Dortmunder or Helles

[KAHawk]

I was thinking about making a Munich Helles, but my water is pretty hard.
The profile is very similar to the Dortmunder water.

Can I make a true Helles with hard water?

What is the real difference between Dortmunder and Helles?
I see they're supposed to be a little more bitter. Is this just the hard water drawing out the bitterness?
I see their supposed to start with a little more malt. Is this just balancing out the bitterness that comes through?

Why is it that none of the liquor stores are carrying DAB or Dortmunder Union nowadays?

[dannypo]

Dortmunders are one of my favorite styles.

They have more IBUs and the bitterness is accented by the sulfates in the water. They also are higher in alcohol and can be slightly darker in color.

I recomend checking out the BJCP guidelines to get the specifics.

[KAHawk]

So I just tweaked a standard recipe from Noonan:

80% Pilsener
10% Munich Malt
10% Carapils
I'm shooting for a 1050 OG

Mashing target is 150 to 155
Would a single decoction on the way up help?

Hopping to 27 IBU with Hallertauer
40% Bitterness, 30% Flavor, 30% Aroma

Sound like it should be fine?

[dannypo]

That's pretty close to the recipe I'll be making next weekend.

Dortmunder

A ProMash Recipe Report

Recipe Specifics
----------------

Batch Size (Gal): 5.50 Wort Size (Gal): 5.50
Total Grain (Lbs): 12.50
Anticipated OG: 1.056 Plato: 13.81
Anticipated SRM: 5.3
Anticipated IBU: 26.3
Brewhouse Efficiency: 65 %
Wort Boil Time: 75 Minutes


Grain/Extract/Sugar

% Amount Name Origin Potential SRM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
72.0 9.00 lbs. Pilsener Germany 1.038 2
20.0 2.50 lbs. Weyermann Munich I Germany 1.038 8
8.0 1.00 lbs. Weyermann Carapils (Carafoam) Germany 1.037 2

Potential represented as SG per pound per gallon.


Hops

Amount Name Form Alpha IBU Boil Time
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.85 oz. Perle Whole 8.25 23.4 60 min.
0.50 oz. Hallertau Hersbrucker Whole 4.75 2.9 10 min.
1.25 oz. Hallertau Hersbrucker Whole 4.75 0.0 0 min.


Yeast
-----

WYeast 2042 Danish Lager




Mine is a bit heavy on the finishing hops but thats why we homebrew.