Firestone Walker Easy Jack

[HOPtuary]

Looks like im going to have to do multiple version of this beer to see how each one differs. Im up for the challenge cuz i love this beer that much and its summer time which means consumption will be up haha

 

[Holter]

Sounds like a plan with the Pacifica. Ive never used it, but Ill toss out the Nelson for it.

I also agree about the high % of specialty malts. I was too focused on the hops. How does this sound to everyone?

Pale Malt - 80% (base malt)
Munich - 10% (essentially a base malt)
Carapils - 5%
Oats - 2%
Wheat - 1.5%
C-30 - 1.5%

Firestone uses 5% Carapils in Union Jack, Double Jack and Pale 31 - so that seems like a safe %. For munich across the same beers they use 7% - 15% so I chose 10% as a middle ground. I also wanted the base malt to be around 80% to go along with the %'s for the same three beers which left 5% for the oats, wheat and C-30. Union Jack uses around 1.3% caramalt, so i went with 1.5%. It was a gut decision for 2% for Oats, 1.5% for the wheat. That gives us 90% base malt (including the munich) and 10% specialty.

So the adjusted recipe would read:

Easy Jack Clone
Boil Size: 9.24 gal
Post Boil Volume: 6.24 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 4.25 gal
Estimated OG: 1.044 SG
Estimated Color: 4.3 SRM
Estimated IBU: 51.4 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 86.4 %
Boil Time: 90 Minutes

Mash (60 minute rest @ 145F, 10 minute rest @ 155F, Mash out @ 168F)

Fermentables
Pale Malt - 80%
Munich - 10%
Carapils - 5%
Oats - 2%
Wheat - 1.5%
C-30 - 1.5%

Boil (90 Minutes)

Boil Hops
0.50 oz Hallertau [4.50 %] - Boil 30.0 min
0.50 oz Mandarina Bavaria [8.50 %] - Boil 30.0 min
0.50 oz Pacifica [10.0%] - Boil 30.0 min

Whirlpool (30 Minutes Hot)

Whirlpool Hops
0.50 oz Hallertau [4.50 %] - Steep/Whirlpool
0.50 oz Mandarina Bavaria [8.50 %] - Steep/Whirlpool
0.25 oz Mosaic (HBC 369) [12.25 %] - Steep/Whirlpool
0.25 oz Pacifica [10.0%] - Steep/Whirlpool

Fermentation - WLP-002 @ 63F.

Dry Hop #1
0.50 oz Hallertau [4.50 %] - Dry Hop Addition #1 for 7.0 Days
0.50 oz Mandarina Bavaria [8.50 %] - Dry Hop Addition #1 for 7.0 Days
0.50 oz Mosaic (HBC 369) [12.25 %] - Dry Hop Addition #1 for 7.0 Days
0.50 oz Pacifica [10.0%] - Dry Hop Addition #1 for 7.0 Days

Dry Hop #2
0.50 oz Hallertau [4.50 %] - Dry Hop Addition #2 for 3.0 Days
0.50 oz Mandarina Bavaria [8.50 %] - Dry Hop Addition #2 for 3.0 Days
0.50 oz Mosaic (HBC 369) [12.25 %] - Dry Hop Addition #2 for 3.0 Days
0.50 oz Pacifica [10.0%] - Dry Hop Addition #2 for 3.0 Days

 

[Weezy]

I brew a fair number of 1.035-1.045 beers of all sorts. It's where I like to be. Layering multiple body malts and grains is Small Beer 101. It'll net you complexity and body and mouth feel without muddying the flavor. 1-1.5% is just not enough to be meaningful.

Your mash temp seems low too, but it is dependent on your system. You could use the higher special grain % and the low mash temp. Or lower % malts and higher mash temp. These small beers can be more sensitive than the typical 5.5-6.5% abv range.

Anyway, it'll be great man! it's going to be quite tasty and I don't want to groan on about little details.

 

[HOPtuary]

Ive been looking around at Pacifica and no one says the AA is anywhere near 10%. im seeing a 5-7%AA rating and its described as an aroma. Do you still think this should be used? If so ill bump it up to get the needed IBU.

 

[HOPtuary]

So i brewed this yesterday and had a good day. Hit OG. Only tweak to the the recipe was my LHBS didnt have any Pacifica so i removed it from the recipe. Also, I ended up using London ESB I yeast not London II. So I am planning on adding the first dry hp to the fermenter during active fermentation in the next few days and then transfering to a fresh vessel and doing the second dry hop. Hopefully ill be drinking this within a 2 weeks.

