Bells Oberon Clone

cweston · Jun 8, 2007

Bells Oberon Clone

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recipe Type: All Grain
Yeast: Safale 05 (formerly US56)
Batch Size (Gallons): 6
Original Gravity: 1.52
Final Gravity: 1.010?
IBU: 17
Boiling Time (Minutes): 45
Color: 5 SRM
Primary Fermentation (# of Days & Temp): 7
Secondary Fermentation (# of Days & Temp): ?

This is allegedly Bells' recipe, which I scaled down to 6 gallon batch size:

6 lbs 2-row
4.5 lbs wheat
.75 lb Munich
.75 lb Carapils

.67 oz Hallertau 45 minutes
.9 oz Hallertau 30 minutes
.33 oz Hallertau 0 minutes
1 oz Saaz 0 minutes

I just brewed this tonight--the color looks perfect (golden, ever so slightly orange).

I'll update as I get tasting info.

MriswitH · Jul 1, 2007

Oh man, this sounds fantastic! Do you know what the equivalent would be for an extract or partial mash?

SPLASTiK · Aug 2, 2007

Almost been a couple months... crack any bottles open yet?

jcarson83 · Aug 5, 2007

Just mashed in. I'll let you know how it turns out. I went with the Czech Saaz since that what I grabbed at the LHBS by accident.

FSR402 · Jan 10, 2008

Is there any more update on how this turned out?

TheSchwill · Jan 10, 2008

I would like to know how this turned out? Oberon is one of my favorite beers. I live in Chicago and haven't had Oberon in over two years.

eriktlupus · Jan 13, 2008

the recipe as posted is a little bland, doesn't have the right nose or taste of oberon. I adjusted the recipe to allow for more caramel notes and a citriuser(?) hop note.

removed the munich
added 1/2# ea crystal20L+60L

replaced the 30min hallertau with .5 oz cascade

i just brewed this today so i'll post back in 3-4 wks

TheSchwill · Jan 25, 2008

I'm going to try out this kit.

http://www.perfectbrewingsupply.com...n_page=product_info&cPath=2_19&products_id=38

it is at my LHBS.

FSR402 · May 7, 2008

eriktlupus said:
the recipe as posted is a little bland, doesn't have the right nose or taste of oberon.

And this is why one should NOT post a recipe until after it's tested... At least the OP stated that he had just brewed it..

BugleBrew · Aug 14, 2008

How'd your second attempt go?

Boerderij_Kabouter · Oct 16, 2008

From Bell's site:

An American wheat ale brewed with Saaz hops. Spicy and fruity, Oberon is the color and scent of a summer afternoon.

Original Gravity:
1.057
Alc. by Vol.:
5.8% - 190 cal. per 12 oz.

So the OP cannot be right. I would be very interested in one of these.

EDIT: Are the numbers posted here from your actual batch or the target numbers? Maybe the OG was just off a bit and that affected the flavor?

RandalG · Jan 14, 2009

TheSchwill said:
I'm going to try out this kit.

http://www.perfectbrewingsupply.com...n_page=product_info&cPath=2_19&products_id=38

it is at my LHBS.

This kit has been in the primary for a week and a half. The instructions say primary one week secondary one week then bottle. I was going to leave it in the primary 2 weeks at least and thinking maybe three. Any thoughts on this? I've been reading posts about people leaving batches in their primary for three weeks but not sure if that depends on what style or if there is any benefit to using a secondary for certain styles if it even matters at all.

eweb44 · Feb 3, 2009

According to the brewer at Bell's, Oberon does not use any spice (orange peel, or corriander specifically). My first batch lacked the fruity citrus that I so love in my Oberon. For my second batch I am going to try a dry hop with 9% Centennial hops. In other beers when I have dry hopped in the 2ndary with Centennial I have gotten a real good orange/lemon flavor. I'll let you know how it goes.

UnaBonger · Feb 26, 2009

Sounding promsing... I'd love to find a decent clone of this :rockin:

RandalG · Feb 26, 2009

RandalG said:
This kit has been in the primary for a week and a half. The instructions say primary one week secondary one week then bottle. I was going to leave it in the primary 2 weeks at least and thinking maybe three. Any thoughts on this? I've been reading posts about people leaving batches in their primary for three weeks but not sure if that depends on what style or if there is any benefit to using a secondary for certain styles if it even matters at all.

This batch didn't turn out as good as I had hoped. Doesn't taste much like Oberon.Much darker and sweeter.I'm new to HB and this is only my 2nd batch so it could be due to error on my part but it's still very drinkable.This is one of my faves so I'm sure I'll attemt it again at some point.

