Austin Homebrew's Blue Moon Clone (AG) - Page 9

BigJoeBrews · 01-26-2011, 04:12 PM

ok, Got my issue figured out. probably should have noted I was using a refractometer-for the first time!! my glass hydrometer had broke and I replaced it with a nice refractometer. so after looking around for a while I came across a spreadsheet that helped me to figure out that you cannot just use a refractometer like a hydrometer.
If anybody else is new to their refractometer, please look at this http://morebeer.com/learn_vids/vids_refract
Turns out I was spot on!!

MichaelsBrewing · 01-27-2011, 01:49 AM

Any word on the Brazilian style??

Pandaren · 02-19-2011, 03:20 AM

So I'm about to start this baby and got to thinking it through and realized that I don't think I have the setup for it. I did an all-grain partial mash style and just mashed it in my brewpot, but the grainbill for that was only 5lbs total. 10lbs would be way too much to try and mash in my pot. Should I just do half the grains at a time and pour that half the wort into the fermenter, then do another whole mash with the second portion of the grains and then boil that out as normal, then add pour that into the fermenter with the first batch?
Maybe I just need to bag it and build a mash ton?
Thanks for the help!

BigJoeBrews · 02-19-2011, 03:03 PM

This is an awesome kit, everybody who tries this, loves it. I really think you should prepare this the proper way and building a mash tun is fun and rewarding!! Go for the mash tun, I use a 10G rubbermaid as you see in my avitar... You can easily build it yourself for about 50-70 bucks and a trip to your local big home improvement store. There are many threads on this. If you want any tips or have questions, PM me..

Pandaren · 03-01-2011, 04:40 AM

Update:
Built my mash tun this weekend!!! However, I went ahead and started this since I had the grains milled a while back and was afraid of staleness by the time I could get a mash tun.
So here's what I did:
Basically, did 2 separate mashes and 2 separate boils in the same night and then combined those in the fermenter. Although, I didn't add any hops or other stuff to the first boil....I just boiled it and cooled it like normal. Then I added all the hops, orange, and coriander to the second boil, cooled, and combined that into the fermenter. Pitched yeast...yadayada. Got airlock activity about 16 hours later.
Think this'll turn out ok?

Comments/Concerns? Thanks so much!

BigJoeBrews · 03-01-2011, 01:51 PM

Congratulations! May your mash tun bring you much happiness!
Did you take any gravity readings? That's the easiest way to tell..
Taste is a goo test too..
I suppose the reason you didn't boil all in one boil is because of kettle size? IMO, it would behoove you to get a larger boil kettle. (I think) There is a lot of chemistry going on in those mashes, I think you should try and get all the wort through your grain bed, and a 5 gallon boil with all the ingredients really helps too.. Look around, even on amazon they have some great pots for cheap prices... encapsulated aluminum is a nice feature to help heat evenly. There is a 21qt prime pacific on amazon right now for fifty bux to your door! Also check out the 35QT...

MichaelsBrewing · 03-27-2011, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil' Sparky

This seems to be a popular beer people like to brew and it's probably one of the best beers I've ever brewed - everyone loved it! It's AHS's recipe. I can't take any credit for it.

Ingredients
Amount Item Type % or IBU
5.00 lb Pilsner (2 Row) Bel (2.0 SRM) Grain 50.0 %
3.00 lb Wheat, Flaked (1.6 SRM) Grain 30.0 %
1.00 lb Oats, Flaked (1.0 SRM) Grain 10.0 %
1.00 lb White Wheat Malt (2.4 SRM) Grain 10.0 %
0.50 oz Cascade [6.90%] (45 min) Hops 10.0 IBU
0.50 oz Cascade [6.90%] (10 min) Hops 3.9 IBU
0.18 oz Orange Peel, Bitter (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
0.18 oz Orange Peel, Sweet (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
0.35 oz Coriander Seed (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs Belgian Wit Ale (White Labs #WLP400) Yeast-Wheat

Mash Profile
Name: Double Infusion, Medium Body
Mash Grain Weight: 10.00 lb
Grain Temperature: 72.0 F S
parge Temperature: 168.0 F
Sparge Water: 3.79 gal

Name Description Step Temp Step Time
Protein Rest Add 10.00 qt of water at 131.1 F 122.0 F 30 min
Saccrification Add 7.00 qt of water at 208.0 F 154.0 F 30 min
Mash Out Direct Heat to 168.0 F over 2 min 168.0 F 10 min

I brewed this one up yesterday as my first all grain!

I did decide to change things up a bit:

Instead of buying bitter and sweet orange peels, I just zested my own navel oranges - 4 of them. I added .5 oz of Coriander rather than .35oz. I also went out, bought some Chamomile Tea pcks, and added three of those. I added all these aroma-filled ingredients along with the last hop addition at 10 minutes. (Yes, I cracked open the Coriander seeds)

My OG came out a little higher at 1.054!

I am very excited as it is in my basement chugging away as I type thanks for the great recipe!

UPDATE:

After only 5 days I took a Hygrometer Reading and got a 1.012! 5.5% ABV. Krassen(sp?) is still prominent and I have a little over a week to go!

edit: 04-10-2011: Amazing recipe!! I cannot express how much better than Blue Moon this is! Just pulled the first glass fron the Keg and my mouth was ambushed with flavor WOW! =)

MichaelsBrewing · 04-11-2011, 01:27 AM

Thought I'd post a picture....

idigg · 04-11-2011, 01:40 PM

Beautiful, I was going to make my first Bavarian Hefe tomorrow, but I might make this instead as the wife loves Blue Moon.

PNuke · 04-14-2011, 03:59 PM

Brewed this on 4/2. Came out of the Primary and into secondary with 1.013 and had a OG of 1.053, so its right where I would like it at 5.2%. Kegging it this weekend and will give a brief review once it sits in a keg for a couple days.