Just opened my bm clone as per waynes posted recipe and i must say im very happy with the results. I dont have one for a side by side comparison but from memory it is pretty spot on . Its very fresh and tasty. May or may not get better with a little time if it lasts long enough. [emoji481]
Blue Moon Clone
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Baldwinbrewery
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I'm looking at getting into home brewing and want to start with a Blue Moon clone to get my wife onboard with what will likely become my new obsession.
My problem following this thread is that I'm a complete Newb, I found the recipe off the google drive link, but I didn't see the setup/directions (for the process) can anyone point me in the right direction??
My problem following this thread is that I'm a complete Newb, I found the recipe off the google drive link, but I didn't see the setup/directions (for the process) can anyone point me in the right direction??
TasunkaWitko
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Hi, BB -
You've come to the right thread. The author of this clone was one of the people who originally developed Blue Moon. I've got the ingredients to make it, but have a couple of other beers to brew before I get started.
In order to answer your questions, the folks here will need a little more information. What size batch do you plan on brewing, and what equipment do you have?
You've come to the right thread. The author of this clone was one of the people who originally developed Blue Moon. I've got the ingredients to make it, but have a couple of other beers to brew before I get started.
In order to answer your questions, the folks here will need a little more information. What size batch do you plan on brewing, and what equipment do you have?
Baldwinbrewery
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I'm looking to brew 5 gallons of as close to blue moons I can make at home. I've got two 5 gallon glass carboys, a 5 gallon standard home brew kit plastic fermenting bucket and a 5 gallon bucket with spigot, siphon, 7 gallon stainless steel pot, propane burner, airlock etc. I make wine at home, but I'm new to beer and I drink beer more than I do wine; mostly because making beer at home is awesome and I want to learn!
TasunkaWitko
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I currently only brew 1-gallon batches, but it looks to me as though you're set up pretty well.
For your grains, you need a ratio of 50% American Pale 2-Row (5 pounds for 5 gallons), 40% American White Wheat (4 pounds for 5 gallons) and 10% Flaked Oats (1 pound for 5 gallons). You want to use American grains, not Belgian. For hops, you need Hallertau Mittelfruh.
Two key ingredients that you will need are Valencia orange peel (from McCormick) and ground coriander (the freshest possible); these are what give Blue Moon its distinctive character.
Those who brew 5-gallon batches are probably better qualified to provide the amounts/times for the hops, orange peel and coriander; but if no one provides them, I'll look through my notes and attempt some math.
The yeast you want to use is Safale S-05.
Hope this helps!
Ron
For your grains, you need a ratio of 50% American Pale 2-Row (5 pounds for 5 gallons), 40% American White Wheat (4 pounds for 5 gallons) and 10% Flaked Oats (1 pound for 5 gallons). You want to use American grains, not Belgian. For hops, you need Hallertau Mittelfruh.
Two key ingredients that you will need are Valencia orange peel (from McCormick) and ground coriander (the freshest possible); these are what give Blue Moon its distinctive character.
Those who brew 5-gallon batches are probably better qualified to provide the amounts/times for the hops, orange peel and coriander; but if no one provides them, I'll look through my notes and attempt some math.
The yeast you want to use is Safale S-05.
Hope this helps!
Ron
Everything you need to know about the ingredients is on this thread, it will be as good if not better. For brewing instructions check out YouTube vids on basics, mash temps, time 60 min boil, cool wart to at least 70 degrees then pitch yeast. It's a pretty straight forward recipe.
![Craft A Brew - Safale BE-256 Yeast - Fermentis - Belgian Ale Dry Yeast - For Belgian & Strong Ales - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [3 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51bcKEwQmWL._SL500_.jpg)
Morrey
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Did you do a 5G batch? I'll assume so if you kegged in a 5G keg. But, maybe not....... Regardless, I think I'd cut back on the coriander with a light flavor like you are creating with this clone.
