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Heineken · 05-13-2009, 02:46 AM

I have made a couple of clones, one a shiner bock and another Newcastle Brown Ale. Both of them taste great but don't really taste that much like the real thing. Curious whether this is common or whether my brewing techniques are not that good.

KingBrianI · 05-13-2009, 02:53 AM

It really depends on the recipe. Some clone recipes are not even close and others will get you pretty close to the commercial they attempt to emulate. I'm curious what recipes you used.

**BierMuncher** · 05-13-2009, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heineken

I have made a couple of clones, one a shiner bock and another Newcastle Brown Ale. Both of them taste great but don't really taste that much like the real thing. Curious whether this is common or whether my brewing techniques are not that good.

Extract or all grain?

MikeG · 05-13-2009, 03:04 AM

I think when you brew with the intentions of replicating a commercial beer you are setting yourself up for failure. You'll most likely end up with an excellent beer but the fact that it's noticeably different than what you are trying to achieve you'll be disappointed. Brew a clone for the style only, don't expect a 'clone'.

Heineken · 05-13-2009, 03:09 AM

both were extract kits, one had some steeping grains.

The shiner bock was a clone from Austin Homebrew Supply. Ingredients included:
5 lbs. Amber DME
1 lb. corn sugar
Brewers Gold hops - 60
maltoferm

Newcastle clone:
% LB OZ Malt or Fermentable ppg °L
82% 5 0 Amber Dry Extract info 44 12
8% 0 8 Wheat Malt info 39 2
8% 0 8 Crystal Malt - 60L (Thomas Fawcett) info 34 60
2% 0 2 Chocolate Malt info 34 475

Boil 60 mins 1.5 Goldings info pellet 5.0
Boil 15 mins 0.5 Goldings info pellet 5.0

boil 60 min 16 ounces Brown Sugar info
boil 15 min 1 ounces Irish Moss info
boil 15 min 4 ounces Lactose

British Ale yeast

eschatz · 05-13-2009, 03:11 AM

I've never brewed anything exactly to clone. Hell, I'm not the most consistent brewer in the world and my brews never come out the exact same, let alone a clone of another beer.

Tripod · 05-13-2009, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeG

Brew a clone for the style only, don't expect a 'clone'.

This has been my experience as well (at least with Extract recipes). I brew clones to compare against styles that I am most familiar with. They never come out EXACTLY like the commercial version but all of my friends have consistantly said they like the clone better! I have to say I agree with them...

-Tripod

**BierMuncher** · 05-13-2009, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heineken

both were extract kits, one had some steeping grains.

Since commercial breweries don't brew using extract, expecting an extract kit to taste the same is unreasonable.

As long as you brew extracts, brew the styles that you like and enjoy the uniqueness of your beers.

If you want to zero in on a specific commercial recipe, you'll need to move to the more advanced method of all-grain brewing.

The only way to clone a commercial recipe is to do the things they do...using the ingredients that they use.

avaserfi · 05-13-2009, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BierMuncher

Since commercial breweries don't brew using extract, expecting an extract kit to taste the same is unreasonable.

As long as you brew extracts, brew the styles that you like and enjoy the uniqueness of your beers.

If you want to zero in on a specific commercial recipe, you'll need to move to the more advanced method of all-grain brewing.

The only way to clone a commercial recipe is to do the things they do...using the ingredients that they use.

+1 I made the extract version of Yooper's DFH 60 minute clone a while back. It turned out great, but not as good as the original. It was similar, but much of the complexity and depth that comes from the malt wasn't there.

penguinfogel · 05-13-2009, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BierMuncher

Since commercial breweries don't brew using extract, expecting an extract kit to taste the same is unreasonable.

Well, most good breweries don't use extract. Some of those fly by night sports bar/brewpub places do.

You also have to remember replicating chages caused by altitude, temp, equipment, and water can be near impossible. Sometimes close just has to be good enough.