Small batch (1 gallon) DFH 120 Clone

[robopp]

Hi Guys!

First time posting but I've been lurking for a while. I'm a big fan of Dogfish Head beers and 120 is probably one of my favorites. I've been sporadically brewing for the past couple of years and recently got into small batch all grain. I like big beers (9%+ ABV) and I'd prefer not to have a lot of big beers in the fridge so I decided on 1 gallon all grain brewing. So far I've made the following: 90 minute clone, Maharaja Clone, Harpoon IPA clone, Gandhi-bot clone, Hop Ottin' Clone and I'm currently nursing a 120 minute clone. I followed scottland's 120 thread (https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/dfh-120-minute-clone-259314/) and modeled my recipe after his with one exception - the second yeast. I decided to use a champagne yeast (EC-1118) once the S04 cuts out so I've created this thread to detail my experience. Without further adieu, here's the recipe:

HOME BREW RECIPE:
Title: 120 Minute IPA Clone

Brew Method: All Grain
Style Name: Imperial IPA
Boil Time: 120 min
Batch Size: 1.1 gallons (fermentor volume)
Boil Size: 2.5 gallons
Boil Gravity: 1.042
Efficiency: 70% (brew house)

STATS:
Original Gravity: 1.160
Final Gravity: 1.032
ABV (standard): 16.79%
IBU (tinseth): 567.83
SRM (morey): 8.7

FERMENTABLES:
3.8 lb - American - Pale 2-Row (67.7%)
0.25 lb - United Kingdom - Amber (4.5%)
25 oz - Corn Sugar - Dextrose - (late addition) (27.8%)

HOPS:
17 g - Warrior, Type: Pellet, AA: 16, Use: Boil for 120 min, IBU: 194.96
22 g - Simcoe, Type: Pellet, AA: 12.7, Use: Boil for 120 min, IBU: 200.27
28 g - Amarillo, Type: Pellet, AA: 8.6, Use: Boil for 120 min, IBU: 172.6
5 g - Simcoe, Type: Pellet, AA: 12.7, Use: Dry Hop for 21 days
5 g - Amarillo, Type: Pellet, AA: 8.6, Use: Dry Hop for 21 days
5 g - Simcoe, Type: Pellet, AA: 12.7, Use: Dry Hop for 14 days
5 g - Amarillo, Type: Pellet, AA: 8.6, Use: Dry Hop for 14 days
5 g - Simcoe, Type: Pellet, AA: 12.7, Use: Dry Hop for 7 days
5 g - Amarillo, Type: Pellet, AA: 8.6, Use: Dry Hop for 7 days

MASH GUIDELINES:
1) Infusion, Temp: 153 F, Time: 90 min, Amount: 4.4 qt
Starting Mash Thickness: 1.75 qt/lb

OTHER INGREDIENTS:
0.1 lb - rice hulls, Type: Other, Use: Mash

YEAST:
Fermentis / Safale - English Ale Yeast S-04
Starter: No
Form: Dry
Attenuation (custom): 80%
Flocculation: Medium
Optimum Temp: 59 - 75 F
Fermentation Temp: 64 F
Additional Yeast: EC-1118

NOTES:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/dfh-120-minute-clone-259314/

Add sugar at 1.25oz per day starting at day 5 or when gravity gets down to 1.020

2.614 points per ounce per 1.1 gallon
3.2675 points per 1.25oz addition

1.2 gallons due to hop loss

Generated by Brewer's Friend - http://www.brewersfriend.com/
Date: 2014-02-08 19:39 UTC
Recipe Last Updated: 2014-02-08 19:39 UTC
​

I started the dextrose additions on day 5 and I'm currently on day 7. I missed my OG by about 11 points but my current running gravity is at 1.125. I take a single hydrometer reading at night and do the dextrose addition at the same time. On day 5 and 6 I added 5oz per day of dextrose but I've started to lower the amount of dextrose to 2.5oz per day. Each time I've taken a reading, the gravity is back down to ~1.020 and as a result I haven't added the champagne yeast yet. I'm actually really surprised that the S04 is still doing a great job since ABV, assuming a FG of 1.020, is around 13.8%! I'm really curious to see how far I can take the S04. Also, I pitched the S04 as a slurry without a starter using the recommended slurry amount according to mrmalty.com. Finally, I'm planning on bottle carbing these bad boys and as a result I'm targeting a final ABV of around 16%.

 

[robopp]

Here's an update on my progress

I just added my final sugar addition and pitched the secondary yeast (EC-1118). The running gravity is at 1.150 or 17.31% ABV and surprisingly the S04 is still fermenting! I pitched the EC-1118 for two reasons: First, I wanted to make sure only simple sugars are fermented from here on out since the gravity is down to 1.018 before the sugar addition. Second, I was concerned the the S04 wouldn't have anything left to bottle carb when the time comes. I didn't want to pitch the EC-1118 directly into the bottle in fear that the S04 didn't finish fermenting due to ABV resulting in bottle bombs.

We'll see how it goes but it's very tasty so far, albeit a little boozy.

Here's a snapshot of my 120 journal:

Date    Specific Gravity  Dextrose (oz)  Running Gravity   ABV     Notes
1-Feb     1.084                0               1.084       8.66       
5-Feb     1.020                5               1.100       10.70        
6-Feb     1.022                5               1.115       12.73        
7-Feb     1.022               2.5              1.123       13.75   1/2 tsp yeast nutrient
8-Feb     1.020               2.5              1.131       14.77       
9-Feb     1.018               2.5              1.138       15.78       
10-Feb    1.018               2.5              1.146       16.80       
11-Feb    1.018               1.25             1.150       17.31   Added 2.5g EC-1118
12-Feb                        0.000            0.00       
13-Feb                        0.000            0.00       
14-Feb                        0.000            0.00       
15-Feb                        0.000            0.00       
16-Feb                        0.000            0.00       
17-Feb                        0.000            0.00       
18-Feb                        0.000            0.00