ksills

Recipes 

scottland

Recipes 

Sure, super easy. Steep the crystal grains like you would any other extract recipe, then just replace the 2-row with 5.5lbs of light DME or 7lbs of light LME. That's it. Proceed from there as normal.

BlueZooBrewing

Recipes 

I just tried the summer solstice last night and Im so glad theres a decent recipe for it. My wife loved it. I could also see this bein a great one for non-beer fans since it tastes like a barely hopped cream soda. Thanks for the recipe!

ksills

Recipes 

would adding vanilla beans to the secondary impart the vanilla flavor rather than adding vanilla at bottling?

scottland

Recipes 

I think that's actually the better way to go. People say to cut and scrap vanilla beans into a little vodka, let that hang out for a few days, then add to the secondary.

I've only used vanilla extract out of convenience, but I'd be interested to hear how it turns out with real vanilla beans.

Locus415

Recipes 

Thanks to everyone sharing their ideas about the Solstice Clone. After speeding some time at my local brew supplier, he gave me the following partial mash version of a AVB Summer Solstice Clone I would like to share.

I am a new brewer so I am not 100% sure what grains add what kind of character. Any insight into this or links to good grain characteristics would be appreciated. So here it is:

AVB Summer Solstice Clone
Partial Mash

6lbs. Pale Malt Extract
2lbs. Maris Otter
1/4 lbs. Biscuit
1/2 lbs. Oats

Steep grains in grain bag for 45 min. @ 155 F.
Add extract and bring to rolling boil stirring continuous to avoid scorching

60 min. Add 1/2 oz. Perle
30 min. Add 1/2 oz. Perle
15 min. Add 1/2 oz. Cascade

Cool wort to 70 - 75 F.
Pitch 1 vial of White Labs California V Ale Yeast

6 days in primary
14 in secondary
14+ days to bottle carbonate.

I am brewing this today and will let e eryone know how it turns out.
Cheers.

scottland

Recipes 

Feel free to try it, but without any crystal malt, I don't think it will be even close.

scottland

Recipes 

So i tasted the 2011 Summer Solstice today. Completely different. No vanilla at all, and it tastes just like blueberry pancakes like their Boont Amber. Not sure why they went this direction with the beer. I also updated the picture at the top of the thread with my most recent clone.

Locus415

Recipes 

Update on the summer solstice clone. The brewing was no problem except I pitched the yeast a bit early while the temp was around 85 degrees. It had a rapid fermenting start and went off like a hot tub time machine for a couple of days. It settled great and has been in the secondary for a week with two tablespoons of vanilla extract and a whole split vanilla bean. I sampled some of the "green beer" from the secondary last night and force carbonated it in a soda stream carbonator after chilling. It was really nice with a light golden color, sweet crisp forward notes and a velvety vanilla finish. It does not have the creaminess that the AVB original has but it also isn't finished yet. A bit stronger than I expected as two 12 oz. samples had me a bit too summery!

Oscbert

Recipes 

I just had the Summer Solstice, bought from Costco. I tasted the vanilla. Didn't get any blueberry pancake in it, I know the flavor you speak of from the Boont Amber.
I thought it was an excellent brew.
Thanks for the recipe. I'm looking forward to brewing this one.