The coriander flavor may round out some as the beer mellows with time under refrigeration. I typically see dominate flavors become more subtle with lager conditioning. I use coriander and salt in Gose sours, but have started using Grains of Paradise in lieu of coriander in Witbiers. A professional brewer suggested I try GOP which I did, and I have not used coriander in a Wit since then.
It should mellow somewhat with time, but ideally you should start low and increase amount over few batches. Also, how you use the coriander plays a major role on how much flavor it will impart. For instance, I used 0.375oz cracked in a ziplock bag and it turned good for my taste. 1oz crushed on a spice grinder (assuming this what you did) would add much more flavor.
Funkychef
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Just mashing a half batch of this now. Never had a blue moon but love wheat beers with coriander and orange in it so thought I should give it a go!
TasunkaWitko
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I am (finally) brewing this tonight or tomorrow, depending on how things go. As stated before, this will be a 1-gallon batch, scaled according to Wayne's original recipe. I'm calling it Blauer Mond, a nod to my German roots.
Several have mentioned that it is good to use rice hulls in order to help with the sparge, so I will be trying this. I have never used rice hills before, but I can't see any down-side.
When I have time, I'll start a new thread as a sort of "brew diary" of the experience. I'll post a link to it here, for anyone who might be interested.
Several have mentioned that it is good to use rice hulls in order to help with the sparge, so I will be trying this. I have never used rice hills before, but I can't see any down-side.
When I have time, I'll start a new thread as a sort of "brew diary" of the experience. I'll post a link to it here, for anyone who might be interested.
tzaccario
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@TasunkaWitko Well how did it go?
TasunkaWitko
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@tzaccario - Hey, thanks for reminding me. I was going to post a cross-link, for reference, but I forgot to do so. Here is the link to my experience with this, so far:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=596935
The brew went well, from everything that I can see. I am going to put it in the refrigerator in order to cold crash tonight, and plan to bottle it on Monday - or perhaps a day or so after that.
tzaccario
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Sippingainteasy
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Is this ready as soon as it's done fermenting like a hefe or does it need to age a little.
TasunkaWitko
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...and, here are the results, starting with a photo from 11 March 2017:
One thing to note - because of the very-much extended cold-crashing time (it was actually FROZEN for about 3 weeks, as well), this came out clearer than I think it is probably meant to be. Because of that, I think that the look is not quite what it "should" be, but it is still a beautiful beer as far as I am concerned.
I compared this side-by-side to the current Blue Moon, as well as to Beltian White, from Harvest Moon Brewing Company in Belt Montana. I found it to be better - in my opinion - than the current Blue Moon, and at least as good - in my opinion - as Beltian White.
Over-all, the Beltian White edged out the Blauer Mond as the winner, because a couple of mistakes I made resulted in a lesser-quality colour and head; but other than that, I think that I did a very good job with this, and I will absolutely be making this again, looking for improvement in my methods to result in a winner.
Made this using the ratios Wayne1 gave...and I have to say...it turned out BETTER than any Blue Moon I've ever had.
Wife and I are already talking about remaking it and changing nothing. Very balanced...neither the corriander or orange stands out over the other.
We really like it.
Wife and I are already talking about remaking it and changing nothing. Very balanced...neither the corriander or orange stands out over the other.
We really like it.
TasunkaWitko
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My experience was exactly the same, as far as flavor goes. Outstanding!
frozengator
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Well Wayne I tried your recipe that was about half way through this thread. I has to use Briess pale and white, that is what local store. At first I was unsure about the color of the beer. But after I added hops, peel, and coriander it looked better. I made a couple Gumball heads before this and the color is so much different. That's why I was unsure. Thank you for the recipe.
Most people add it at boil but a lot of the orange oils boil off and then get blown off during primary. This is why you see the orange peel amount keeps increasing. It did a spring beer a few months back and steeped orange peel then added it to the secondary. This provided the most orange flavor and scent I've ever had. I got Nilos #8 recipe in the primary right now and this weekend im going to add an orange and corriander tea. Ill report back but that has been the best way i have found and ive tried almost every way to get oranges in my beers
TasunkaWitko
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If you want the original Blue Moon (which is slightly different - and in my opinion much better than - the current Blue Moon), then add it when Wayne1 says to add it; I believe it is at 5 minutes, but check his posts on the matter.
