2-Below clone anyone?

[cruelkix]

Mine looks pretty dark sitting in the fermenter. I don't have anything to compare it to. Maybe i'll go buy some to see how close I got. My best guess is it turned out a little darker than the real thing. I'll let you know if I go pick up a bottle or 12 of it.

 

[jkarp]

Glamor shot of my 2-Below clone. Damn fine beer...

 

[Token]

Ahhhh, beer porn. NICE!

 

[cruelkix]

Ahhhh, beer porn. NICE!

Here's some more for you. Can never get enough right?

That's my 2-below clone in the fermenters. It took them about 36 hours to get fired up, but whne they did there was no looking back. They are going like crazy. I'm afraid the top of the bigger one is going to blow off. I put some towels under it!:cross:

 

[avibayer]

I went:
9.5 us 2-row
1.8 us crystal 40
1.5 german caramunich II
1 victory
1 oz of each :nugget, liberty, and cascade. Single infusion @ 156
OG - 1.066 FG - 1.014

Had the first bottle tonight, and am in love. Having moved back to new york, i dont have access to the real thing to compare.

Oh well.

 

[markg388]

mine was a little darker than the real thing as well, but it's still so good i'll be brewing my 3rd batch of it later this week because it disappears so fast. probably my favorite recipe i've brewed so far.

 

[cruelkix]

Had the first bottle tonight, and am in love. Having moved back to new york, i dont have access to the real thing to compare.
Oh well.

I acutally had a real 2-below the other night and I found I liked mine better! I might be jaded of course, but mine has a higher ABV and a stronger hop note. The body was similair if only a little but darker in color, however mouth feel was consistant. I think a lot of the stronger hop presence had to do with dry hopping. If I had left out the dry hopping I think I would have ened on the same level. It has been tappering off over the last few days and I think it has gotten a little better for it.

This is the first beer I have gotten a considerable amount of good feed back on. Normally I get comments like, "that's good man, good job." This one I have gotten things like "wow, that is really really good! Mind if I have some more?" It's wierd they ask on this one, all my other beers they just go get more haha. I guess they think I want to take it easy on this one.

 

[Token]

THe first bottle of 2 Below I tried a couple months ago was awesome!! The stuff I bought the other day is not nearly as impressive. I think the dry hopping has worn off. (??) I think it's a beer that needs to be consumed shortly after bottling to get the full, wonderful effect of the dry hops. It's still very drinkable, but I don't find myself shoving my nose repeatedly in the glass with this latest purchase. Bummer.

 

[jkarp]

Exact same experience hope2perc. I had a glass at Outback a few weeks ago and it was a completely different (and boring) beer. 2-Below has a very short shelf-life.

 

[avibayer]

After sitting in the bottle for a few weeks, i am starting to get some medicinal after taste notes. makes me kinda sad. caused by not rinsing out enough of the sanitizer?

i use plastic fermenters (buckets) and am looking forward to the day when i can upgrade to glass carboys. its just not in my wallet yet.

 

[duffman2]

I'm bringing this thread back from the grave.......Wooooooo!

Really want to brew it but was looking for y'alls thoughts and if there's any tips on this one.

I have a washed WL051 Cali Ale yeast I was looking to use. Don't know if it's the best choice or not.

Also, the New Belgium website says beer is dry hopped during fermentation. Anybody else ever do this?? And what's up with the cold conditioning bit? Necessary? No?

Thanks!

 

[ShaneKasey]

I did a 2 below clone last winter. Im not at home. But when i get
home ill look at the recipe on beer smith. I think that the california ale yeast would be a great choice of yeast. It definitely doesn't use a belgian yeast or anything like that. I know that it has liberty hops. If i would brew it again, i would change a few things. Sorry that im not more help. Ill look it up when i get home, and ill think a
bout the recipe throughout the day

 

[duffman2]

That's awesome Kasey. I've pretty much convinced myself this is the next brew for me and I have 2 days to get ready for it. So if you can throw me that ur notes tonight or whenever that'll be great. I'm also wondering about hops choices. I have fuggles, saaz, and cascades on hand (along with others that may work - hallertau, amarillo, perle......etc).

So, feel free to tell me what worked for you and what else might work for this brew.

And thanks again!

 

[jkarp]

My 2-Below clone from last year:

3.5 gal batch, 1.073 OG, 1.020-1.018 FG, 26 IBU, 16 SRM

5 lb two-row
2 lb crystal-40
1.5 lb toasted malt
1 lb munich
6 AAU Magnum @ 90 min
1.9 AAU Liberty dry
5.3 AAU Sterling dry
WLP051 or WLP001

60 min mash @ 154, ferment @ 70. Dry hop for 5 days as soon as fermentation settles down, and then lager at 30F for 2 weeks before bottling.

 

[ShaneKasey]

that recipe looks like mine did. i would not toast my own malt this time, i would just use biscuit malt, i know that's what new belgium uses, and i would do at least a pound in a half, if not a pound and 3\4. and i would also so at least a pound and a half of munich malt as well. i used a pound and a 1\4 and i still feel that i should have used more. hop schedule looks good too

 

[duffman2]

that recipe looks like mine did. i would not toast my own malt this time, i would just use biscuit malt, i know that's what new belgium uses, and i would do at least a pound in a half, if not a pound and 3\4. and i would also so at least a pound and a half of munich malt as well. i used a pound and a 1\4 and i still feel that i should have used more. hop schedule looks good too

Ok, but is this for a 3.5 gallon batch too, or for a 5.5 gallon batch?