 

[Holter]

Awesome, glad you brewed it. The Pacifica % was just a made up number since I have never used it either.

 

[Calichusetts]

Pacific was 5.5 the first time I used it and 5% the second. Got it from midwest supplies. Many online places carry it

 

[Sezwhut]

Wanger99 how did your Easy jack clone turn out? I see you did a brew on 5/26...Just curious on how yours compared? Thanks

 

[HOPtuary]

Wanger99 how did your Easy jack clone turn out? I see you did a brew on 5/26...Just curious on how yours compared? Thanks

It turned out OK. The color, ABV and IBUs are right on. The flavor and aroma hop schedules need some work tho. Needs more of a piney flavor and the aroma isnt as strong as the real EJ. Im pretty busy with things and dont know when Ill be able to brew next but when I do ill post back the revisions. In the meantime, im open to suggestions if anyone else has made this or want to make it.

 

[Holter]

I just listened to the Firestone Walker Holiday show on the brewing network where Matt talks about Mandarin Bavarian being the dominant hop in this beer - I also purchased a bit of it and through it in an extra 2.5 gallons I had on a recent brew day. It is remarkably similar to the aroma of Easy Jack, so I suspect you would need to adjust the hopping amounts so that the mandarin hop is more dominant. At some point I hope to have the time to do this myself.

 

[Sezwhut]

Any updates on easy jack recipies?...I really like this beer good for the hot texas summer!!...Thanks

 

[HOPtuary]

I've been too busy to brew anything for the past few months. Sorry

 

[mhot55]

I gave it a shot. Wouldn't call it a clone- but inspired by easy jack (didn't exactly have all hops):

Batch size: 5.5 gallons
OG: 1.045
Efficiency: 72%

8 lbs pale malt (2-row). 82%
10 oz Munich malt 6%
6 oz c40L. 4+%
5 oz carapils. 3+%
5 oz wheat. 3+%
4 oz flaked oats. 1+%

WY1098 (British ale)

Hops: ALL AFTER BOIL

Motueka- .2 oz flameout
Citra- .125 oz at flameout
.125 oz whirlpool (170-180* for 10-15 min)
.25 oz whirlpool(155-170* for 10-15 min)
Mosaic- .25 oz flameout
.5 (170-180*)
.25 oz (155-170*)
Mandarina Bavaria- .5 oz (170-180*)
.5 oz (155-170*)
El dorado- same as Citra

Beersmith calculated roughly low-mid 40's IBUs

Smelled great. Chugging along good after 1 day

Plan on dry hopping with .5-1 oz mandarina Bavaria, maybe even touch of Citra and or el dorado

 

[HOPtuary]

I gave it a shot. Wouldn't call it a clone- but inspired by easy jack (didn't exactly have all hops):

Batch size: 5.5 gallons
OG: 1.045
Efficiency: 72%

8 lbs pale malt (2-row). 82%
10 oz Munich malt 6%
6 oz c40L. 4+%
5 oz carapils. 3+%
5 oz wheat. 3+%
4 oz flaked oats. 1+%

WY1098 (British ale)

Hops: ALL AFTER BOIL

Motueka- .2 oz flameout
Citra- .125 oz at flameout
.125 oz whirlpool (170-180* for 10-15 min)
.25 oz whirlpool(155-170* for 10-15 min)
Mosaic- .25 oz flameout
.5 (170-180*)
.25 oz (155-170*)
Mandarina Bavaria- .5 oz (170-180*)
.5 oz (155-170*)
El dorado- same as Citra

Beersmith calculated roughly low-mid 40's IBUs

Smelled great. Chugging along good after 1 day

Plan on dry hopping with .5-1 oz mandarina Bavaria, maybe even touch of Citra and or el dorado

Great to see you make up a batch. Im hoping to take another stab at it within the next month. Havent been able to brew since the beginning of summer. Post back when you get to taste some.

 

[mhot55]

Been drinking this for 2 weeks now. Came out really good (haven't done side by side comparison yet). It's amazing how the malt still comes through the strong hop flavor and aroma. I suppose because the bitterness is so clean and not abrasive with the 100% post boil hop addition. If I were to be hyper-critical, I probably would've changed 1 thing- I would put a small 60 minute addition of a neutral clean hop in order to get 10-15 IBUs. However that was a strong thought I had at first and as I've been drinking it, not quite sure.
This beer is extremely smooth and quaffable with tons of hop character without the bitterness. You expect that tongue scraping bitterness at the back end but it never comes. Very fruity, citrus, tropical smell and taste. Yeast throws some nice English accents. And lastly the malt- expecting to be overpowered, still comes through nicely with a clean sweetness, but remains crisp and not cloying. I love the fact that a made a pseudo-IPA and can drink more than 3 and not get sh*t faced! AND IT TASTES AWESOME!

