Blonde Ale Kona Big Wave Golden Ale clone

[arnobg]

Seems like an awful lot of crystal malt. Has everyone used the 1.5 lb?

 

[casualbrewer]

Pretty sure I just did a half pound..

 

[MerlinWerks]

Seems like an awful lot of crystal malt. Has everyone used the 1.5 lb?

I know it sounds like a lot, I thought the same thing. I did the recipe as written with 1.5 lbs of C20 and it was very close to the original. Most actually preferred mine side by side...

 

[TheHappyHopper]

I know it sounds like a lot, I thought the same thing. I did the recipe as written with 1.5 lbs of C20 and it was very close to the original. Most actually preferred mine side by side...

Agreed. When I scaled the recipe for my system, the Crystal Malt was like 15% of the grain bill. I have brewed it twice and it has been very close to the original.

 

[brew703]

I brewed a batch last year- after scaling the crystal was 16%.
I had the commercial version and it sucked. maybe it was an old batch but I much preferred the home brew version.
May have to put this back on the list for round 2.

 

[YeastMode]

I just sampled this after carbing and it is fantastic. I stuck to the original recipie (including 1.5# C20) except that I dry hopped with .50 oz of Citra and .50 oz Lemon Drop. It was a great decision. The beer has a cloying quality and a brightness that is not in the original. It's almost as if this is the beer that the commercial version is trying to be. It is darker than the original, but i don't see that as an issue at all.

Thanks to the OP for this recipe, it's a winner.

 

[arnobg]

Thanks for sharing your experiences with the crystal malt. Going to add it to the short list and brew it.

 

[hedge_87]

I think we will try this next. Big wave is my dads favorite beer and I would love to gt him a couple of cases of this for his birthday.

 

[arnobg]

I brewed this late last year and did a side by side with my last bottle the other night. I used less crystal than the OP recipe and was happy with how it came out.

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1489200754.615189.jpg

 

[kaisetti]

I brewed this late last year and did a side by side with my last bottle the other night. I used less crystal than the OP recipe and was happy with how it came out.

View attachment 392240

That looks tasty! How much less crystal did you use? Did you compensate with additional 2-row?

 

[arnobg]

That looks tasty! How much less crystal did you use? Did you compensate with additional 2-row?

Color was spot on and taste was very similar but could use some changes next time to be a real clone. With side by side tasting next to the real thing, people preferred my version more. My version had notably more apricot/peach notes on the tongue from the citra hops than the commercial version. It is my opinion that the commercial version actually has Galaxy hops and Citra hops in the late additions instead of just Citra. I also would use less Citra in the dry hop, maybe 0.50-0.75 ounces instead of the 1.25 ounces I used. Again, this is if I were trying to make an exact clone but I preferred my version more.

Here's the exact recipe I ended up using:

Type: All Grain
Batch Size: 5.75 gal
Boil Size: 7.49 gal
Boil Time: 60 min
End of Boil Vol: 6.09 gal
Final Bottling Vol: 5.50 gal
Fermentation: 5 days @ 68F, 7 days @ 70F, 2 days @ 32.5F (cold crash)

BIAB full volume
Batch Size: 5.75 Gallons
Efficiency: 78.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 79.4 %

7 lbs 8.0 oz Pale Malt, 2-Row (Rahr) (2.0 SRM) 88.2 %
1 lbs Caramel Malt - 20L (Briess) (20.0 SRM) 11.8 %

0.25 oz Galaxy [15.90 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 4 14.9 IBUs
0.25 oz Citra [14.10 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 5 6.6 IBUs
0.50 Items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 10.0 mins) Fining 6 -
0.50 oz Citra [14.10 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 7 5.3 IBUs

1.25 oz Citra [14.10 %] - Dry Hop for 5 days in primary fermenter

1 - US-05 American Ale Yeast

Mashed @ 150F for 60 minutes
Mashout @ 168F for 10 minutes

 

[mirogster]

I just grabbed it from our local groceries store. Absolutely brilliant beer!!! Such a nice session beer . Gonna brew it very soon! Cheers from the Netherlands!!

 

[newfoundbrew]

My home-brew store guy said using one whole whirl floc tablet for a 5 gallon batch is too much , is that true? I also can't get galaxy hops what is the best substitute ?Any suggestions?

 

[botigol]

Citra is supposed to be the closest with Amarillo and Mosaic as acceptable substitutes. IME Citra is very fruity and would cover most of what you would lose in Galaxy, but the tropical flavors are different and not as bright.

 

[MerlinWerks]

My home-brew store guy said using one whole whirl floc tablet for a 5 gallon batch is too much , is that true? I also can't get galaxy hops what is the best substitute ?Any suggestions?

Yep, according to the mfg you would use one tablet for 10 gal so 1/2 for five. It goes in @ 5 - 7 minutes left in the boil, any sooner and it can "denature" and be less effective...

 

[Calaeb]

might just have to give this a go!