Cryptochronolite · Jun 17, 2009

I know this is an older thread, but I believe I've just perfected the Oberon Recipe. I did some side by side tastings and after my fourth batch I believe I have it.

FIRST Problem with all these formulas was the nose, Oberon's citrusy nose is super evident. I found that it takes almost 3 oz of Hops, to fix this.

SECOND Problem was the carmel and complexity. that took me a while to fix - finally, I found it: Decoction. I have been on a decoction kick for a while and decided that this could be a candidate.

Here's my final recipe:

6lbs American 2 row
4lbs American White wheat
.5lbs Carapils

1oz Saaz 30min (leaf)
1oz Saaz 15min (leaf)
.5oz Saaz and 1oz Cascade in secondary (dry hopped for 14 days) (leaf)

Start in at 133F for 15 minutes
Decoc 12 pints of mash (adjust this for your system)
155F for 60minutes
mash out.

My first recipe wasn't as close to the original but I knew I was on to something. I used Wyeast 1010 (VERY CLOSE) but not exact. I then decided to harvest some Bell's yest from a bottle. - that's when it became perfect.

I started my fifth batch of this recipe this weekend, I am on the second generation of this particular strain of yeast, I assume it will turn out okay, but I don't know how many generations that yeast was used at bells, so....

OG 1.059
FG 1.014-016

I have only bottled this beer, I am going to keg this final batch and see how she does.

RandalG · Jun 17, 2009

^ Thanks for that. Oberon is one of my favorite brews. I'm new to AG with just one batch under my belt so far but once I build enough confidence in what I'm doing I'll be giving this a shot.Let us know how this batch turns out.

Boerderij_Kabouter · Jun 17, 2009

If you wouldn't mind, could you post the AAU's for those hop additions?

Great work! I may have to try this...

Cryptochronolite · Jun 17, 2009

oops yeah, the saaz was 3.5 and the cascade was 5.5.

Also, the cascade was super fresh. In two cases LHBS recieved the shipment within two days.

Boerderij_Kabouter · Jun 21, 2009

I just plugged the latest recipe into BeerSmith and it looks great. One question; 13.8 IBU??? That seems awfully low... is that right?

Style: American Wheat or Rye Beer
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (0.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 11.00 gal
Boil Size: 13.14 gal
Estimated OG: 1.058 SG
Estimated Color: 3.7 SRM
Estimated IBU: 13.8 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 80.00 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
12 lbs Brewers Malt 2-Row (Briess) (1.8 SRM) Grain 57.14 %
8 lbs Wheat - White Malt (Briess) (2.3 SRM) Grain 38.10 %
1 lbs Carapils (Briess) (1.5 SRM) Grain 4.76 %
2.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] (Dry Hop 5 days) Hops -
1.00 oz Saaz [3.50 %] (Dry Hop 5 days) Hops -
2.00 oz Saaz [3.50 %] (30 min) Hops 8.4 IBU
2.00 oz Saaz [3.50 %] (15 min) Hops 5.4 IBU
0.55 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 min) Misc
2.20 tbsp PH 5.2 Stabilizer (Mash 60.0 min) Misc
2.20 tsp Yeast Nutrient (Primary 3.0 days) Misc
1 Pkgs American Wheat Ale (Wyeast Labs #1010) Yeast-Ale

Mash Schedule: My Mash
Total Grain Weight: 21.00 lb
----------------------------
My Mash
Step Time Name Description Step Temp
15 min Protein Rest Add 23.10 qt of water at 143.1 F 133.0 F
50 min Sacc Rest Add 11.00 qt of water at 208.8 F 155.0 F
10 min Mash out Decoct 9.27 qt of mash and boil it 168.0 F

Cryptochronolite · Jun 23, 2009

yeah I know - I thought it was low too, but after I did a side by side, it seems like 99% of the hops flavor in oberon comes from the dry hopping/aroma. It is really way more carammelly than I thought.

just a note, I did the decoc between protein to sacc - NOT to mash out. Single decoc only, I've tried a double once and it got too sweet.

Palefire · Jul 9, 2009

Is there possibly a way to mimic the decoction needed here on a stovetop? Right now I pretty much do DB's Partial Mash method for all my brews - working my way up to AG but want to get my technique right first (and waiting for SWMBO to authorize further beer-related purchases). I'm a huge fan of the Oberon - I lived in Michigan for a while about 10 years ago and pretty much lived on Oberon all summer long.

