Brooklyn Brown Ale Clone - All Grain

I am getting ready to brew a brown ale next weekend. I thought I would try and clone Brooklyn Brewery's Brown Ale.

Here is my recipe so far. I would appreciate comments, thoughts, or suggestions...

Aberfeldy Brown Ale (Brooklyn Clone)

OG: 1.055
FG: 1.014
ABV: 5.37 %
IBU's: 31.43
Boil Size: 6.35 Gal
Batch Size: 5.50 Gal
Color: 20.6 SRM

Grains & Adjuncts
9.50 lbs Pale Malt, Maris Otter
1.25 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L
1.00 lbs White Wheat Malt
0.40 lbs Chocolate Malt
0.30 lbs Biscuit Malt
0.20 lbs Cara-Pils/Dextrine

Hops
1.00 ozs Northern Brewer - 60 mins
0.25 ozs Cascade - 15 mins
0.25 ozs Williamette - 15 mins
0.25 ozs Cascade - 2 mins
0.50 ozs Williamette - 2 mins

Yeasts
Amount Name Laboratory / ID
1.00 pkg British Ale II Wyeast Labs 1335

Additions
Amount Name Time Stage
1.00 oz Whirlfloc Tablet 10 mins Boil

Mash Profile
Medium Body Infusion 60 min @ 154.0°F
Medium Body Infusion Out 10 min @ 168.0°F
Sparge

Okay, so I brewed this on May 26th. Despite a small boil over on first hops addition. Forgot to have my trusty squirt bottle handy I still managed to overshoot the OG just slightly at 1.054 compared to estimated 1.053.

I pitched my yeast at 70F and moved the carboy to the basement. Ambient temp of +/- 65F. Within 12 hours a strong krausen had formed and airlock activity was rapid. By May 30 airlock activity fallen to a negligible level and by June 1 the krausen had dissipated. I meant to transfer over the weekend but was too busy with the kids' playhouse.

I will transfer it to secondary tonight and bottle my Blonde Ale. It smelled wonderful in the mash tun and looked marvelous during fermentation. I will try and post a picture of the transfer.

Looks like I am on this post by myself. Anyway, I will keep giving updates. I put this in the bottle to carbonate on June 21st. I tasted it over the weekend to "check" the carbonation level. It is coming along nicely. Not very green, which may be a result of the boil over at the 60 minute hop addition. However, its already exhibiting a great taste. I have not actually had Brooklyn Brown so I cannot compare. My buddy, who helped on the brew (and distracted me causing the boil over) is the experienced one. He is back in town in a couple of weeks. I'll let you all know his verdict on the comparison.

Might try and source a six pack locally to compare. Either way, it is maturing in a very positive direction. I will transfer to the "cellar" this weekend to store.

I'd love to hear how your clone turned out? Sounds like it was coming along nicely.

More specifically, I really like your choice of hops. Thinking about using this combination on something I am brewing. Would you use this combination again?

BreezyBrew - Yes, the clone turned out amazing. One of the better beers I have brewed. Having never tasted Brooklyn Brown I could not compare it; however, my buddy who "grew" up on Brooklyn Brown swears it tastes the same.

Regarding the hop blend. It created a very nice effect. I will use the blend again for this beer. I'll try and post some beer porn in the next day or so...to show you how it turned out. Unfortunately, I am all out and cannot give you proper tasting notes on the hop blend.

Okay, here it is in all its glory.

I am glad you posted this. Awhile back a friend sent me a 1 gallon all grain kit for Brooklyn Brewery’s Hindy’s Brown ale. I didn’t want to brew a 1 gallon batch so I used the 2.5lbs of grain for a mini mash and made up the difference of the gravity points with amber DME and recalculated the IBUs based of the hop bill I found on their website to hit 30 IBUs. They give the hop bill out on the website but explain the actual brown ale hopping is slightly more complicated than the kit, so you may be close. I am not sure what yeast they use, but I went with Wyeast 1272 American Ale II. The batch turned out to be possibly the best I have made to date. I too have never got my hands on any of their brown ale, but based on your recipe and my batch it sounds pretty close. I would like to order the kit from them again and take it to my LHBS and see if we can dissect the grain bill. If you are an experienced home brewer you may be able to dissect it yourself. Until I order the kit I am going to try your recipe but unfortunately will have to convert it to a partial mash as I am not set up for all grain brewing and can only handle about 5lbs of grain. The rest will be DME. Can’t wait to try it.

Here was my attempt. I also used 6 oz. of toasted flaked oats, which may not be in their bill based on the specs online.

deadboy182 said:

I am getting ready to brew a brown ale next weekend. I thought I would try and clone Brooklyn Brewery's Brown Ale.

Here is my recipe so far. I would appreciate comments, thoughts, or suggestions...

Aberfeldy Brown Ale (Brooklyn Clone)

OG: 1.055
FG: 1.014
ABV: 5.37 %
IBU's: 31.43
Boil Size: 6.35 Gal
Batch Size: 5.50 Gal
Color: 20.6 SRM

Grains & Adjuncts
9.50 lbs Pale Malt, Maris Otter
1.25 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L
1.00 lbs White Wheat Malt
0.40 lbs Chocolate Malt
0.30 lbs Biscuit Malt
0.20 lbs Cara-Pils/Dextrine

Hops
1.00 ozs Northern Brewer - 60 mins
0.25 ozs Cascade - 15 mins
0.25 ozs Williamette - 15 mins
0.25 ozs Cascade - 2 mins
0.50 ozs Williamette - 2 mins

Yeasts
Amount Name Laboratory / ID
1.00 pkg British Ale II Wyeast Labs 1335

Additions
Amount Name Time Stage
1.00 oz Whirlfloc Tablet 10 mins Boil

Mash Profile
Medium Body Infusion 60 min @ 154.0°F
Medium Body Infusion Out 10 min @ 168.0°F
Sparge

Click to expand...

Using a little different grain selection (no white wheat was available) and Columbus instead of N.Brewer.

First all-grain mash -- wish me luck!

BCMike22 said:

Using a little different grain selection (no white wheat was available) and Columbus instead of N.Brewer.

First all-grain mash -- wish me luck!

Click to expand...

hand-ground the grain which took a while but did my first all-grain mash brew.

Only part I really had trouble with was keeping the mash at a good temp consistency. I had to reheat once it dipped and it jumped from 140 to 170 quickly, hopefully not for too long.

It's in the primary now, I'll let you guys know how it looks when I transfer to secondary. No bubbles yet but I expect I'll hear it when I get home tonight.

In secondary now, looks very pretty. Not sure if happenstance or just the style of beer but the richness and depth of color is unlike other brews I've made before.

This wound up fantastic. A little singed during a hot spot actually gave it some nice coffee notes. Almost full bodied like a porter but super drinkable.