Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

[z-bob]

Here is the recipe pulled from Brewsmith. As you can see, my dry hop was 3oz which was a bit much if Im trying to match any specific recipe. It should match the 2.5oz that I used in whirlpool. My aroma is strong, and its totally flat so I'm expecting good things. It just doesn't match the same aroma as the commercial beer. If I was to brew it again, I think I'd change the 10 minute addition from 1.8oz of Cascade to 1.8oz of Centennial.

Is the goal to brew something exactly like SNC, just to see if you can do it? Or to brew something similar to and inspired by SNC and just as good? Nothing wrong with either one, I'm just curious. (I would pick similar and just as good)

 

[hornet303]

Is the goal to brew something exactly like SNC, just to see if you can do it? Or to brew something similar to and inspired by SNC and just as good? Nothing wrong with either one, I'm just curious. (I would pick similar and just as good)

Fair question. Scientifically, I think the goal would be to match it exactly. I think there is a certain drive that inspires me in brewing that would be to be able to essentially brew a professional, and well celebrated (pun) beer. I've only been brewing for a bit over 2 years, so there is a decent level of self doubt. As a fan of good beer, it really doesn't matter to me as long as its good. I have a good feeling (only based on drinking murky, flat and warm samples) that this will be a very good batch among myself (toughest critic) and my friends so I'm certainly not at a loss. Similar to Firestone's mantra, these beers inspire me to try to make the perfect pint, which will practically never be accomplished.

I took a shot at making Karl Strauss's Aurora Hoppyalis based on nothing but their marketing material on their website and was way closer to this (flavor wise) which has had numerous recipes floating around the internet for years. Next time I'll increase the mosaic (my beer is on the right, next to the bottle is the commercial beer). Also next time, not as much fining/clearing agent post-fermentation.

I also think that being able to troubleshoot and identify flavors is all part of becoming a better brewer.

 

[jahlinux]

Sampled mine today. Gravity was a little high at 1.017. Recipe calls for 1.015. It's been fermenting for 5 days. Raised the temp of my fermentation chamber to 73F to see if I can get the gravity down a little more. The sample still tasted great. I'll let it sit at 73F for a couple days then I'll dry hop for 7 days.

 

[hornet303]

Looking good. It will clear up and probably darken up a bit once all the yeast floc out. I wish we could all sit at the same table and do taste each beer to see which is closest.

 

[arnobg]

Here's mine cleared out this time. Apparently the last glass that was hazy was just from some settled yeast from not pouring in a few days. Looks about spot on to the photos of the real thing in my opinion.

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1487126262.785239.jpg

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1487126277.093114.jpg

 

[hornet303]

Wow. So clear. Too clear when compared to the original. I'm going to do some side by side-by-side photos this Friday.

 

[arnobg]

Wow. So clear. Too clear when compared to the original. I'm going to do some side by side-by-side photos this Friday.

My guess is because Sierra Nevada bottle conditions theirs so you get some haze from the settled yeast in the bottle. Mine is from the keg and it's been kegged about a month and a half.

 

[jahlinux]

My guess is because Sierra Nevada bottle conditions theirs so you get some haze from the settled yeast in the bottle. Mine is from the keg and it's been kegged about a month and a half.

Did you use gelatin or anything else to fine the beer in the keg?

 

[hornet303]

Finally got around to doing a side by side comparison with my recently brewed beer and the commercial bottle. There was a few minutes between pours, but overall, I'd say that this is very very similar. My wife and I did a taste comparison and even smelled cascade and centennial hops as we smelled the beers. I'm strongly leaning towards the difference is that the commercial beer smells closer to centennial and my beer is more towards cascade.

Aroma wise, the commercial beer smells similar to sticking your head in a bouquet of roses/flowers. Very floral. Mine smells more fruity and as it warms, more malty. My wife blindly chose my beer as her favorite. I think I would go with commercial beer because it tastes more unique than a typical tropical IPA. If I was to brew this again, I think I still stand by my idea of going centennial primary and cascade secondary.

Also noted, the recipes we're seeing are 2009+ and I'm comparing with a 2016 bottle. They will change from year to year and perhaps my beer would closer resemble something closer to the 2009 period.

EDIT: Whooops forgot to denote which was which. My beer is on the right, commercial is on the left.

