weeks before
kegging and sampling. It was great--a gentle
sweetness with a nice malty flavor, and no ethanol
overtones. Just what I was hoping for. I hoarded
this batch for about 6 months, slowly drawing down
the keg. It just kept getting better until the end. I'm
about to brew this again, but it will be hard to wait
for it to mature fully, and it probably won't last that long.

Loved this beer! Brewed over Christmas during a cold spell in my basement! Came out great! Hit all the Bock marks. Used two packets of yeast in brewing. Great flavor and aroma. Will brew again!

I probably ordered this prematurely...It was only my third brew. But, even with all of the flaws in fermentation, it still came out okay. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who doesn't have a way to keep control of their fermentation.