Can You Brew It recipe for Oskar Blue's Gordon

[rockfish42]

If I wanted to brew a 1g batch of this, what should I do about the chocolate malt? I don't have any on hand and wouldn't want to buy 1lb if i'm only using 1/5 of 2.5grams. Also, is there an alternative to the Carastan malt? My LHBS does not carry this and I wouldn't want to do an online order just to get it.

Crystal 40 will get you close to the carastan, just skip the chocolate malt at that rate it's mostly for color.

 

[ne0t0ky0]

Got some cans, canned on 2011-10-14

I can tell I'm short on gravity. I've got too much color. Aroma is much stronger in the homebrew. A bit too much bittering, though with some age, that'll fade and the malt will come out more.

Still, very very tasty. On my system I'd mash a touch higher to get a bit more sweetness.

 

[BlakeL]

Would 1 pack of US-05 be good for 1g batch of this?

 

[ne0t0ky0]

Would 1 pack of US-05 be good for 1g batch of this?

Probably overkill for just 1 gallon. I haven't used dry yeast before but I usually see pitching rates like 1 pack per 5 gallons at 1.040. I think the yeast calc tools on mrmalty.com cover dry yeast as well so you can plug your batch size, and OG to see how much you need.

 

[BlakeL]

Thanks for that link. Looks like i'll only need about 1/3 of a packet. Can I just put the rest in a sealed bag and put it in the fridge?

 

[ne0t0ky0]

Thanks for that link. Looks like i'll only need about 1/3 of a packet. Can I just put the rest in a sealed bag and put it in the fridge?

AFAIK dry yeast doesn't go bad if stored dry. I was just reading that folks do exacty what you are suggesting.

 

[louisadambriggs]

I travel a lot and am trying to plan out my next few brews around my travel schedule. I love Gordon/G'Knight and want to do this one. How much time should I plan on for primary and secondary fermentation using this recipe?

 

[Hethen57]

Mine came out awesome...as good as, or better. I rarely compare my brews with the cloned beer head to head if I am satisfied and I was. I did the typical 1 primary -2 secondary (I just kept in fermenter and cold crashed) -3 keg conditioning and it tasted great..it was even good at week 5.

 

[Haputanlas]

AFAIK dry yeast doesn't go bad if stored dry. I was just reading that folks do exacty what you are suggesting.

I've done this a bunch of times with S-05. I've had certain opened packets stored for 6+ months and re-used without issue.

 

[two_hearted]

So I poured Oscar Blues beer last weekend with OB staff. I talked their ear off about all of their beers and learned that this beer no longer has columbus in it. he claimed it was all amarillo. Not sure if that includes the bittering addition. The guy was a reliable source and is fairly high up in the company. He was very knowledgeable about all of their beers and what hops go in it. He also is in charge of their hop farm.

 

[Haputanlas]

So I poured Oscar Blues beer last weekend with OB staff. I talked their ear off about all of their beers and learned that this beer no longer has columbus in it. he claimed it was all amarillo. Not sure if that includes the bittering addition. The guy was a reliable source and is fairly high up in the company. He was very knowledgeable about all of their beers and what hops go in it. He also is in charge of their hop farm.

Hmm... Columbus is very unique and this beer uses a lot of it. Every batch I've brewed of this turned out to be extremely close to the original Gordan/G'Knight beer. Gonna keep using Columbus, but might try a small batch with Amarillo in place.

Amarillo imparts a much different character when used as a late addition, but still would be appropriate for a beer like this.

I would never change the Amarillo dry hops though. Very much one of the reasons this beer is so good.

 

[edecambra]

I agree with the above post, this was one of the best beers I brewed this year and it used a bunch of Columbus and was very close. Use the hops you have though, I'm sure if you follow the base grist and change to appropriate hops the recipe will still be great.

 

[two_hearted]

I argued with the guy a little bit because I've made this clone recipe before. He said "Well I guess the old version of Gordon used some columbus" I remember thinking it was werid because there is a LOT of columbus in there.

 

[Haputanlas]

Just bought 3 lbs of Columbus specifically for this brew (Future brews). Couldn't be happier with how the past 3 batches have turned out.

 

[ralphus]

I brewed this in September.. it took a good two months before it was ready to drink because it was fairly hot when it was fresh.. however it turned out really well. Hell of a beer and pretty damn close to the original.