 

[mhot55]

I played with the carbonation on this a little (I keg). I shot the co2 a little higher than normal- maybe 2.6-2.7 instead of 2.5. the carbonic bite helped a little for that lack of bitterness bite- but still this beer came out really good

 

[cuda6pak]

Anybody nail this down yet? Session IPA season is coming.

 

[HOPtuary]

I have not. Need to work on it again.

 

[sathrovarr]

Any updates?
My LHBS got some Mandarina Bavaria and Heull Melon and I would really like to clone Easy Jack...

 

[HOPtuary]

I'm in the process of switching my system to electric so I'm hoping to work on the recipe next month.

 

[sathrovarr]

Good luck with your system

 

[HOPtuary]

Feel free to search the ingredients in their site. I think they hop burst. Help is always welcomed

 

[thomas2357]

Great thread and I wanted to make a run at this recipe based on what others have tried to date. Any thoughts on the recipe below:

Batch size: 5.5 gallons
OG: 1.045
Efficiency: 72%

8 lbs pale malt (2-row). 82%
10 oz Munich malt 6%
6 oz c30L. 4+%
5 oz carapils. 3+%
5 oz malted wheat. 3+%
4 oz flaked oats. 1+%

WY1098 (British ale)

Hops:
30 Min
0.50 oz Hull Melon [7.0 %] - Boil 30.0 min
0.50 oz Mandarina Bavaria [8.50 %] - Boil 30.0 min
0.50 oz Pacifica(aka Pacific Hallertau) [5.5%] - Boil 30.0 min
Flameout
0.25 oz Hull Melon[7.0 %] - Steep/Whirlpool
0.25 oz Mosaic (HBC 369) [12.25 %] - Steep/Whirlpool
0.25 oz Pacifica [5.5%] - Steep/Whirlpool
Whirlpool 170-180
0.25 oz Hull Melon[7.0 %] - Steep/Whirlpool
0.50 oz Mandarina Bavaria [8.50 %] - Steep/Whirlpool
0.50 oz Mosaic (HBC 369) [12.25 %] - Steep/Whirlpool

Whirlpool 155-170
0.50 oz Hull Melon[7.0 %] - Steep/Whirlpool
0.50 oz Mandarina Bavaria [8.50 %] - Steep/Whirlpool
0.25 oz Mosaic (HBC 369) [12.25 %] - Steep/Whirlpool
Dry Hop
0.50 oz Hull Melon[7.0 %] - Dry Hop Addition for 7.0 Days
0.50 oz Mandarina Bavaria [8.50 %] - Dry Hop Addition for 7.0 Days
0.50 oz Mosaic (HBC 369) [12.25 %] - Dry Hop Addition for 7.0 Days
0.50 oz Pacifica [5.5%] - Dry Hop Addition for 7.0 Days

Also any good tips on Whirlpooling, I've never done it before. So I chill my wort to 180 and add that first batch of whirlpool hops. Then once it gets below 170 add the second. Once the wort gets below 155, turn on the chiller?

 

[HOPtuary]

Im going to give this another shot either this weekend or next. Anyone done any attempts lately? I will be tweeking things and ill post my recipe once I get things where i want.

 

[thomas2357]

Im going to give this another shot either this weekend or next. Anyone done any attempts lately? I will be tweeking things and ill post my recipe once I get things where i want.

I brewed the above recipe last Friday. Hit all the numbers and the brew went great. I actually made a 10g batch and split it into 2 fermenters and used English yeast in one and CA ale yeast in the other.

 

[thomas2357]

I brewed the above recipe last Friday. Hit all the numbers and the brew went great. I actually made a 10g batch and split it into 2 fermenters and used English yeast in one and CA ale yeast in the other.

 

[HOPtuary]

How'd color and stuff turn out?

 

[thomas2357]

How'd color and stuff turn out?

I thought the color looked dead on. Their ingredients called for 35L and I could only find 30 and 40. So I used an equal amount of both. Think I should rack it to secondary before dry hopping?

 

[HOPtuary]

I usually don't secondary unless I want to harvest yeast.

 

[MtnSoul]

How'd the English vs the California yeast compare?