All-Grain - Houblon Chouffe aka HopChewy - Page 2

Houblon · 03-18-2010, 03:43 PM

Sorry for not posting report here but better late than never:
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posted :02-21-2010, 05:48 PM

Bad news first:

Well I hate to say but this batch has too much of a columbus taste/aroma over a 1yr old bottle of Houblon Chouffe. The real version does have slightly more of the classic Belgian yeast aroma vs the clone, but this was bottle vs keg and I expect to have the same aroma with a bottled version as it was reyeasted with fresh wlp550 yeast.

The real version is crystal clear after 1yr in the fridge vs the kegged clone which I forgot to add the whirlflock during the boil.

Other versions have always been crystal clear so thats of no worry to me.( see this pic to verify clarity )

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My version does have a better foam--smaller/denser bubbles that last longer.
The hops are much fresher and should fade over time to a more mellow aroma.

In review its really close and as I knew ahead where the problems would be I'm happy with this batch. Another test sometime in late april with a fresh bottle of Houblon vs a bottle of HopChewy(clone).

Time to brew another batch

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I knew ahead of time that its a matter of fine tuning the Columbus & Saaz hops when using new hops due to changes year to year in the crops.
(1gram less @60 and 1g less @20 Columbus will be perfect.)

Still very damn close and the keg lasted less than 10 days leaving only a 12pk of bottles for long term aging. My hop loving friends like the clone better as the hops are fresher than the store bought bottles they brought over to compare, I hate to say but every bottle they brought also had a touch of light skunk. Out of 8 locally purchased all had varying levels of skunk from being exposed to light.

My bottles developed the yeasty aroma as expected

Note to self - NEVER FORGET THE WHIRLFLOCK

Houblon · 03-18-2010, 08:23 PM

Drinking a bottle today while brewing, finally dropped clear

KingBrianI · 06-26-2010, 05:34 AM

Brewing this up tomorrow. Should be good!

Bendbiker · 07-02-2010, 04:13 PM

I just gave this recipe a try. I had a split batch with another recipe so this ended up a bit lower gravity (1.055) but I still think it'll be great. The original is a pretty hefty beer and I wouldn't mind something a little lighter as long as it can still handle the hops. I also used WLP530, which is pretty close. I'll post a review in a couple months once I get around to bottling and aging etc....

thanks for the recipe. I like this beer a lot

Boerderij_Kabouter · 07-18-2010, 04:19 PM

Smelling fantastic! I love those TCZ's (Columbus in this case).

Looking great and a spot free brewday so far. Mashed in at 6:00, temps were perfect, best efficiency yet!

KingBrianI · 07-18-2010, 04:39 PM

I transferred mine to secondary yesterday with some gelatin after dry-hopping in the primary. I'll give it about a week to clear then bottle. I'm skipping the lagering stuff because it's a damn hassle but I doubt it will change the end result much. The gravity sample was down to 1.006 and taste was very good. I dry hopped with an oz of amarillo pellets but I wasn't getting a ton of aroma from them. We'll see if it emerges more when carbonated and a little cooler.

Houblon · 07-24-2010, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingBrianI

I'm skipping the lagering stuff because it's a damn hassle but I doubt it will change the end result much.

Its best to follow what the brewer told me- lager for 21 days, just sayin

Houblon · 07-24-2010, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bendbiker

I just gave this recipe a try. -snip- I also used WLP530, which is pretty close.
thanks for the recipe. I like this beer a lot

No you brewed a beer based on the recipe and wlp530 is nothing like wlp550.

Your beer will be more `dark fruity` but still good, I know from using that yeast on the recipe

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Its almost time for another visit to Achouffe, counting the days till late aug.

Boerderij_Kabouter · 08-18-2010, 03:13 PM

Houblon- Have your beers been a bit hot before the cold stabilization?

My numbers have been pretty good:
og 1.074 and fg 1.007
pitched at 68º
fermented at 78º
dry hopped for 9 days

The aroma and flavor are good, but there is a serious booze hit that borders into astringency that has me worried. Just curious about how the conditioning phase on this thing will go. I haven't brewed many beers over the 6.5abv level.

Thanks!

I popped this in the keg two nights ago and have it at 32º carbing up.

KingBrianI · 08-29-2010, 08:13 PM

Damn, this beer will not clear. I posted above that I planned on bottling it after secondarying with gelatin but I ended up kegging it instead so I could lager it like was recommended. Well, after a month of lagering, it is still cloudy as hell. Flavor is good though, a lot more columbus flavor than the real thing from what I can remember of it, as mentioned. I'll have to pick up another bottle and do a side-by-side comparison. I think I'm going to have to add some more gelatin though. I've never had a beer refuse to clear this persistently.