 

[RevKev]

The picture provided seems much darker than big wave .. I bet if caramel malts were cut SRMs of a Golden Ale would be achieved

 

[arnobg]

The picture provided seems much darker than big wave .. I bet if caramel malts were cut SRMs of a Golden Ale would be achieved

See my post # 69 & 71. I reduced the crystal and did a side by side comparison. Color was spot on.

 

[dirkjk]

Brewed this a few weeks ago, been carbonating for a few days now. Could use a few days of carbing more before I start sharing with friends but so far this is an awesome summer brew.

 

[40oz]

Color was spot on and taste was very similar but could use some changes next time to be a real clone. With side by side tasting next to the real thing, people preferred my version more. My version had notably more apricot/peach notes on the tongue from the citra hops than the commercial version. It is my opinion that the commercial version actually has Galaxy hops and Citra hops in the late additions instead of just Citra. I also would use less Citra in the dry hop, maybe 0.50-0.75 ounces instead of the 1.25 ounces I used. Again, this is if I were trying to make an exact clone but I preferred my version more.

Here's the exact recipe I ended up using:

Type: All Grain
Batch Size: 5.75 gal
Boil Size: 7.49 gal
Boil Time: 60 min
End of Boil Vol: 6.09 gal
Final Bottling Vol: 5.50 gal
Fermentation: 5 days @ 68F, 7 days @ 70F, 2 days @ 32.5F (cold crash)

BIAB full volume
Batch Size: 5.75 Gallons
Efficiency: 78.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 79.4 %

7 lbs 8.0 oz Pale Malt, 2-Row (Rahr) (2.0 SRM) 88.2 %
1 lbs Caramel Malt - 20L (Briess) (20.0 SRM) 11.8 %

0.25 oz Galaxy [15.90 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 4 14.9 IBUs
0.25 oz Citra [14.10 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 5 6.6 IBUs
0.50 Items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 10.0 mins) Fining 6 -
0.50 oz Citra [14.10 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 7 5.3 IBUs

1.25 oz Citra [14.10 %] - Dry Hop for 5 days in primary fermenter

1 - US-05 American Ale Yeast

Mashed @ 150F for 60 minutes
Mashout @ 168F for 10 minutes

Out of curiosity, what were your gravity readings? I just tried your batch, getting ready to dry hop it

 

[Raoul_Duke_PhD]

My recipe looks very similar except I use 10L crystal and I also add about a pound of Weyermann wheat malt. It adds a little more body and mouthfeel. Color is spot on. I also backload my hop additions.

 

[arnobg]

Out of curiosity, what were your gravity readings? I just tried your batch, getting ready to dry hop it

Just looked at my notes and OG was 1.041, FG was 1.007. I mashed at 151-150F and used a pack of US-05.

 

[Novims]

I just had to chime in: this blonde ale is quite delicious, even when fermented with Safale K-97. Great body and mouthfeel, perfect use of Citra hops. A simple, refreshing summer brew.

 

[NewkyBrown]

I'm looking at this beer and I may brew it very soon (despite Fall being on it's way). One question though... what does the Galaxy add? I have lots of Galaxy hops but I was curious if the small amount and boil time is still enough to be noticeable...

 

[Kassad]

This stuff is so tasty and been my summer go to. I have made 4 batches and this is the recipe I feel that got the closest to real thing.

7 lbs 8.0 oz Pale Malt (2 Row) US
1 lbs 8.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L
0.25 oz Galaxy hops [14.00 %] Boil 60 min.
1 Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins)
0.50 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Boil 15 min
0.50 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Boil 5 min
Us-05 Yeast.

Mash at 150 to 152.


Dry hopped 1.5 to 2oz of citra hops ----mmmmm

Enjoy!!

I am new to brewing and am starting with an all grain 1 gallon BIAB no sparge. Any chance someone can re-calculate this recipe for 1 gallon full volume no sparge?

 

[eelgerg]

I don’t have crystal 20. If I were to use crystal 40, how much should I use for a 6 gal batch (roughly). Was gonna go with .75 lbs

 

[eelgerg]

Brewing this beer tonight. Subbed caravienne for the c-20. Just starting the boil. Also going all-citra cause I got no galaxy. Will report back once she’s in the keg.

 

[eelgerg]

OG was a bit low- 1.044. Using S-05 for yeast. Hoping the citra bitterness comes through after the sugars are gone. Looking forward to dry-hopping this and tasting if it’s done after two weeks.

 

[GTACanuck]

Also going all-citra cause I got no galaxy. Will report back once she’s in the keg.

Galaxy is kinda hard to find at the moment. Please let us know how it turns out all Citra. I want to brew this, ideally with Galaxy but if the Citra version turns out great, I will do it as well!

 

[eelgerg]

16 hours in and very little activity. Heading out for the night and will check back at bed time. Fingers crossed....

Edit

22 hours and we have liftoff! Can’t wait to see how this turns out.

View attachment 572173