Fat Tire Clone?

I took the Fat Tire Clone out of the North American Clone Brews Book. I was brewing this for my SWMBO. I force carbed it last night. I filled up a pint glass, and it doesn't taste like Fat Tire. I have no idea. You guys think you could look it over for me and see what happened? Oh not that I am complaining. It taste closer to Dead Guy Ale. This is something I can live with, but I would like to know how to fix it, for SWMBO. Thanks!!

Type: All Grain
Date: 12/23/2009
Batch Size: 5.50 gal
Brewer: Jud
Boil Size: 6.30 gal Asst Brewer:
Boil Time: 60 min Equipment: My Equipment
Taste Rating(out of 50): 35.0 Brewhouse Efficiency: 78.00
Taste Notes:

Ingredients

11.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 84.62 %
1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt -120L (120.0 SRM) Grain 7.69 %
0.50 lb Munich Malt (9.0 SRM) Grain 3.85 %
0.50 lb Special B Malt (180.0 SRM) Grain 3.85 %
1.00 oz Goldings, East Kent [5.00 %] (60 min) Hops 15.3 IBU
1.00 oz Saaz [4.00 %] (15 min) Hops 6.1 IBU
1 Pkgs Belgian Ale (Wyeast Labs #1214) Yeast-Ale



Beer Profile

Est Original Gravity: 1.060 SG
Measured Original Gravity: 1.064 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.015 SG Measured Final Gravity: 1.014 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 5.90 % Actual Alcohol by Vol: 0.65 %
Bitterness: 21.4 IBU
Est Color: 19.7 SRM


Mash Profile

Mash Name: Single Infusion, Medium Body Total Grain Weight: 13.00 lb
Sparge Water: 1.52 gal Grain Temperature: 72.0 F
Sparge Temperature: 168.0 F TunTemperature: 72.0 F
Adjust Temp for Equipment: FALSE Mash PH: 5.4 PH

Single Infusion, Medium Body Step Time Name Description Step Temp
60 min Mash In Add 16.25 qt of water at 165.9 F 154.0 F
10 min Mash Out Add 9.10 qt of water at 196.6 F 168.0 F



Carbonation Type: Kegged (Forced CO2) Volumes of CO2: 2.4
Pressure/Weight: 21.6 PSI Carbonation Used: -
Keg/Bottling Temperature: 60.0 F Age for:
Storage Temperature: 37.0 F

I've never had Dead Guy but that grain bill looks to be heavy on the crystal and the crystals that are used seem too dark for a Fat Tire clone. I would eliminate the Special B entirely and use something like Aromatic or Biscuit instead. And then reduce the amount and color of the C120. I'd also increase the Munich malt to around 2 pounds (reduce the Pale 2-row to compensate). I'd also throw in some Carapils.

IMO, Fat Tire doesn't have the belgian yeast flavors either so I'd just use a clean ale yeast.

Like you said, that grain bill looks like it would make a fine tasty beer just not quite Fat Tire-ish. Also, from your description this beer is still very young so I'd let it condition a bit and reassess.

This is the one I use. It's also a touch on the dark side, but tastes pretty good.

6.50 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 70.27 %
0.50 lb Biscuit Malt (23.0 SRM) Grain 5.41 %
0.50 lb Carafoam (2.0 SRM) Grain 5.41 %
0.50 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 5.41 %
0.50 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 5.41 %
0.50 lb Munich Malt - 10L (10.0 SRM) Grain 5.41 %
0.25 lb Chocolate Malt (350.0 SRM) Grain 2.70 %
0.75 oz Williamette [5.50 %] (60 min) Hops 14.7 IBU
0.50 oz Fuggles [4.50 %] (20 min) Hops 4.9 IBU
0.25 oz Fuggles [4.50 %] (0 min) Hops -

waldoar15 said:

This is the one I use. It's also a touch on the dark side, but tastes pretty good.

6.50 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 70.27 %
0.50 lb Biscuit Malt (23.0 SRM) Grain 5.41 %
0.50 lb Carafoam (2.0 SRM) Grain 5.41 %
0.50 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 5.41 %
0.50 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 5.41 %
0.50 lb Munich Malt - 10L (10.0 SRM) Grain 5.41 %
0.25 lb Chocolate Malt (350.0 SRM) Grain 2.70 %
0.75 oz Williamette [5.50 %] (60 min) Hops 14.7 IBU
0.50 oz Fuggles [4.50 %] (20 min) Hops 4.9 IBU
0.25 oz Fuggles [4.50 %] (0 min) Hops -

Click to expand...

This one looks good. I'd eliminate the chocolate malt, bump up the Munich, use Northern Brewer for bittering and Willamette for flavor and aroma.

