Way, way, way over the top Sam Adams Utopia clone - #2

[eriktlupus]

And here I am at work reading this on the blackberry. Good luck fellas. We're only two weeks past our brewday and I already want to do it again! If you could at some point today drink one for erik I expect him to be on too much anxiety meds. to enjoy ours when it's finished

anxiety meds? isn't that what beer is for?

stopped by today and the ferms up to 64 with a nice krausen forming up now.

 

[bigjohnmilford]

Great to see everyone today. Thanks to Yeager and Mrs. Yeager. Big thanks to all the folks handing out samples. Babloo, Drinkswell, Mr. Will. I'm sure there were others but I had too many to remember. I hope the rest of the brew went well. Cheers and hope to see you all again soon.

 

[paulthenurse]

Started the cool off five intes ago. Amazingly enough, I haven't punched Chris or CB. Hippie, I'm sorry to say is unconcious inthe corner. *********.

 

[eriktlupus]

what kind of sg did you get guys?

 

[babalu87]

Started the cool off five intes ago. Amazingly enough, I haven't punched Chris or CB. Hippie, I'm sorry to say is unconcious inthe corner. *********.

How close was I on the pre-boil OG?

 

[the_bird]

Hippie's passed out? Whodathunk?

Great time today, boys (and Melana). I have to say, in complete honesty...

Dudes, your Utopias clone blows the real thing out of the water.

For anyone who cares about the actual beer, we did a side-by-side comparison of a legit '05 Utupias and PTN/Yeager/et al's version from last year. The real one is incredibly hot, it's pure fusel alcohol on the nose. Tasty, but there is absolutely no doubt about it's intensity.

The clone version... nearly the same ABV, but absolutely no fusel flavor/aroma. None. Nill. Sweeter than the Sammy version, but not by much and not quite as cloying as it was in the fall. No clue if you didn't already know what the ABV was.

Other than being a little sweeter and a lot less harsh, very similar. Both very maple-forward. Both seemed to have the same level of bitterness (meaning "none"). Both had nice malt complexity; I know it would be moving a little away from a pure clone, but I was wondering how adding a LITTLE bit of a roasted malt (just like a chocoolate malt, nothing darker than that) would work, add another layer and kind of dry out some of that residual sweetness. Just a thought; I know you added the rauchmalt for another layer (that was totally nonpresent), maybe do something similar with some choc or pale choc.

But, exceptional - and much, much thanks for the generosity in breaking out the fancy bottle.

 

[brewmonk]

dagnabbit. jena-minz, dat wuzinz a hoe-down ter bee reconed wivvz!!!!!!
prost, cheers, skol, and WAKE-UP-YOU-HAVE-TO-CATCH-A-TRAIN!
(HEH)
Thanks, all.

-Steve

 

[babalu87]

Hippie's passed out? Whodathunk?

Great time today, boys (and Melana). I have to say, in complete honesty...

Dudes, your Utopias clone blows the real thing out of the water.

For anyone who cares about the actual beer, we did a side-by-side comparison of a legit '05 Utupias and PTN/Yeager/et al's version from last year. The real one is incredibly hot, it's pure fusel alcohol on the nose. Tasty, but there is absolutely no doubt about it's intensity.

The clone version... nearly the same ABV, but absolutely no fusel flavor/aroma. None. Nill. Sweeter than the Sammy version, but not by much and not quite as cloying as it was in the fall. No clue if you didn't already know what the ABV was.

Other than being a little sweeter and a lot less harsh, very similar. Both very maple-forward. Both seemed to have the same level of bitterness (meaning "none"). Both had nice malt complexity; I know it would be moving a little away from a pure clone, but I was wondering how adding a LITTLE bit of a roasted malt (just like a chocoolate malt, nothing darker than that) would work, add another layer and kind of dry out some of that residual sweetness. Just a thought; I know you added the rauchmalt for another layer (that was totally nonpresent), maybe do something similar with some choc or pale choc.

But, exceptional - and much, much thanks for the generosity in breaking out the fancy bottle.

Well said Jay

The OEM Utopias is probably fermented too warm. Also has a bit of Soy Sauce thing going on (CB might call that Poo flavor)
If this years is as good as last years what do I have to do to get a bottle or two?
I can only imagine what that stuff is going to be like after a few years aging.
Someone should take a gallon of that and put it on oak cubes.

It was nice watching them all throw you under the bus for the boil overtoo.
I watched you keeping an eye on two keggles at full boil but you walk away for a second and one turns into Mt Vesuvius.
Nice guys

Good to see all of you (cant believe how many HBT'ers there were there)
Big John, glad you FINALLY got to try THE Baltic Porter. I hope it was worth the wait.

Hippy passed out , woulda thunk
I though I was at church with him and that cup.....................

 

[the_bird]

Oh, and Paul - that haggis was really good, but I thought you were *making* that ****...

 

[brewmonk]

He *DID* make it, and he has the receipt to prove it.

 

[Cape Brewing]

BRING FORTH THE IPA!!! So I may partake in it's bounty!! Go!! Go with much haste before my patience wearith thin!!! Also bring forth a score of vestal virgins for my pleasure!!

 

[brewmonk]

Hey, guys, that was a lot of fun. It was great meeting you all. Thanks.

 

[babalu87]

BRING FORTH THE IPA!!! So I may partake in it's bounty!! Go!! Go with much haste before my patience wearith thin!!! Also bring forth a score of vestal virgins for my pleasure!!

He isnt even kidding either.

Fetch the drinking vessels, for nigh on 27 fortnight ago we hath brewed the Utopias and it be ready for quaffing

 

[brewmonk]

I think PTN is correct.

