Hi all. After introducing New Holland Dragon's Milk to my dad it became his favorite beer. Thus he asked me to brew a clone of it, and teach him how to brew that clone.
So, I searched around for clone recipes and found this http://***********/english-scottish-strong-ale/item/2069-new-holland-brewing-co-dragon’s-milk-clone
However, that recipe did not really satisfy me because the ABV of Dragon's Milk is 10%, requiring a higher OG than listed in that clone recipe. Also a review of this http://newhollandbrew.com/beer/files/2013/01/NewHollandBC_2013_DragonsMilk-Spec.pdf reveals an IBU of 31, a list of the malts, hops, and yeast used by New Holland.
So, I came up with this compromise:
11.5 lbs 2-row (63%)
2 lbs munich (11%)
1.5 lbs flaked barley (8%)
1 lb cane sugar (5%)
14 oz C-80 (5%)
10 oz C-120 (3%)
10 oz Chocolate (3%)
4 oz black patent (1%)
3/4 oz nugget @ 60 min
1 oz glacier @ 10 min
WL American Ale Blend
30.2 IBU
23 SRM
1.091 OG for 5.5 gal @ 78% efficiency (what I actually got)
1.097 OG estimated for 5 gal @ 75% efficiency
1.02 FG ~ 9.7% abv
I did a single infusion mash @ 158
I kept in primary for 20 days and tonight I racked it onto 2 oz of oak chips soaked in 4 oz of Jim Beam, which I had soaking for maybe 10 days (would have gone longer but slipped my mind).
Tasted it and I think it has excellent potential. It has a complex flavor which is rich in chocolate and has a pleasant after taste, seems well balanced and not warm of alcohol at all. I think the smell and taste are pretty similar to what Dragon's Milk must be like before the bourbon aging. If anything, I would have added a bit of dextrine for an increased body, but I won't really know until it's carbed. Only other desire is a little bit darker of a color, although my dad says he is happy with that.
I plan to taste it every two weeks until I reach the oak/bourbon character I want at which time I will bottle and report results after I drink the first.
So, I searched around for clone recipes and found this http://***********/english-scottish-strong-ale/item/2069-new-holland-brewing-co-dragon’s-milk-clone
However, that recipe did not really satisfy me because the ABV of Dragon's Milk is 10%, requiring a higher OG than listed in that clone recipe. Also a review of this http://newhollandbrew.com/beer/files/2013/01/NewHollandBC_2013_DragonsMilk-Spec.pdf reveals an IBU of 31, a list of the malts, hops, and yeast used by New Holland.
So, I came up with this compromise:
11.5 lbs 2-row (63%)
2 lbs munich (11%)
1.5 lbs flaked barley (8%)
1 lb cane sugar (5%)
14 oz C-80 (5%)
10 oz C-120 (3%)
10 oz Chocolate (3%)
4 oz black patent (1%)
3/4 oz nugget @ 60 min
1 oz glacier @ 10 min
WL American Ale Blend
30.2 IBU
23 SRM
1.091 OG for 5.5 gal @ 78% efficiency (what I actually got)
1.097 OG estimated for 5 gal @ 75% efficiency
1.02 FG ~ 9.7% abv
I did a single infusion mash @ 158
I kept in primary for 20 days and tonight I racked it onto 2 oz of oak chips soaked in 4 oz of Jim Beam, which I had soaking for maybe 10 days (would have gone longer but slipped my mind).
Tasted it and I think it has excellent potential. It has a complex flavor which is rich in chocolate and has a pleasant after taste, seems well balanced and not warm of alcohol at all. I think the smell and taste are pretty similar to what Dragon's Milk must be like before the bourbon aging. If anything, I would have added a bit of dextrine for an increased body, but I won't really know until it's carbed. Only other desire is a little bit darker of a color, although my dad says he is happy with that.
I plan to taste it every two weeks until I reach the oak/bourbon character I want at which time I will bottle and report results after I drink the first.