I had a
Three Floyds Yum Yum from tap last night. WOW! This stuff is great. Backstory: I love the summer version of
Sun King Fistful of Hops. Their winter version (blue) tastes too "dark" for me, but the summer (orange) is bright and lively. So last night, I tasted the Three Floyds Yum Yum. I liked it better than the Sun King. Bright, lively, and light on the palate. In comparison, the
Three Floyds Gumballhead is a little darker and
very grapefruity. The Yum Yum is hoppy and spicey, compared to the Gumballhead's citrusy and grapefruity. I like the lighter and livelier Yum Yum over the Gumballhead. Easily. And I'm getting tired of grapefruit beers.
My "Big 9oz'er" was an attempt to recreate the Sun King Fistful of Hops (Orange). I used Warrior for bittering and Palisade, Mosaic, and Huell Melon on top. Used Imperial A20 "Citrus" to get all of the funk. Turned out great.
So here's my attempt at a variation of Yum Yum. It needs to be light-bodied, light on the palate, bright, and lively. But not citrusy and fruity. Instead, spicy. Not "dark earthy spicy" but "bright lively spicy". This recipe does not have any grain additions (extract-only) to control the mouthfeel and palate. The Napoleon B64 was chosen to hit low FG.
2 x 3.3lb of Briess 2°L CBW Pilsen Light
Imperial Yeast Napoleon B64
60 minute – 1oz German Polaris (+48 IBU)
15 minute – 1oz German Polaris (+34 IBU)
12 minute – 5 teaspoons yeast nutrient
10 minute – Whirlfloc Tablet
3 minute – 2oz German Polaris (+18 IBU)
Dry Hop – 3oz German Polaris
Total is 100 IBU from 7oz of German Polaris
Hops are added into a
mesh hop basket in the boil kettle. After boil, cold crash to ~70°F using immersion chiller. Transfer entire boil kettle to conical fermenter (residue will be removed later). Oxygenate with bottled O2 and diffuser stone for 1 minute. Take
refractometer sample. Pitch yeast (1 can of Imperial Yeast). Let rest for 1-2 hours and remove cold break fallout from bottom of conical. Wait three days and purge crud from concial valve (otherwise will clog). Wait three days and purge again. Take refractometer sample. Stir fermenter to agitate yeast. If FG is within target range, add dry hop charge in mesh basket. Wait 1 more week. Purge conical and keg.