 

[paulthenurse]

Just crawling out of bed, it was quite late by the time I got back from driving Hippie home. To Ipswich.

 

[yeager1977]

I wish I hadn't eaten so much chilli.... I am regretting it as I type this

 

[babalu87]

I wish I hadn't eaten so much chilli.... I am regretting it as I type this

Club Soda
Trust me

Just crawling out of bed, it was quite late by the time I got back from driving Hippie home. To Ipswich.

Let him crash on the couch next time

 

[brewmonk]

Just crawling out of bed, it was quite late by the time I got back from driving Hippie home. To Ipswich.

ooof! I just got yelled at fer being late to dinner.

 

[paulthenurse]

Let him crash on the couch next time

Were you paying ANY attention yesterday? Believe me, the only person for whom the couch was an option was Yeager.

PTN

 

[babalu87]

Were you paying ANY attention yesterday? Believe me, the only person for whom the couch was an option was Yeager.

PTN

It was at Yeagers house............................

How close was I on the OG?

 

[Hippie]

To answers some issues raised here...
I didn't so much pass out in corner as I hid like a little kid because Mom and Dad were fighting again about when to add the hops! Babalu, it's called a tithing, and I don't think I even got my 10%.

Thanks everybody, I had a good time yesterday., and it was nice to meet some new friends. Yeager, thanks for hosting, and thank Mrs Yeager for me please. And biggest thanks to ********, thanks for the ride!

 

[Cape Brewing]

Jesus ever lovin' Christ... what the F do we have to do to get a freakin' OG number?!? Is there a freakin' secret password or something??

 

[Cape Brewing]

I hid like a little kid because Mom and Dad were fighting again about when to add the hops! !

... now you know why I repeatedly said that I was pysched that I wasn't brewing.

 

[the_bird]

Jesus ever lovin' Christ... what the F do we have to do to get a freakin' OG number?!? Is there a freakin' secret password or something??

Maybe they forgot to take it. Paulie was getting a stiffie when he took the pre-boil.

I'll have to check BeerSmith when I get home, but the efficiency on my beer was s-h-i-t. Got 13 Brix, which translates to something like a 1.053OG. Was hoping for a LOT more than that. Just a ****ing smoked beer, now (and I'm worried that the rauchmalt I bought wasn't particularly pungent).

Meh, it's kinda like the first time you get laid again after leaving a long-term relationship; it's just nice to be ****ing (or ****ing brewing) again!

 

[Cape Brewing]

... you probably lost a bunch of gravity points with all of those boilovers....

 

[the_bird]

Bitch, I didn't let MY batch boil over...

 

[brewmonk]

Those boilovers were as minimal as I've ever seen (not that I was paying enough attention to see them ALL).

 

[yeager1977]

Ok last gravity I go on 15.5 gallons in the fermenter was 1158. It is bubbling away in ONE fermenter right now

 

[the_bird]

How/are you temp-controlling that? That's a lot of wort and a lot of sugar.

How does that compare to last year's batch? What was the OG on that beaut?

 

[yeager1977]

ITs about the same, and its fermenting at about 68degrees right now. THe blow off tube is a godsend.

 

[Melana]

Thanks guys for the good time. Hope to see you all again soon!

 

[paulthenurse]

Babalu,
you were pretty close with your wild assed guess on the pre-boil gravity. It was around 1070 going into the pots.

PTN

 

[paulthenurse]

Hey I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who came and helped Chris and I make the U-2. It really adds a lot to the experience to do it with a bunch of friends, both old and new.

I'll try to list everone who showed up, if I forget someone I appologize in advance.

PTN
Yeager
the_bird
Brewmonk
Hippie
PTO
Sumo
Drinkswellwithothers
Ned (from The Witches Brew)
Babalu
the_boyfriend
KimoSabe (Witches Brew)
Joos
Big John
Melana with Leah
JustMrWill

I'm pretty sure I didn't miss anyone and if I did, well screw him, I didn't even get a lousy tee shirt!

PTN

 

[PaulTheOriginal]

Dan, the_boyfriend, had the "deer in the headlights" look all afternoon. He seemed to be a good guy - good for you, PTN.

Paul

 

[babalu87]

Babalu,
you were pretty close with your wild assed guess on the pre-boil gravity. It was around 1070 going into the pots.

PTN

No WAG
I expected to be closer , within 5 points

Must have been the sowah beers that threw me off

 

[yeager1977]

Here are a few pics

1. Hippie after he "slipped" on the ice and rolled under my truck and got stuck....
2. Hippie nice and snug like a bug in a rug after all the kings horses and all the kings men tried to put hippie back together again...
3. A blurry (very appropriate) group picture.

 

[paulthenurse]

One other thing that needs to be mentioned.

Hockey.

Yes, some hockey was played. Granted it was only 15 seconds of 'one on one,' but it was still hockey. And the 'skater' was stopped two out of three shots. 'Nuff said.

PTN

 

[yeager1977]

Notice CB is sitting in front of my 5 gallon pot in the pic.

 

[paulthenurse]

I wouldn't say Hippie was truely 'stuck' under the truck. We got him out without having to use a come-along or the jaws of life, so disaster was averted.

I wouldn't think of doing a brew like this without having Hippie there. He adds a certain je ne sais quoi that I'm sure will be noticable int he final product. And WTH, I haven't been to Ipswich in forever, it was sorta nice to take a midnight tour of the North Shore.

PTN

 

[paulthenurse]

Dan, the_boyfriend, had the "deer in the headlights" look all afternoon. He seemed to be a good guy - good for you, PTN.

Paul

Ya, he does seem like a nice kid. Except he apparently told Spawn that he was being refered to as The Captain. We need to talk.

PTN