johnnyboy1965
Well-Known Member
It interests me that so many US homebrewers try to replicate certain beers.
Why do you do this?
Why do you do this?
Meh, you're brewing anyway. This one recipe would be cheaper than buying 2 cases of it.Some do it cause they have fooled themselve in to believing they can do it cheaper.
Testing your skills I agree with.
Cost, I dont agree with.
GMB... How are you my "Hairy Axe Wound " Friend ?
Testing your skills I agree with.
Cost, I dont agree with.
GMB... How are you my "Hairy Axe Wound " Friend ?
Cost, I dont agree with.
Why do I try to clone beers that I've never even tasted before? It is a challenge but the main reason is because I think the beer sounds tasty and I'm looking for ideas on what to brew next. Not really any more to it than that. Out of 40 batches made last year I think I made the same style only 3x (intentionally that is).It interests me that so many US homebrewers try to replicate certain beers.
Why do you do this?
OK, Ill try and put it another way.
Why would you want to clone a beer?
GMB... Fine TX...Drinking some very nice traditional English beer
OK, Ill try and put it another way.
Why would you want to clone a beer?
GMB... Fine TX...Drinking some very nice traditional English beer
Keep in mind the theree tier distribution. Brewing cheaper than the original brewery is unlikely but, factor in the taxation, distribution costs, and bottle shop markup and it's an easy task to brew beers less expensive than many of the small to medium volume producers.
In fact, most are cheaper so long as you don't try to brew for less than a 12 ounce macro. Even then, it is still doable.
Most of my batches run in the range of 25 to 50 cents a serving with only the really large beers running upwards of 75 cents to a dollar per serving. based on ingredient costs.
So if you find a beer you like to drink (bottle/pub/whatever) is it not better to drink that beer than try to replicate it ?
What's brand of beer does it taste like?
Like I said before, you may not be able to buy that beer where you live.
OK, Ill try and put it another way.
Why would you want to clone a beer?
GMB... Fine TX...Drinking some very nice traditional English beer
So if you find a beer you like to drink (bottle/pub/whatever) is it not better to drink that beer than try to replicate it ?
It doesn`t taste like any Commerialy (sp) brewed beer. Its a beer that Ive brewed myself.
I live in an area where it's almost impossible to buy good beer, at any price. So, I could go without fine craft beer, or I can make my own. I can get Bell's beers (most of them) with only about a 45 minute drive, though.
Sometimes I make a direct clone- I've had a certain beer and I want to try to make it myself. Often, I suceed.
Sometimes, I want to make a certain style beer, but make it better. As in, "I like Fat Tire, but I'd like it better if it had more hops", so I make something that has similar qualities but with hopping more to my liking.
A big part of it is finding out what I like and tweaking a beer to be exactly what I want.
Hello YooperBrew, ...Then you are not "cloning a beer". You are taking a recipe, and adjusting it to your taste (well done). My original question was.. Why would any HB want to clone a beer.
I do it occasionally to baseline. For example, when I got my rig built, first thing I did was brew my Guinness clone. Why? Cause I've had that at so many different places I can tell if mine is off and usually why it is off.
That and it never hurts to have some Guinness on tap...
So if you find a beer you like to drink (bottle/pub/whatever) is it not better to drink that beer than try to replicate it ?
Johnny I hear you .... In your brain your thinking why bother?....In my brain I'm thinking why not?
Cloning just seems like a natural process to start.
Why would any HB want to clone a beer.
Because, contrary to the whole "indie-rock wanting to be different from everyone else, everything mainstream sucks" mentality, there are breweries out there that make much better beer than your or I.
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