Anyway, I'd love to make this, so I'm wondering if you have any ideas for approximating this beer using stovetop PM.

Thanks in advance!

XXguy · Jul 9, 2009

Cryptochronolite said:
I know this is an older thread, but I believe I've just perfected the Oberon Recipe. I did some side by side tastings and after my fourth batch I believe I have it.

FIRST Problem with all these formulas was the nose, Oberon's citrusy nose is super evident. I found that it takes almost 3 oz of Hops, to fix this.

SECOND Problem was the carmel and complexity. that took me a while to fix - finally, I found it: Decoction. I have been on a decoction kick for a while and decided that this could be a candidate.

Here's my final recipe:

6lbs American 2 row
4lbs American White wheat
.5lbs Carapils

1oz Saaz 30min (leaf)
1oz Saaz 15min (leaf)
.5oz Saaz and 1oz Cascade in secondary (dry hopped for 14 days) (leaf)

Start in at 133F for 15 minutes
Decoc 12 pints of mash (adjust this for your system)
155F for 60minutes
mash out.

My first recipe wasn't as close to the original but I knew I was on to something. I used Wyeast 1010 (VERY CLOSE) but not exact. I then decided to harvest some Bell's yest from a bottle. - that's when it became perfect.

I started my fifth batch of this recipe this weekend, I am on the second generation of this particular strain of yeast, I assume it will turn out okay, but I don't know how many generations that yeast was used at bells, so....

OG 1.059
FG 1.014-016

I have only bottled this beer, I am going to keg this final batch and see how she does.

Oberon is the one wheat beer I've tried & really liked. I've got a yeast culture & plan to brew it one day soon. Thanks for all your work on getting this recipe right !

Just FYi for anyone who follows this thread - a little info on Oberon's yeast strain - it does seem to be a house strain used in all their brews:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/whats-comparable-oberon-yeast-35358/#post348333

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/safale-us-05-attenuation-52146/#post673016

Cryptochronolite · Jul 13, 2009

I am completely doubley tripply convinced that the key to this brew is a decoction. It may not be that way at the brewery, but it has to occur at home to keep this brew from being so dry.

cheers *******! (and dudes)

adamjab19 · Jul 15, 2009

interesting.

I'm not all that familiar with decoction but could you add .5 lb of munch for some malty backbone...I guess my real question is how does a decoc. make the beer more sweet?

Cryptochronolite · Jul 16, 2009

well, I think the simple answer is it makes more non-fermentable sugars.

I think the complicated answer is called the Maillard interaction or process or something.

Maillard reaction - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

BrewSpook · Jul 16, 2009

Crypto, you might have just become my wife's new hero. We were in Michigan last week on vacation with her folks. 2 mini-kegs of Oberon later and she was begging me to find a recipe for it. Thanks for all of your hard work - the rest of us will enjoy it.

Cryptochronolite · Jul 16, 2009

no problem. It isn't hard work at all. I just brew it to drink it.

Boerderij_Kabouter · Jul 20, 2009

I just brewed this yesterday! I changed my mash to an enhanced single decoction. Basically, doughed in at 99º to let it rest in the acid range, pulled about 60% of the mash (almost all the grains, and enough wort to cover) brought it to a protein rest at 122º for 10 minutes, raised to sacc rest at 154º fro 30 minutes, then boiled for 15 minutes. After 5 minutes of the boil, I started adding a small amount of mash back tot he main mash to bring the main mash temp to 120º and allowed the main mash to protein rest for 12 minutes, while the deco was still boiling away. I then added the remaining deco back into the main mash to raise up to my sacc rest temp of 155º. Rested for 40 minutes, infused with boiling water to 168º and fly sparged.

For more info on deco mashing and the enhanced schedule check out http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=Decoction_Mashing

I hit my numbers dead on and think it will be a great brew. I am still dialing in my boil off though so I reached an O.G. of 1.054 because I didn't boil off as much as planned. Oh well, It will still be awesome.

Also I couldn't get any of the yeasts I wanted so this is fermenting away with Wyeast 1272 Am II and 1762 Belgian Abbey II.

I will report back in a few weeks. :mug:

Cryptochronolite · Jul 22, 2009

I can't wait to hear back.

Bells Oberon Clone

Help Support Homebrew Talk:

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Supporting Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Supporting Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Supporting Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Supporting Member

Well-Known Member

Supporting Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Supporting Member

Well-Known Member

Supporting Member

Well-Known Member

Supporting Member

Well-Known Member

Supporting Member

Similar threads