Pete's Wicked Ale

[MVKTR2]

As someone who never had the beer this may be an odd post. I just thought of this beer earlier today and googled it.

I listened to a recent BN podcast with Pete Slosberg as guest. He didn't talk much, they didn't really discuss his brewing experiences much, I think they literally talked about genitalia more than Pete's brewing experiences. Which is possibly the way he wanted it.

Upon researching the beer I found that Pete never owned a brewery, contract brewing his complete line instead. Behind Boston Beer Co in the late 90s it was the largest craft brewery in the nation. Think, bigger than Sierra Nevada, Bells, and Anchor among others!

The link I'm providing below as well as Wikipedia and more provide accurate dates and various pieces of information. To appreciate what I'm about to say you have to know that Pete Slosberg founded his company with a partner in 1986, sold to a conglomerate in 1998, and ceased operations in 2011. Among the more prominent nuggets of information is Slosberg released a statement after the brand was closed down saying the beer he created and others in his portfolio had been shadows of their former selves since shortly after he sold them and they were reformulated.

Below is a pretty good take on the beer late in its life and this whole story of success and failure reads like a gothic novel and warning. Additionally if you google Pete's Wicked Ale clone you can come across the recipe said to be supplied by the company under Slosberg.

http://beersinthehenhouse.blogspot.com/2010/03/not-so-wicked-anymore-petes-wicked-ale.html?m=1

 

[MidAtlanticBrew]

I loved Pete's Wicked Brown Ale. Gonna need to do a clone now

 

[dmtaylor]

I've got Pete's real recipe from I don't know where. I brewed it a couple of years ago, and I'll be damned, it tasted exactly like I remembered it from the '90s. Scored 37 in competition as well. I thought it tasted better after about 6 months of aging, which helped to smooth it out. When younger it was kind of bitter to my palate.

Hope you brew and enjoy it as well. Cheers.

 

[Vandulus]

Pete's along with Celis White were my gateway beers into craft beers and inspired me to start brewing in '96. Their Strawberry Blonde and Honey Wheat were also great during summer time. Two cases of Pete's Wicked and pizza helped pay our moving crew (friends) for our first house. I still have a set of six Pete's pint glasses and pitcher behind my bar that started my beer glass collection.

Hopping Frog in Akron, OH had a collaboration beer this year with Pete called 2X Wicked. I was tempted to get a bottle, but couldn't bring myself to pay $16 for a bomber.

 

[ericbw]

Pete's along with Celis White were my gateway beers into craft beers and inspired me to start brewing in '96. Their Strawberry Blonde and Honey Wheat were also great during summer time. Two cases of Pete's Wicked and pizza helped pay our moving crew (friends) for our first house. I still have a set of six Pete's pint glasses and pitcher behind my bar that started my beer glass collection.

Hopping Frog in Akron, OH had a collaboration beer this year with Pete called 2X Wicked. I was tempted to get a bottle, but couldn't bring myself to pay $16 for a bomber.

That's too much for something that probably wasn't all that great anyway

 

[Brownalemikie]

Just curious, how does Pete's brown ale compare to Moose Drool? Thanks!

 

[dmtaylor]

Just curious, how does Pete's brown ale compare to Moose Drool? Thanks!

I haven't done a side-by-side(!), but I think they're both great smooth beers. Pete's Wicked is probably just slightly more bitter, with a subtle berry flavor from the hops. They're both really great beers on their own merits. They are similar but different.

 

[catdaddy66]

I drank boat loads of Pete's Wicked ale and Strawberry Blonde ale in the mid 1990's. Was very bummed when I learned it wasn't being made anymore. Guess I will do a clone this year. Woop woop!!

 

[MVKTR2]

dmtaylor, that looks like the recipe provided by the company to customers prior to the sale of the brand.

 

[MidAtlanticBrew]

At 1.052 and 26 IBU, It's hard to imagine that recipe tasting best "after aging at least 6 months". Probably at it's best at 3 to 4 weeks

 

[Vandulus]

Stopped by my favorite beer store after work and happened across a bottle of the Hoppin' Frog Re-Pete Ale. I decided to plunk down the money for a bomber after getting nostalgic reading this thread. Even better was when I got home and noticed they charged me $10.99 instead of $15.99! I know what's going to get cracked open this weekend...

To all those offended by beer porn, I apologize in advance.

 

[dzlater]

I've got Pete's real recipe from I don't know where. I brewed it a couple of years ago, and I'll be damned, it tasted exactly like I remembered it from the '90s. Scored 37 in competition as well. I thought it tasted better after about 6 months of aging, which helped to smooth it out. When younger it was kind of bitter to my palate.

Hope you brew and enjoy it as well. Cheers.

I got your recipe off the AHA forum, and planned to brew it this weekend.
The weather's kind of ****ty and I brew outdoors so I might have to put it off till next weekend. I'll let you kow how it turns out.

 

[mabrungard]

Depending on the year, I enjoyed Pete's Wicked Ale for many years. I can assure you that the recipe that is posted in this thread has no semblance to that beer. In addition, I can report that the composition of the beer and most importantly, the hopping, varied with the contract brewer that produced it. I have brewed many times with Brewers Gold in several styles and I like the black currant notes that it imparts, but I never tasted a Pete's that had those notes. All of the beers I tasted had at least a hint of Cascade citrusness and some woodiness from Northern Brewer...not Brewers Gold.

I suggest that anyone wanting to brew a reasonable clone of this beer refer to the book: Homebrew All-Stars and look for an article that has some guy that looks similar to the avatar on this post. That recipe was developed by Fat Head's brewer, Matt Cole and it is a very good rendition of what he and I recall of that beer.