Have you brewed it without tasting the commercial version?

[PackerfaninSanDiego]

Yesterday I brewed Bells Two Hearted Clone. I have never tried it. It's an IPA and looks to be a huge favorite, that's why I brewed it. Have you done the same? My brother is sending me a 6'er of Bells from Wisconsin. Should be able to do a side by side comparison in a few weeks.

 

[mtnagel]

Nope, I haven't yet.

I do have the Kate the Great clone on my list to brew because I've heard great things about it and the ingredients in the recipe look great.

 

[ja09]

Yup, did that with a Zombie Dust clone. It was actually my first AG, and still one of the best batches I've brewed. Really good stuff!

 

[Braufessor]

you bet. Two-hearted was one of them. Nice choice by the way

I do it on a regular basis. Actually, one of my favorite beers that I brew 9-12 times a year is a British Dark Mild..... Not only have I never had a specific commercial version of a dark mild - I have never had a commercial version of one at all. They just are not readily available as a style. I think a lot of people do this with beers like Pliny, Two Hearted, Zombie Dust, etc...... They are hard to get in many areas of the country, and this is one way to try to get a taste.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

I have never brewed a clone without tasting the "real deal" before hand (to my knowledge). but I have brewed styles I've never had commercial offerings of before hand.

 

[Valtyr]

I've brewed Midwest's Hex Nut Brown Ale, which is supposed to be a Goose Island clone. It turned out great, though I still haven't had the opportunity to try the Goose Island version. The couple times I've looked for it, I couldn't find it.

 

[pablosbrewing]

I made a lot of clones without tasting first in the 90's from various books and the infamous Hombrew Digest. These days I brew more to a style and experiment to see "what happens" with different things. I do still have some on my "must brew the clone list" though.

Today's brew experiment is a SMaSH Chinook DIPA hopped following Tasty's Arrogant Bastard clone version 4 hopping schedule.

 

[Darkness]

Yup, did that with a Zombie Dust clone. It was actually my first AG, and still one of the best batches I've brewed. Really good stuff!

Yep same here brewed Zombie Dust before ever tasting it. Turned out great. About a month after brewing was able to try the real thing at beer HomeBrew event and two other clones. Most people liked my clone the best even over the real thing. Clone was off HBT!

 

[poptarts]

I did with the abyss and zombie dust

 

[grizzly2378]

I've done it twice: a Two Hearted Ale clone (the Dead Ringer kit from NB) and a Pliny the Elder clone. Can't get either of those beers in South Dakota, so I figured brewing them myself is the best chance I have of tasting something that is hopefully reasonably close to the real thing. And, since I have tried them, I'll be blissfully ignorant as to exactly how close they are....so long as my version tastes good, I won't really care how exact of a clone it is. The Dead Ringer was very good. Haven't tried the Pliny yet, just bottled it a week ago.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

grizz, where in SD are you?

 

[grizzly2378]

grizz, where in SD are you?

Belle Fourche


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[Billy-Klubb]

Belle Fourche


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I asked you that before, hadn't I?

 

[grizzly2378]

I asked you that before, hadn't I?

Ha, yeah I wasn't sure if it was the same person asking or not. We talked about Crow Peak and the crapitude of the Rapid and Gillette Walmarts, I believe.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

Ha, yeah I wasn't sure if it was the same person asking or not. We talked about Crow Peak and the crapitude of the Rapid and Gillette Walmarts, I believe.

yep! now the bells are ringing!

 

[PackerfaninSanDiego]

ok you two, go get a room

 

[Billy-Klubb]

ok you two, go get a room

you just want to get us away from our precious clones! stay away from my Dead Ringer and Caribou Slobber!

 

[timrox1212]

I never had an imperial stout till I brewed it myself. I had a ton of stouts but never any over 7%. Decided hey why not brew a 10% stout and age it on wood and bourbon (which I never had tried in any beer either) boy am I glad I did! Can't get enough of them now.


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[countchunkula]

Although at first thought couldn't relate, I was way wrong. The first beer that I ever brewed was the clone of a beer that I've never tried. NB's the Innkeeper kit is a clone of Timothy Taylor's Landlord; which is apparently a popular British Best Bitter. I really liked the resulting brew, but have no idea how close it is or isn't to Landlord. I call my version Slumlord. I've brewed it a couple times since and actually have a batch fermenting right now.

 

[joshjv]

Yup.. Enjoying a keg of hb Gumballhead at the moment! Stil have tried the FFF version..


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[BWE]

I'm getting ready to do a Pliney Clone. You can't find it here in Texas and I figure that's the only way I'll get it is to brew it myself. I'll do the same with Three Floyds Dreadnaught if I find a recipe.

 

[mtnagel]

I never had an imperial stout till I brewed it myself. I had a ton of stouts but never any over 7%. Decided hey why not brew a 10% stout and age it on wood and bourbon (which I never had tried in any beer either) boy am I glad I did! Can't get enough of them now.

Wow, that's shocking?!?! No imperial stout? No barrel ages imperial stout? Crazy man!

 

[-DELETED-MEMBER-]

A year or two back I brewed a Fat Tire clone having never tried Fat Tire. The beer turned out great and I thoroughly enjoyed my 5 gallons. Just about four months ago Fat Tire finally became available at the local government liquor store. Hell, I though I'd better drink some. Turns out my clone wasn't much like the real thing. The up side is that I remember my beer being a lot more full bodied and flavourful than the real Fat Tire.