Pliny the Hop Monster

I wanted to do a quick entry on Pliny the Elder - I brewed it two weeks ago. I purchased the clone recipe from Austin HB because they had a major sale on it and my brother-in-law commissioned it. It is amazing the amount of support you get from people who like your craft, eh? It's not like people can really have fun watching me do the things I like to do but with brewing they greatly benefit from the result. I never buy kits but since the sale included 17oz, that's right folks, 17oz of hops, and it was cheaper than if I bought just the hops alone (in small qtys) I figured what the heck and went for it.
Everything about brewing this clone went well, no disasters. I hit my targets, a bit above - I bagged 1.075 was shooting for 1.073. I used a giant grain bag for all the hop additions. I clip the hop/grain bags on the size of the kettle and leave them open but just drop hops in there. Well this bag was too porous and way too much hops got in the trub. Next time I'll double bag it if I can ever afford to brew this one again. The amount of hops and the hops aroma was like a dream. It got so in my nose I think, two weeks later, I still smell hops from that day. I used Wyeast 1056, it was a choice with the kit - I seriously considered California Ale yeast instead but didn't do it. I made a large, for me, starter 2L and she was bubblin' 2 hours in. I only bagged 3.5 gallons because I'm a dumb and just can't get it through my thick head that I need to boil more water. The amount of trub and how much should get in my fermenter with AG brewing is still a puzzle to me. Some guys just dump it all in and let the yeast sort it out. I've read/heard that on layer of it is ok but another, the bottom is not that good. So, I just leave it all behind. The problem there is I lose 2 Gallons of wort this way. Not very economical at all.
PTE bubbled for almost 2 weeks and is now comatose in the primary. I'm sure everyone has their methods but I like to press on the top of the fermenter to see how much CO2 is on top of the brew. I do this towards the end of the fermentation. If it easily bubbles it means fermentation is still happening, if I can push pretty hard and watch the airlock lift but not bubble easily I know that no more CO2 is being produced, or at least it is really at a minimum.
Next week I will throw in the load of hops for the dry hopping. I'm going to dry hop in the primary and I'll probably just throw the pellets in. They should just flocculate into the yeast bed. I realize I lose the future use of that yeast and I do so with sound mind and body.

I'm psyched to try this one and still on the hunt for a real Pliny so I can have something to compare this to.

There is a good chance I'm going to be at Dogfish brewery in the next few months, I'm sure I'll get a bottle of their 120 minute IPA. I suppose that is way more alcohol than the PTE, maybe the 75 min would be a better side by side. Their 120 is like 18% ... a bit on the upper end or as they would say, 'Off Center'.

Until next brew...