Recipe Type: All Grain
Yeast: London Ale
Yeast Starter: 3L
Batch Size (Gallons): 5.5
Original Gravity: 1.090
Final Gravity: 1.012
IBU: 100+
Boiling Time (Minutes): 90
Color: Copper
Primary Fermentation (# of Days & Temp): 28 @65*F
Secondary Fermentation (# of Days & Temp): 21 @72*F
Tasting Notes: Maharaja clone, very nice full bodied and balanced imperial IPA.

This beer is a clone of Maharaja Imperial Pale Ale from Avery Brewing in Colorado, which is my favorite commercial beer. Credit is due to Avery for sharing the grain and hop bill. The hops do vary from year to year, so the character of the clone is slightly different from what you get in the bottle, but it is strikingly close to the original. If you like hoppy beers this one definitely will not dissapoint! Mine is based on the 2006 version but with Zeus used for the late kettle and whirlpool additions vs the original which used Magnum.

Awards:

• NHC Old West first round best in subcategory 14C (score 44) for a gold certificate.
• Second place in category 14 at 2009 Alamo City Cerveza Fest.

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The recipe given is for 5.5 gallons @65% efficiency, to scale the recipe enter each % below in pounds in the software, input your brewhouse efficiency, scale the recipe to OG 1.090, and then enter the hops. I recommend allowing extra volume since the large quantity of hops will retain a lot of wort and finished beer, leaving you with less finished product.

Grain Bill:
90% 2-row (19 lb)
7% Victory (1 lb 14 oz)
3% Crystal 120L (10 oz)

Single infusion mash at 151*F for 75 minutes.

Hop Schedule:
1.5 oz Simcoe 90
1.5 oz Centennial 90
.75 oz Zeus 30
.75 oz Zeus 15
2.5 oz Simcoe DH, 21 days
1 oz Centennial DH, 21 days
1 oz Crystal, DH 21 days

Notes:
I used Wyeast 1028, WLP013 is similar. This strain is rumored to be very similar to Avery's house strain. My 3L starter was aerated with an O2 stone. Fermentation at 65*F was vigorous and complete in 6 days. If you don't have an O2 stone I recommend you get one if you plan on brewing big beers.
I saved the leftover dry hops and used them for a late hop IPA since all those alpha acids were still intact!