Nugget Nectar - Can You Clone It?!

[HopHead73]

Been going through the Nugget Nectar threads and thought I'd start a fresh thread. I went through the recipes posted on here and went off of what the Troegs Brothers said on the Brewing Network and the malt/hop list they post for it on their website and came up with this recipe.
Brewing this weekend and will update with progress.
Interested to see the difference in the hop character since I don't have a hopback. Anyone have any suggestions for mimicking the results from a hopback?

 

[IslandLizard]

I haven't looked through all the Nugget Nectar threads, so thank you for compiling a recipe. I wouldn't mind giving it a shot some time.

A long hopstand (30-45 mins) from 190 ==> 160°F should add the needed flavor/aroma the hopback puts in. Perhaps a bit more dry hops to compensate? The fermentation is going to strip out quite a bit aroma the hopback put in, so it should come out about even.

From my tastings, I thought they used some form of sugar syrup in it. Maybe the heavy Vienna load gives that impression.

 

[HopHead73]

Listen to their interview on the Brew Network and they said exactly that. The 80% Vienna malt is what gives it that malt backbone you taste.
I just listened to it again and they do use Warrior as well during dry hopping so I may add 1oz of Warrior to the dry hop schedule.

 

[IslandLizard]

Listen to their interview on the Brew Network and they said exactly that. The 80% Vienna malt is what gives it that malt backbone you taste.
I just listened to it again and they do use Warrior as well during dry hopping so I may add 1oz of Warrior to the dry hop schedule.

Thanks, I'll dig the show up, haven't heard it yet. Maybe Tröegs boils the first runnings down for extra caramelization? Process is as important as ingredients.

For comparison, a bunch of us have been trying to clone Arrogant Bastard, and although it's close, we're still not quite there. After I had another AB bomber the other day I concluded it's very different than from the tap. Stone's bottles suck here in MD, and I don't think I stand alone in that. Just saying. At least Tröegs is a bit closer by.

 

[kpr121]

Looks promising. I like that you went with the Vienna majority, some people have reported that the majority malt is Pilsner, but I just don’t see it. I did a clone last year that was similar in grain bill, and to me the malt was spot on. It was the hops I couldn’t get exactly right. But I had some more florally/citrus hops I used if I remember correctly (cascade, Amarillo). I think youre hitting the nail on the head with the Columbus/Simcoe and of course Nugget. Don’t be afraid to pile on the Nugget.

And agree with Islandbrewer, hopstand/whirlpool will be your best bet at getting results similar to a hopback. Something like 150-160F for 30 minutes or so

 

[NathPowe]

Subbed. I commend you on this noble quest. What a great beer - the Nectar cans I had this year were fantastic.

Cheers and good luck. Look forward to your progress.

 

[HopHead73]

Looks promising. I like that you went with the Vienna majority, some people have reported that the majority malt is Pilsner, but I just don’t see it. I did a clone last year that was similar in grain bill, and to me the malt was spot on. It was the hops I couldn’t get exactly right. But I had some more florally/citrus hops I used if I remember correctly (cascade, Amarillo). I think youre hitting the nail on the head with the Columbus/Simcoe and of course Nugget. Don’t be afraid to pile on the Nugget.

And agree with Islandbrewer, hopstand/whirlpool will be your best bet at getting results similar to a hopback. Something like 150-160F for 30 minutes or so

I use a counterflow chiller which typically takes about 20mins to get my wort from 210 to 66degrees.
I'm thinking add the 1oz of Nugget at flameout, then throw in my old immersion chiller to get it down to 160ish and then add some Nugget and Simcoe (Troegs says this is what they fill the hopback with) and then let it stand for a bit and then start running through the counterflow chiller

So my revised Hop schedule looks like this:
.75oz Warrior - 60min boil
.75oz Nugget - 40min boil
1oz Columbus - 15min boil
1oz Palisades - 15min boil
1oz Simcoe - 5min boil
1oz Nugget - 0min boil (stand for 10-15mins while cooling to 160ish)
1.25oz Nugget - 20-30min Hopstand @ 160
.75oz Simcoe - 20-30min Hopstand @ 160

1oz Columbus - Dry Hop
1oz Nugget - Dry Hop
1oz Simcoe - Dry Hop
1oz Warrior - Dry Hop

 

[SwitchbladeSquirrel]

I've been trying to wrap my head around the Nugget Nectar recipe too. I just dont see how to get to the correct SRM with just vienna, pilsner, and munich unless it is a process difference as someone said above.

I'm going to try using a combination of mostly vienna, pilsner and cara-munich III to achieve about 14 SRM. At least it will be alike in spirit.

 

[mblanks2]

I use a counterflow chiller which typically takes about 20mins to get my wort from 210 to 66degrees.
I'm thinking add the 1oz of Nugget at flameout, then throw in my old immersion chiller to get it down to 160ish and then add some Nugget and Simcoe (Troegs says this is what they fill the hopback with) and then let it stand for a bit and then start running through the counterflow chiller

So my revised Hop schedule looks like this:
.75oz Warrior - 60min boil
.75oz Nugget - 40min boil
1oz Columbus - 15min boil
1oz Palisades - 15min boil
1oz Simcoe - 5min boil
1oz Nugget - 0min boil (stand for 10-15mins while cooling to 160ish)
1.25oz Nugget - 20-30min Hopstand @ 160
.75oz Simcoe - 20-30min Hopstand @ 160

1oz Columbus - Dry Hop
1oz Nugget - Dry Hop
1oz Simcoe - Dry Hop
1oz Warrior - Dry Hop

So what's the verdict on this brew? Cloned, close? I'd love to brew this.

 

[HopHead73]

So it's been in the keg for a week. Very cloudy from all the dry hops, but some gelatin tonight should help.
I will say the hop schedule is very close. I haven't done a side by side just yet, but the nose and taste are almost spot on.
Even the malt bill tastes very similar, however the color is way off. I'm sure it has to do with their process and the exact malts they used, but mine is more on the amber/copper color side when Nectar has more red hues to it.

After I clear it up with some gelatin I'll do a side by side test with some cans I have left of this years Nectar and post some pics and taste comparisons.

 

[mblanks2]

So it's been in the keg for a week. Very cloudy from all the dry hops, but some gelatin tonight should help.
I will say the hop schedule is very close. I haven't done a side by side just yet, but the nose and taste are almost spot on.
Even the malt bill tastes very similar, however the color is way off. I'm sure it has to do with their process and the exact malts they used, but mine is more on the amber/copper color side when Nectar has more red hues to it.

After I clear it up with some gelatin I'll do a side by side test with some cans I have left of this years Nectar and post some pics and taste comparisons.

Looking forward to your taste test results. Also, does anyone have a link to the interview with Troegs. I can't locate it.
Thanks.

 

[HopHead73]

Here's the link: http://thebrewingnetwork.com/shows/764

 

[HopHead73]

Can of 2015 Nugget Nectar on the left vs. My Hop Nectar on the right.

As you can see Nugget has a deeper red color and of course is much more filtered.
Nugget has a sweet caramel flavor (it must be in their brewing process since they claim to use the same grain bill I had without any crystal malt).
Troegs has a softer water profile then I do which comes across in the mouth feel and hop bitterness. Will have to work on the mineral additions for the next batch and pull back on the amount of sulfates.
I will say the hop profile is very, very close. You can tell that they use very fresh hops which add to their excellent flavor.
I wouldn't say this is an exact clone, but with some work this could get very closer.

 

[mblanks2]

Here's the link: http://thebrewingnetwork.com/shows/764

Awesome, Thanks!