Grolsch Ingredients?

[Canuck137]

Can anyone recommend me some ingredients for a Grolsch clone? I am currently still a noob and have graduated to "kicking up" regular kits. So far I have been pleasantly surprised with the decent results and am hooked on brewing.

Now, I'm not naive enough to think I'm going to get a "bang on" clone... just something similar in terms of:

A. Type of Hopps?
B. Type of yeast?
C. Type of DME?
D. Kit to actually "kick up"
E. Specialty grain at all?

I have my theory in some of the ingredients I should go with but thought I should get some expert opinion hahah. Cheers!

 

[kombat]

A fellow Ottawan!

I don't want to discourage you, but if you're a newbie, then I'd suggest you start with some more forgiving beers for a while, before attempting something that requires much finer technical control of your process. Grolsch is a lager, which means right out of the gate, you're going to need some form of precise fermentation temperature control. Secondly, it's an exceptionally clean beer, meaning you're going to have to be perfect, since any off-flavours will have nowhere to hide and will be readily apparent. You're going to need a way to build up a large quantity of yeast (stir plate, Erlenmeyer flask) and aerate your wort thoroughly. Splashing won't cut it for a lager.

All that said, some quick Googling indicates that Grolsch is a pale lager, brewed with "two row European Spring Barley" (whatever that is), Hallertau hops, proprietary yeast and treated well water.

But seriously, join the MoB mailing list (Members of Barleyment, the local home brewing club) and cut your teeth on some ales first. And get a fermentation chamber.

 

[burninator]

What's "kick up"?

 

[kombat]

He means he's looking for a good starter kit to use as a launching point, then modify the recipe to make it more like a Grolsch.

 

[DromJohn]

Maltose Express [Tess Szamatulski, Mark Szamatulski] has a Grolsch kit from their "Clone Brews." I'm getting home late tonight after a Buckwheat Zydeco concert.

Austin Homebrew Supply also has a Grolsch kit.

DME = Pilsner
Yeast = AHS uses WLP800 Pilsner Lager with Wyeast 2042 Danish Lager as an alternative. Maltose has a bias toward Wyeast.

My first brew was a lager. Lagers are not anywhere as difficult as some on this forum think.
RDWAHAHBGrolsch.

 

[giraffe]

Id opt for the danish strain. Ferment around 48 if at all possible.

The hops id guess are hersbrucker and maybe saaz. Its been awhile since ive had it.

All pils dme is probably best. You may use like 5-10% munich to get the golden color, but that is tough with extract, and extract beers tend to come out darker anyway.

 

[Canuck137]

He means he's looking for a good starter kit to use as a launching point, then modify the recipe to make it more like a Grolsch.

Yes that is exactly what I mean... I have had some success with some IPA kits and some Wheat beer kits... adding extra hopps, coriander, different yeast, DME ect... Now wanted to take a stab at essentially a European Lager...

I like IPA, Wheat beers and European Lagers...

Funny, I actually thought the European styled lager beer would be the easiest of the three.

I will use the Pilsner DME for sure then.

 

[Canuck137]

Maltose Express [Tess Szamatulski, Mark Szamatulski] has a Grolsch kit from their "Clone Brews." I'm getting home late tonight after a Buckwheat Zydeco concert.

Austin Homebrew Supply also has a Grolsch kit.

DME = Pilsner
Yeast = AHS uses WLP800 Pilsner Lager with Wyeast 2042 Danish Lager as an alternative. Maltose has a bias toward Wyeast.

My first brew was a lager. Lagers are not anywhere as difficult as some on this forum think.
RDWAHAHBGrolsch.

Thanks that provides some good info. I don't know if I am a noob or not anymore... I guess I'm not... this will be my 7th brew. My first two were so so... but my last 4 have been surprisingly good, much improved anyway. Certainly no expert but I guess off the noob wagon now maybe.

 

[Canuck137]

But seriously, join the MoB mailing list (Members of Barleyment, the local home brewing club) and cut your teeth on some ales first. And get a fermentation chamber.

What is the deal with this exactly?? Cheers!

 

[oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer]

Look right here in the recipe section. There is an all grain called Is that Grolsch. I have brewed this four times and it is as good as any Grolsch I ever bought. Don't sweat the ferm chamber just make a water bath and add ice. Cover with another cheap light weight foam ice chest. Lagers are not that hard, I follow Bruosophly method.