Way, way, way over the top Sam Adams Utopia clone

[paulthenurse]

Update

This stuff is GREAT!!! I have tried it a few times in the past week, and it gets better every time I dip my tongue in it. Part of that is probably due to some oxidation as it sits in a half full bottle. I think it needs a touch more in the way of hop bitterness, but that's just nitpicking. I'm really excited to make this again, it really came out great. Yeager and I will be doing it again after Christmas, he already started a thread on it here.

I sent a couple of bottles to the HBT competition with instructions to open the bottles an hour before judging, I think that the oxydation helps. I'm really looking forward to getting independant critiques.

PTN

 

[Saccharomyces]

This thread is so f'in epic I re-read the whole *&@% thing yesterday. By the time I was done I had to change my underwear.

I'm gonna have to brew something similar myself. Probably will use more % sugar and more hops to dry it out a bit more and balance it.

 

[paulthenurse]

You are a sick lad, Sacc. A sick, twisted lad.

Yeager and I have decided to bottle in October. We're going to use 375 ml clear, frosted hock bottles. That should look pretty cool. The bottles are on order and I'll certainly post pics when they get filled.

PTN

 

[paulthenurse]

I sent some of this brew into the recent HBT BJCP competition. Since a lot of you guys followed this thread and may be planning on someday making a beer like this yourselves, I've decided to open up my scoresheets so that we can all learn something.


Here goes. I've copied the scoresheets exactly as written with the exception of withholding the names of the judges.


Subcatagory: Specialty
Special Ingrediants: Utopias Clone
Entry #1038


Judge #1
Qualifications: Professional Brewer
BJCP Rank: Certified


Aroma: Intense malt aroma. Notes of dried and stone fruit. Alcohol evident in nose. 8/12

Appearance: Ruby - Garnet. Brilliantly clear. 3/3

Flavor: Malt for days with notes of vanilla and aged leather. Hop bitterness & flavor well balanced. Alcohol evident but not unpleasant. Complex mead-like flaovors. 14/20

Mouthfeel: Intense alcohol warming. Med - full mouthfeel. 3/5

Overall Impression: Good effort at one of the most amazing beers. I've drank quite a bit of the original. You've made a good run at it but need more complex layered flavors & a little less burn.

Total: 37/50





Judge # 2
Qualifications: Professional Brewer
BJCP Rank: Recognized

Aroma: Big plums - Bread - Raisins - Malt - Dark Cherries - Vanilla - Toasted Marshmellows 9/12

Appearance: Brilliantly Clear - Brown Color with Ruby Highlights 2/3

Flavor: Oaky - Toasted Marshmellow - Bread - Malty - Warming - Big Malt Complexity 16/20

Mouthfeel: Meduim Body with very low carb. Very Dry finish. Leaves mouth needing moisture. 3/5

Overall Impression: As far as being a clone of the SA Utopias - I think it falls a touch short, but that beer is more like a brandy - This is more like a Big Barley Wine that has been spiked with high octane alcohol. 8/10

Total: 38/50

Stylistic Accuracy: 4/5

Technical Merit: 4/5

Intangables: 4/5


Well, there it is. All in all I'm pleased. I think we did pretty damned good considering the time frame, we only brewed this in January and the original is held for years before being released. I think that certainly acounts for all of the comments about the prominant alcohol. In another year or two that will be much better integrated and less 'in your face.'

Other than that I don't see any glaring problems. Is it the original? No. Is it close? It seems so. Is it a damned good beer? Bet your ass.

PTN

 

[Saccharomyces]

spiked with high octane alcohol

I'm LOLing over this one...

a little less burn

... and when I saw that I thought he had read this thread. Then I realized, maybe not.

 

[paulthenurse]

I had a giggle over that one myself.

PTN

 

[Cape Brewing]

WTF... Why all excited Paul? I told you two months ago it didn't suck. You need more than that?

Jeeez... talk about needy.

"yes Paul, you made a decent beer... now here's you're pat on the head. Go play now."

You showin' up at the meeting tonight? You can take your goofy hat back, with the big feather in it.

 

[paulthenurse]

Nope, working.

What hat?

 

[Cape Brewing]

That beige LL Bean hat you wore that day diving... with the big feather in it.... you know, the one that makes you look really fruity? That one. You left it in my truck that day and I've had it ever since.

 

[paulthenurse]

So THAT's where that went! I was looking for that at last months Gay Pride Parade, thought I'd lost it!

PTN

 

[scinerd3000]

can wait to see the scores in a few years. The complexity should be there by then

 

[wetherel]

Here's three additional ways to up the ABV if your inclined:
1. Add 1 drop olive oil + apple juice to starter for high gravity brews: http://www.babblebelt.com/newboard/thread.html?tid=1108752780&th=1180990051&pg=1&tpg=1
2. Barrel age with a humidity<65% to increase ABV: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Wine/Resources/oakagingofredwine.htm
3. Ice it to remove water.
I wonder how high you can go?

 

[paulthenurse]

The Utopia is bottled. Here she be.

Mmmmmmmmm. Yummy.

PTN

 

[TxBigHops]

Interesting. I assume the wax is an extra measure to prevent oxidation over the long period that you plan on storing this? Or just cause it looks cool!