 

[arnobg]

Looks great thanks for the comparison. I would brew this again but I would also increase the centennial. Overall great IPA.

 

[jahlinux]

The real one is on the left. The real one is clearer, has more aroma, more flavor and was more carbonated. I raised my pressure up 2 psi and I'll sample it again in a few days. Not sure if the carbonation level could throw everything off or not? I only have one bottle left so I'll sample it again in a few days. I definitely didn't clone it so I have to try and figure out what I did wrong.

 

[hornet303]

Nice. Great shot. Seems like we've got the color dialed. Need to work on the hops. But lots are at play. SN uses hops that are 7 days old at max, hard to compete as a home brewer.

 

[arnobg]

The real one is on the left. The real one is clearer, has more aroma, more flavor and was more carbonated. I raised my pressure up 2 psi and I'll sample it again in a few days. Not sure if the carbonation level could throw everything off or not? I only have one bottle left so I'll sample it again in a few days. I definitely didn't clone it so I have to try and figure out what I did wrong.

Looks great. Looks more red than ours was but it must be the light?

What's your grain bill and liquid volumes (mash and pre-boil etc. )

 

[jahlinux]

What's your grain bill and liquid volumes (mash and pre-boil etc. )

I have attached a copy of my recipe.

View attachment Sierra Nevada Celebration - Recipe.pdf

 

[jahlinux]

It’s hop harvest season, has anyone seen this years Celebration in stores yet?

 

[bob1852]

It’s hop harvest season, has anyone seen this years Celebration in stores yet?

Saw on SN facebook page that they are making it and it'll be distributed soon!

 

[jahlinux]

1st Celebration of 2017!

 

[Yalc]

Just picked up my first 12 this week. Amazing as always.

 

[jahlinux]

Just picked up my first 12 this week. Amazing as always.

Mine doesn't seem to have much aroma this year. Still a great beer. Now back to trying to clone it!

 

[Axeldog11]

What size starter would I use for this recipe? Also how much DME would it require? Thanks in advance!

 

[jahlinux]

Just picked up my first 12 this week. Amazing as always.

I’m having second thoughts this year. Maybe my taste buds are changing. I’m not really crazy about Celebration this year now that I’ve had a few. What is the consensus?

 

[arnobg]

I’m having second thoughts this year. Maybe my taste buds are changing. I’m not really crazy about Celebration this year now that I’ve had a few. What is the consensus?

I agree! I'm leaning more towards that my taste buds for IPA's have changed quite a bit. I'm not really enjoying it this year.

 

[DurtyChemist]

I brewed up the 2003 Zymurgy recipe last week and just kegged it. Well, not the EXACT recipe since I substituted for some stuff because I didn't have carafoam on hand and a 10 gallon batch wouldn't work with the exact recipe but close. I'm looking forward to tasting it in a few days and seeing how close it is.

 

[z-bob]

I’m having second thoughts this year. Maybe my taste buds are changing. I’m not really crazy about Celebration this year now that I’ve had a few. What is the consensus?

I bought a case of 2017 Celebration at Costco a couple of weeks ago. I'm not digging it this year. I wonder if my taste for IPA has changed? I've been brewing less hoppy beers this year, like cream ales and blonds -- IBUs mostly in the 20's to mid 30's.

 

[brewshki]

I would assume it is just changes in hops from year to year. in a beer like this, I would think our enjoyment of it is highly dependent on the hops. I had one this year (and a tasting of it at the Chico brewery when we took a tour the day after Thanksgiving) and I didn't think it was very hoppy at all. still good, but not amazing. to be fair, we did have a tasting flight of 8 beers.

 

[snowtiger1987]

I did not notice much difference this year. I don't have any of last year's to compare (it would have lost all the hops anyway) but my palate memory did not notice anything really off.

 

[b-boy]

I love it. I wait for it every year. I did notice it's not quite as hoppy this year, but it's still delicious.

 

[Dog House Brew]

What size starter would I use for this recipe? Also how much DME would it require? Thanks in advance!

2L and 200g if DME

 

[jahlinux]

Has anyone brewed any more Celebration Clones? I'm going to brew another batch and I'm thinking of making Centennial hops more prominent. What about using only Centennial in the boil and Cascade and Centennial for dry hop?

 

[smata67]

Based on my tour in NC: malt comes from Canada and all hops are whole cone.