Thanks guys. It really stumped me when I filled my pint glass. SWMBO has been waiting for this one to come on tap. Damn to bad luck. I will make the changes to the grain bill and brew again. Just kind of sucks that the clone book was off so much. Made me rethink buying it now!!

BTW, don't force carb this one. Just put it on the gas and leave it go for three weeks. If you don't have a spare gas line, prime the keg and let it sit in a warm closet for a month.

Don't know if it helps, but the NB Phat Tyre extract kit tastes very close IMO. It used Victory and Caramel 60 malts, with the base being mainly munich LME. Yeast was belgian abbey II.

I know many use a belgian yeast for this but I've heard 1056 or similar is more appropriate. I used a dry yeast when I did it and mine tasted a lot like the original.

joety said:

I know many use a belgian yeast for this but I've heard 1056 or similar is more appropriate. I used a dry yeast when I did it and mine tasted a lot like the original.

Click to expand...

IIRC, the AHS Fat Tire kit doesn't use a Belgian yeast and the reviews I've read is that it is closer than the NB kit.

I used WLP051

Well, for what it may be worth this is a clone I bottled on 12/13. Had two tonight and I gotta admit that they are really close. A little aging does this one a lot of good. I know that waiting is the hardest part of homebrewing but sometimes it pays off!
Grain Bill
8lbs 2 row (1.30/lb)-10.4
0.5lbs 20L (1.75/lb)- 88
0.5lbs 40L (1.50/lb)- .75
0.5lbs dextrin(carapils) (1.50/lb)- .75
0.5lbs munich (1.60/lb)- .80
0.5lbs victory (1.50/lb)- .75
Yeast
White Labs WLP007 Dry English Ale (6.99)
Mash
10.5lbs grain @ 70°F
1.5g of gypsum
3.5 gallons of strike water @ 171°F
1 Tbsp Irish Moss 15min
mash temp@ 152F
Sparge
4.0g sparge @ 171°F
(additional 1.0g of sparge at 147°F for approx 6.0g wort)
extraction 1.044sg
Hops
1.0oz Willamette – 60 mins (3.49/oz)
1/2oz Fuggles(Willamette) – 15 mins (3.49/oz)- 1.75
1oz Fuggles(Willamette) – 3mins (3.49/oz)
* out of Fuggles so had to substitute Willamette
OG @ 1.052
FG @ 1.014

I just brewed a batch of this today to bottle for a camp out in April. Will probably do another to keg for home the next semi warm day I get here (above freezing) .

This is one recipe a few of us have tweeked and have gotten pretty close. We upped the Munich which I think is key for this beer......


Type: All Grain
Date: 12/12/2009
Batch Size: 5.00 gal
Brewer:
Boil Size: 8.37 gal Asst Brewer:
Boil Time: 90 min Equipment: Crab Cooker
Taste Rating(out of 50): 35.0 Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.00
Taste Notes:

Ingredients

Amount Item Type % or IBU
7.26 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (1.8 SRM) Grain 64.99 %
2.50 lb Munich Malt (9.0 SRM) Grain 22.38 %
0.50 lb Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 4.48 %
0.50 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 4.48 %
0.38 lb Biscuit Malt (23.0 SRM) Grain 3.40 %
0.03 lb Chocolate Malt (450.0 SRM) Grain 0.28 %
0.80 oz Williamette [4.90 %] (90 min) Hops 16.5 IBU
0.50 oz Fuggles [4.80 %] (20 min) Hops 5.7 IBU
0.50 oz Fuggles [4.80 %] (0 min) (Aroma Hop-Steep) Hops -
0.25 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
1.00 tbsp PH 5.2 Stabilizer (Mash 60.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs American Ale II (Wyeast Labs #1272) [Starter 1 L] Yeast-Ale



Beer Profile

Est Original Gravity: 1.057 SG
Measured Original Gravity: 1.058 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.014 SG Measured Final Gravity: 1.011 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 5.54 % Actual Alcohol by Vol: 6.13 %
Bitterness: 22.3 IBU Calories: 258 cal/pint
Est Color: 9.0 SRM Color: Color

Wild Duk said:

This is one recipe a few of us have tweeked and have gotten pretty close.....


7.26 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US

Click to expand...

You've gotten the base malt down to the hundreth of a pound. I'd say that's some tweaking.

What can I say, I like to be exact.......

Have some friends who brew 6 gallon recipies, so this is just what Beersmith spits out when I scale mine down to 5 gallons @ 70% eff....

I've made this several times and it's very good. The home toasted malt gives it a very special flavor. In fact I made 10 Gals for a new years eve party, and they drank it all.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/flat-ass-tired-54983/

If that link doesn't work, just search for Flat Ass Tired.

ETA: I can't read.

This months BYO mag has a fat tire clone.
Cheers