Summer/Winter Solstice Clone
 

ABV: 5.6%
Summer Solstice Recipe:

Assuming 75% efficiency:
9 lbs 2-row
13 oz Crystal 40*
11 oz Crystal 80*
0.5 oz Northern Brewer Hops @ 15 minutes
WYeast 2112 (Make a nice big starter 2L+)
0.25-0.75oz of Vanilla extract added at Bottling/Kegging. 0.25oz is a great start, add to taste.

Mash at 150* for 60 minutes, Boil for 60 minutes, add hops with 15 minutes left.
Chill your wort down under 70*, and pitch your starter.

Winter Solstice is the same receipe as Summer, but make the following changes:

13 lbs 2-row
1 lbs Crystal 40
14oz Crystal 80
1oz Northern Brewer at 15min
Mash at 152*, SG: 1.070, FG: 1.018

This beer turns out identical to Summer/Winter solstice. It's smooth, crisp, and has that lovely hint of vanilla. If you have the ability to lager, this beer would be even better if lagered for a month.

**This recipe has been slightly tweaked over the last year or so. Two differences are less vanilla now, and the use of Northern Brewer hops rather than Cascade.***

Ok, so I tasted ABVC Winter solstice for the first time this year. The batch my 6-pack came from was light on the vanilla, so I could taste the flavors better.

They definitely use Northern Brewer hops. It has the exact same flavor that Anchor Steam has, only without the bitterness. With that said, I like the beer better with cascade. The cascades seem to fall into the background better on this brew, and really showcase the malt and vanilla. Very subtle difference. I'll post some side-by-side pictures of the real one vs. My clone soon. They are nearly identical.

Thanks for this! This is on my short list for this weekend.

Cut back on the vanilla. I brewed this for the 4th time, and I think I've concluded 1oz to 1.5 is about right.

2oz gives it too harsh of a vanilla flavor

***Update***
Here's an updated photo from the 2011 ABVC Summer Solstice and my Summer Solstice clone. Oddly enough, mine is the clearer beer on the right.

I kegged this 2 weeks ago and tried my first one last night. Are you sure you meant 1-1.5 oz and not tablespoons? I assumed you meant tablespoon and put that in but I think it is way over powering. I will probably try this again but cut it back to a small tablespoon. Hopefully the vanilla will die down after a month or more. Aside from that, it is pretty much spot on, thanks!

I've honestly ran into the same thing with my last batch. I'm starting to think not all brands of vanilla are consistent. I've found 0.5oz is about right, with 1oz being on the strong side. But this summer when i made a couple batches, I needed 1.5oz to get the right flavor. (FYI: 2TBSP ~ 1oz)

For people that keg, it's easy: Start with 0.5oz, and if you need more add it. For those that bottle is much trickier. I guess go by taste. I'm with you though 2morrow, it doesn't take much of the vanilla to be overpowering.

For anyone who might think of trying this, I used Simply Organic vanilla extract (Madagascar). Would not go over 1 tbsp with this brand. I agree that different brands have different potencies.

I love Winter Solstice :mug:
yours is about the only clone recipe i have found that looks decent. I will be brewing this next week and will post my results when all said and done!
Thanks you!

Please check the posts above for some updated info.

If you want a 100% exact clone, use Northern Brewer hops rather than cascade, although I happen to like cascade better in this beer. Add the hops anywhere from 10min to 0min depending on how long it takes you to chill your wort. If you can chill your wort in like 10min, add the hops at 10min left n the boil, if it takes you a little while to chill your wort, add the hops with 0min left. Anderson Valley steeps their hops in the whirlpool, so this part will vary for every brewer.

Oh, and start with 0.5oz vanilla, and add to taste. I'm finding different brands of extract have different strengths of flavor,and vanilla can overpower the beer in a hurry. Good luck!