Per his advice, I used ground coriander and ground Valencia orange peel; both are from McCormick and should be easy to find at a grocery or Pick-A-Mart. The Valencia orange peel is key to this, as it has a unique flavor and aroma, in my opinion.
My advice is to not mess with it and try not to get fancy, at least the first time. If you follow his instructions, chances are that you won't see any need to mess with it or get fancy the second time. I trusted his method, and was rewarded with one of the best-tasting beers I've ever brewed. The orange and the coriander both came out just fine, and the characteristics of each blended very well together.
I'd echo Tasunka. When we were measuring out the orange peel and coriander, my wife and I were pretty skeptical that it would be enough for a 5 gal batch. But...we agreed to just go with the recipe. We put the coriander in the boil for the last 10 min. Orange the last 5.
So glad we stuck with it because, like I said, it turned out fantastic.
Matter of fact, just finished zesting up some valencia orange...we're making that exact recipe again.
So glad we stuck with it because, like I said, it turned out fantastic.
Matter of fact, just finished zesting up some valencia orange...we're making that exact recipe again.
frozengator
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10 and 5 of boil
Tasunka and Nelrock, Thank you for your kind comments.
As I have said before, the original recipe is scaled down from a 500 gallon batch. Depending on you own system, this may be right for you or you may have to adjust a bit, but brew it the way I wrote it first just to get a reference.
I have been back brewing professionally at Station 26 Brewing in Denver for the last 3 1/2 years. I have not made a Blue Moon but I have used the basic recipe I have posted here to create some variants. The most recent one was a White IPA. I turned up the grain bill to hit 6.5% ABV. I used fresh ground coriander at the same amount in the Blue Moon recipe. I used some Mandarin orange puree in secondary. During conditioning, I could really taste the pith of the orange. This did eventually get blended in with the dry hops.
Just another toy to play with.
Good luck with all your brewing endeavors.
As I have said before, the original recipe is scaled down from a 500 gallon batch. Depending on you own system, this may be right for you or you may have to adjust a bit, but brew it the way I wrote it first just to get a reference.
I have been back brewing professionally at Station 26 Brewing in Denver for the last 3 1/2 years. I have not made a Blue Moon but I have used the basic recipe I have posted here to create some variants. The most recent one was a White IPA. I turned up the grain bill to hit 6.5% ABV. I used fresh ground coriander at the same amount in the Blue Moon recipe. I used some Mandarin orange puree in secondary. During conditioning, I could really taste the pith of the orange. This did eventually get blended in with the dry hops.
Just another toy to play with.
Good luck with all your brewing endeavors.
Hi Wayne, The first beer I wanted to brew was Blue Moon and you helped me and everyone in this thread fulfill that desire.
When I was in Denver last December on vacation I stopped by to say hi at Station 26 and wouldn't you know it you were having a Christmas party that day and the brewery was closed. We ended up going down the street to the Black Shirt Brewery which was awesome.
Good luck with the Brewery!
BeerBaronBob
For those that did recipes with corn starch, did you just use the regular off the shelf stuff? I tried using what my wife had in our pantry and it didn't want to dissolve. It seemed to turn to gelatin and I believe it to be responsible for some scorching which ruined my batch.
Thoughts?
I'm going to try to repeat it without the corn starch and see what I get.
Thoughts?
I'm going to try to repeat it without the corn starch and see what I get.
botigol
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You don't want corn starch; it is designed to thicken liquids. Corn sugar is what you would want to use to bump abv and/or lighten body. I haven't looked for it other than at my LHBS, but I don't think that it is normally available in supermarkets.
No you want corn starch to thicken the beer for mouth feel. Never put corn startch in hot liquid iy clumps like no other. Always dissolve it first in a small amount of cold water then add that to your boil
botigol
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Sorry, I had never heard of doing this and somehow missed when it was brought up a few pages back.