 

[wranglerx16]

i've been reading a few threads and started putting this together in BS. my abv is low and i couldn't find some grains so i moved what i thought might be correct around. any suggestions? Type: Extract Date: 5/20/2013
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.50 gal Brewer: Ryan Olsen
Boil Size: 5.23 gal Asst Brewer:
Boil Time: 80 min Equipment: Ryan Equipment
End of Boil Volume 3.90 gal Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Final Bottling Volume: 5.00 gal Est Mash Efficiency 0.0 %
Fermentation: Ale, Two Stage Taste Rating(out of 50): 30.0
Taste Notes:
Ingredients


Ingredients
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
5.50 gal Chicago, IL Water 1 -
14.4 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 2 7.6 %
11.2 oz Caramel Malt - 35L 6-Row (Briess) (35.0 SRM) Grain 3 5.9 %
11.2 oz Munich Malt (9.0 SRM) Grain 4 5.9 %
0.1 oz Chocolate Malt (350.0 SRM) Grain 5 0.0 %
9 lbs 8.3 oz Pale Liquid Extract (8.0 SRM) Extract 6 80.5 %
0.75 oz Northern Brewer [8.50 %] - Boil 80.0 min Hop 7 17.2 IBUs
4.00 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 8 51.8 IBUs
1.0 pkg American Ale (Wyeast Labs #1056) [124.21 ml] Yeast 9 -
2.15 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] - Dry Hop 5.0 Days Hop 10 0.0 IBUs

Beer Profile

Est Original Gravity: 1.064 SG Measured Original Gravity: 1.046 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.015 SG Measured Final Gravity: 1.010 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 6.4 % Actual Alcohol by Vol: 4.7 %
Bitterness: 68.9 IBUs Calories: 151.6 kcal/12oz
Est Color: 13.2 SRM

 

[TheHairyHop]

I made this about a month ago and just got done with the DH. I think it's close, but I don't get much of the sticky sweetness that the true OB beer does. Anyone else get this?

 

[rynoryan]

I made this about a month ago and just got done with the DH. I think it's close, but I don't get much of the sticky sweetness that the true OB beer does. Anyone else get this?

I love this beer and want to brew it badly. Did you follow original recipe at beginning of thread or modify? How has it come along with age? I'm asking you because you've brewed it recently. I'm taking in all advice on this. G'knight probably my favorite. Thanks in advance.

 

[TheHairyHop]

I brewed using the first page recipe. It was sitting in a carboy or a keg for about 30 days before serving. Crushed it in a night with a bunch of buddies. I think it needs different yeast to attenuate a little less.

 

[rynoryan]

I brewed using the first page recipe. It was sitting in a carboy or a keg for about 30 days before serving. Crushed it in a night with a bunch of buddies. I think it needs different yeast to attenuate a little less.

So would you brew it again? I'm guessing you didn't get the " thickness " of the original?

 

[TheHairyHop]

I would brew it again, absolutely. My buddies may have been a bit tipsy, but they wouldn't shut up about how good it was . I'm going to use a different yeast next time, though. I've heard rumors that OB does do odd things with their yeast.

 

[rynoryan]

I'm brewing the original recipe this weekend with a little less chocolate malt to get color right. Anyone have advice? I'm doing a partial. Been wanting to do this one for a while. Probably my favorite beer.

 

[hogwash]

I just brewed this today with Apollo hops for bittering and I bumped them up to 33 IBUs to hopefully get a firmer bitterness. Everything went well, hit 1.078 for my OG. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out!

 

[TheHairyHop]

let us know how it goes

 

[rynoryan]

Mine is going on three weeks in the bottles now. I tried one at two weeks and it seemed to taste like a basic ipa to me. What I mean by that is I didn't get that thick sweet aftertaste I was really wanting. Going to try another this weekend and see how they taste.

 

[TheHairyHop]

Mine is going on three weeks in the bottles now. I tried one at two weeks and it seemed to taste like a basic ipa to me. What I mean by that is I didn't get that thick sweet aftertaste I was really wanting. Going to try another this weekend and see how they taste.

I had the exact same issue. I don't know what the deal is. I think I'm going to add more caramel malt next time or add lactose

 

[rynoryan]

Yeah I think I see where your going with the lactose. I listened to the interview of their head brewer. I think he left something out for sure. It's def lacking the thickness and maltiness of the original.

 

[TheHairyHop]

Unfortunately I've never used lactose and have no feeling for how much will give the desired effect

 

[rynoryan]

Unfortunately I've never used lactose and have no feeling for how much will give the desired effect

I'm an intermediate brewer at best but I agree there is something this recipe needs to sweeten and thicken it up. What would oatmeal do to it? From what little I understand it would give it more body, but that would still leave the sweet side of the beer.

 

[TheHairyHop]

Oatmeal isn't the ticket I don't think. It just makes a beer feel heavy and smooth. With all the sticky sweetness, g'knight is still not heavy