 

[Cape Brewing]

... if he doesn't use wax he'll get cuts from the caps... and then he won't be able to sit for a few days.

 

[paulthenurse]

We corked the bottles so you are correct, it was to help seal them for longer term storage. And cause it looks cool.

The wax's lubricating properties are an unexpected but appreciated extra.

PTN

 

[user 22118]

Jesus christ you cretons...on topic, on topic. Wait a sec...later PTN will be on topic and the wax will help. Nevermind

 

[pickledherring]

So... a year later.. how is the experiment going?

 

[conpewter]

So this is served uncarbed?

 

[user 22118]

So this is served uncarbed?

Was wondering the same thing myself. No counter pressure filling of even a little spritz?

 

[yeager1977]

Totally flat like the original (Like how PTN wishes his chest was instead of the man ****s).

 

[Cape Brewing]

Totally flat like the original (Like how PTN wishes his chest was instead of the man ****s).

(nodding in disgusted agreement)

 

[jjones17]

Ok guys, a friend and I have agreed that we're going to try to brew a Utopia Clone just after Christmas. We've both had it before so we at least have tasted what we're trying to replicate. From information gathered from a ton of sources we've cobbled together this recipie. We're going to aim for 20 gallons going into the pots, boiled down to ten gallons of final product. Tell me what you think of the recipie. It's not a perfect clone, I know Sam has a starting point of 48*Plato and we're only around 42. We've talked about adding some malt extract to boost ours up, we're still negotiating on that, I want to keep it all grain. We'll also be adding either sherry or champagne yeast (if we can't get sherry which according to our local guy is hard to get) and we'll be aging it on oak chips for probably a year. I'm thinking about how to replicate the taste profiles they get from the time SA keeps the beer in old whiskey and sherry barrels

I know Pummba and Landhoney were both talking about taking a shot at this some time ago, dows anyone know how that turned out?


Anyways, heres our recipie

Recipe Type All Grain
Batch Size 10 gal. Boiled down from 20 gallons at start of boil

Predicted Original Gravity 1.188 @ 60 °F

Predicted Terminal Gravity 1.034 @ 60 °F

Mash Efficiency 80 %

Total Grain/Extract 70.00 lbs.

Calories (12 fl. oz.) 782.1



40 lbs. American 2-row
15 lbs. American 6-row Pale
3 lbs. American Caramel 60°L
3 lbs. Toasted Pale Malt
1 lbs. Melanoidin Malt
4 lbs. Munich Malt
1.5 lbs. German Smoked

2.5 lbs. Maple Syrup added with 15 minutes left in boil

2 oz. Tettnanger (Whole, 4.50 %AA) boiled 60 min.
2 oz. Spalt Spalter (Whole, 4.75 %AA) boiled 60 min.
2 oz. Hallertau (Whole, 4.50 %AA) boiled 30 min.
2 oz. Hallertau Mittelfruh (Whole, 4.50 %AA) boiled 10 min.

Yeast : White Labs WLP099 Super High Gravity Ale

Original 41.75 °Plato
Attenuation 79.6 % 63.1 %
Extract 8.53 °Plato
Alcohol 21.1 % ABV


PTN

YEGADS man. This is going to sound wierd, but 700+ calories per 12 fl oz? Sweet Jesus... it sounds lovely.

 

[yeager1977]

YEGADS man. This is going to sound wierd, but 700+ calories per 12 fl oz? Sweet Jesus... it sounds lovely.

I don't think I could drink 12 ounces of this stuff without having to get my stomach pumped. It is best served in a brandy snifter with about 1.5-2 ounces at a time.

 

[paulthenurse]

Flat it is. Carbonation wafting 20+% alcohol up into you nostrils would be detrimental, I think. And since that is how the original is served that's what we went with.

I agree with Chris, a little goes a long way. Part of the reason we bottled in 375's. I've had a full bottle since it was bottled, took SWMBO and I two weeks to finish it. A nice port glass serving after dinner is ideal. This is in no way a session beer.

And don't go knockin' the man ****s. The ladies get a lesbian homo-erotic thrill from motorboatin' a set of 48DD's, just before climbing on for the A-ticket ride, Paul's Love Hammer.

It's all good.

PTN

 

[alastair]

I read this whole thread again for inspiration last week. I decided to have another crack at a super high gravity brew. I've recently upgraded my capacity and pulled off a 60 pound mash on Friday. Add to this 16 pounds of sugar and I'm looking at an OG of 1.158. So far it is fermenting nicely... all 13 gallons

 

[paulthenurse]

And once again, I bow down before you!



I'm not worthy. I'm not worthy. I'm not worthy.







OTOH, I make pretty damned good beer too. PM me your address and I'll drop a bottle
off at your house when I go up to the folks next week.

PTN

ps

Wal Mart

Lives

$9.99

A much better use of time than rereading this thread.

PTN

 

[paulthenurse]

( Excuse me but did I just call out the dude who has beat my ass in beer judging's like it was his own personal drum bongo for going on 10 years?)

Oh, PTN, you got a lot of splainin' to do!!!

 

[paulthenurse]

Uhhhhhhh, I was under da' in flu ence!!! Ta, dat's right! Demon f'ing rum!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[alastair]

When are you in the area? I may be away this weekend.