And I'm thinking of using galena, saaz, and cascades for mine. Is the Liberty and starling a better suited combination?

 

[markg388]

I'd bet the liberty is replaceable, but the sterling is a must. its what makes the beer taste so wintery in the first place. This year I'm trying hersbrucker and sterling becuase I have a bunch of extra.

 

[drycreek]

I'm interested in brewing a 2 Below clone soon, but I do partial-mash brews. Does anyone have any advice for converting one of these AG recipes to partial-mash?

 

[duffman2]

Just got done brewing now. Looks good, smells good. Will report back with updates

Cheers

 

[Ki-ri-n]

I brewed this a week ago, just waiting on fermentation

Some questions though.

I assume you rack to a secondary, dry hop and then lager @30. You don't lager while still on the yeast & dry hops, do you?

I'm not sure if my fermentation chamber can get down to 30 for 2 weeks straight without burning the compressor out (converted dorm fridge-w/ lots of insulation & fan). I'll throw it on ice too if the ferm chamber can't get there on it's own. What will I miss out on if I can't get it down to 30?

 

[BenAthar]

I have been looking for a clone of this for a while now.
Even though it's a 3.5 gal batch, I can up it to larger batches if need be.
On the website it didn't mention about toasting, but may be interesting in how I can tweak the recipe somehow.
Will have to try the recipe and get a 6pack to compare.

 

[chapa]

I love 2 Below! The 2009 release was awesome! I just started brewing this year, so I hadn't even thought of 2 Below yet...but I really want to brew a good winter beer soon. I was thinking of Schlafly's Winter ESB clone, but I think this is it!!

For those who brewed this, is there anything you would have changed, or would suggest? I know some were talking about the shelf life on 2 Below not being so good, did you find the same for this recipe(something tells me this recipe may not last long enough to have a "shelf-life"). Any feedback would be appreciated though.

The important things I'm assuming are the Sterling hops and the Toasted/Biscuit Malt(aren't these the same thing)?

 

[markg388]

I'd say it's all pretty important, the balance on that clone recipe from the first page is pretty much dead-on. Every time I've toyed with it just wasn't as good as the original IMO. Short shelf life means it'll still be good for like 3 months, then at some point be a bit less good.

 

[jkarp]

For those having a hard time finding "toasted" malt, it's also called Victory. I brewed up the 1st batch of the season last weekend. Looking forward to getting it on tap...

 

[markg388]

I just tasted mine fully carbed for the first time and it isn't as good as last year's. I wanted it darker and a bit sweeter, so I added a little carafa and reduced the bittering hops a touch, but i still don't think it's as good as the original. It has only been in the bottle 8 days though, maybe I just need to be more patient. For what it's worth, I've brewed some sort of 2-below based beer 4 times now and this is the recipe that came out the best for me:

9.5# 2-row
2.25# crystal 40L
1.25# dark munich
.5# victory malt

.95oz Magnum 14.4% - 75 minutes

1oz Sterling
1oz Liberty - Dry hopped 4 days, fermented with wyeast scottish ale.

 

[permo]

I love this beer too! I have no doubt that the grain bill is very similar to their fat tire grain bill with kicked up base malt, sterling, liberty hops and lagering. I have a dead on fat tire clone. The biscuity, toasty flavor could be a result of a minimal amount of chocolate or pale chocolate in the grist. Ferment cool with clean ale yeast, pacman at 60 would be perfect! I would shoot for 1.070 all malt and something like this:

13 pound two row
1 pound dark munich
1/2 pound munich
2/3 pound C20
2/3 pound C40
1/2 pound victory
3 ounces pale chocolate malt
.70 oz magnum at 60
1 oz sterling at 5
1 oz liberty at KO
Mash at 152

OG = 1.065 to 1.070
FG = 1.012 - 1.015

3 week primary ferment at 60
lager it as long as you can

 

[chapa]

Awesome! I love Fat Tire and 2 Below! Thanks for the info, sounds like the original recipe is solid. I'll go with that...and will have to try that Fat Tire clone soon as well. Thanks!

 

[mackerman]

I'm a newbie home-brewer (on the 3rd batch) and would really appreciate if someone can assist in helping me convert this recipe (the one from rock hoppers brew club) to an extract recipe.

I'd really like to get this going soon in time to drink around the holidays.

 

[jakead]

Mackerman,

If I've have it calculated right and extract/steeping version would be as follows;

8.5 pounds Light DME
2.25 pounds Crystal 40L
1.25 pounds Dark Munich
.5 pounds Victory or toasted malt

1 oz Magnum (60 Min)
1 oz Sterling (Dry Hop)
1 oz Liberty ( Dry Hop)

Steep grains at 156 for 30 mins, bring to boil, and continue with hop schedule. Add DME at flameout.

 

[jakead]

Scratch that, 5.7 lbs of light DME