Pliny the Elder Clone

This beer was inspired by a trip I took back in September to San Francisco. While there I came across a Beer called Pliny the Elder. While this wasn't the first time I had heard of this particular beer, it definitely was the first time I have had a chance to sample it. And sample it I did. This 8% alcohol and 95 IBU'd Monster made for a great night and a not so great morning! Despite being a little rough the following day, my craving for this hoppy elixir was insatiable. Alas I found myself back at the tap like a drug addict scoring a new stash.

In short I fell in love with this beer, and as we all know love is a Bitch! It wasn't until I left that I found out that you can only get this "Nectar of the Gods," in the San Francisco area. Leaving me pounding my head as to why I did not fill my suitcase (clothes are replaceable right?). Seeing how I live in the Midwest and probably wont be making it back to the SF area for awhile I decided as a Homebrewer to try and clone this Bad Boy.

Luckily, like it was my destiny, the July/August issue of Zymurgy did a piece on Russian River Brewery and more importantly Pliny the Elder. Included in this piece was a recipe, a very detailed and intricate recipe at that. A quick review of the recipe one can see why it is such a great hoppy masterpiece. The amount of hops is insane and the dry hopping schedule is involved. As for the Malt bill, it is relatively simple and straight forward.

I decided to collaborate on this clone with a Colleague (more honestly my Jedi Brew Master, Magnet). I was not set up to brew 10gal. batches as of that time and We knew we want a lot of this beer as it will most likely go quick (if you only knew our Friends). The Following is the recipe from Zymurgy we used:

For 6.0 gals.

MALT BILL
11lbs. 2-Row Malt
0.5lb. Crystal 45 Malt
0.5lb. Carapils (Dextrin) Malt
0.4lb. Dextrose Sugar

HOP BILL
3.50 oz CTZ 13.90% A.A. 90 min.
.75 oz CTZ 13.90% A.A. 45 min.
1.00 oz Simcoe 12.30% A.A. 30 min.
1.00 oz Centennial 8.00% A.A. 0 min.
2.50 oz Simcoe 12.30% A.A. 0 min.
1.00 oz CTZ 13.90% A.A. Dry Hop (12 to 14 Days Total)
1.00 oz Centennial 9.10% A.A. Dry Hop (12 to 14 Days Total)
1.00 oz Simcoe 12.30% A.A. Dry Hop (12 to 14 Days Total)
.25 oz CTZ 13.90% A.A. Dry Hop (5 days to go in dry hop)
.25 oz Centennial 9.10% A.A. Dry Hop (5 days to go in dry hop)
.25 oz Simcoe 12.30% A.A. Dry Hop (5 days to go in dry hop)

Wyeast American Ale #1056

O.G. - 1.070
T.G. - 1.011
IBU's - 90-95 (actual/not calculated)
ABV - 8-8.5%
Mash Rest - 151-152
Boil Time - 90 min.
SRM - 7ish

This Beer was split between the two of us and kegged. While it is still relatively young, my first impressions are excellent. Very good recipe and I am definitely going to brew this again soon as I feel this keg will be emptied quickly.

Rating (out of 10): 9. One of our best homebrewed beers for sure and the Hops are enough to satisfy anyone's Lust for the Lupin!

Slainte`

Previous Brews

Here is a list of beers that have previously on tap at O'Brady's:

Pliny the Elder Clone

Sweetgrass Pale Ale

Brady's Vitamin C IPA

Mastiff Drool Amber Ale

Honey IPA

Brady the Bitter

My Kegerator and Brew Stuff.....AKA Pride and Joy!

So you may have noticed that one of my sidebar topics is called "Currently on Tap". This represents the beers that I currently have on tap in my Kegerator. My plan is to review, rate and post recipes for each beer that I put on tap. But first, allow me to brag a little about my kegerator as it is one of my favorite fixtures in my home and more importantly, I built it. Arrr Arrrh Arrr!!!

After searching for a used refrigerator online and in the paper that was properly design to fit multiple Corney Kegs, I finally broke down and bought a new fridge from Sears. Nothing like drilling holes (4 to be exact) into a brand new appliance, talk about VOIDING A WARRANTY!!


This Kegerator fits five 5-gallon Corney kegs along with my 5lb. CO2 tank. While I only have 4 taps, I usually have the 5th hooked up with a picnic tap accessible through the door. The door shelving and bottom drawers are great for storing bottled beer and extract.

Most of the Kegging equipment was purchased online at Midwest Supplies. The taps I found mostly on Ebay and others were Gifts from Friends. The tap on the far right was a gift from my Jedi Master (Magnet Brew) he picked up on his visit to the Great Divide Brewing Company in Denver, CO. The tap second from the right is actually the top to an expensive tequila bottle. My friend made it for me as he knew I was also a big fan of Tequila (Thanks Wake!!!). There's something special about a one of a kind Tap Handle!

I debated about a freezer-less refrigerator, but decided that I could use the freezer for storing Hops and chilling pints and mugs.

 MY EQUIPMENT 

Nice collection of Brewing equipment

 

Making of my Keggle (16 gallon Miller Lite Keg)

 Modified my burner by mounting steel Wind Shields around the outside to reduce loss of heat.  In other words I got to use a cutting-torch!

Match made in Heaven!

 TigerHawk Propane Tank!

 Winter in the Midwest Brewing at Magnets.

 Slainte`

So it begins...

Maybe a little History to start things off. For the longest time I was a strictly a High Life, MBL and Miller Lite guy, Mainly due to the financial hardships that go along with High School and College. I hated bitter, hoppy beers and big strong dark beers. Pretty much if it didn't come in a 30 pack, I didn't like it.

I attended the University of Iowa where my knack for all that is science steered me into pursuing a degree in Biology followed by a Masters degree in Microbiology.  Then one day one of my close friends (Magnet) started aggressively homebrewing.  As a microbiologist I found the process of brewing extremely interesting and a natural hobby.  I slowly started to taste his brews and appreciate the ingredients utilized to make beer and slowly developed a taste for other beers outside of the Commercial light beer world.

As my interest in Brewing grew so did my taste palate. It started with what I call the "Gateway Beer" Fat Tire and then Sam Adams Boston lager. From there the flood gates opened and before I knew it there wasn't a beer I wouldn't try and the majority of the time finish. More importantly I became addicted to Hops. There was not an IPA out there I wouldn't try, but only a few that could truly satisfy my addiction to the Bitter Beast.

After Graduating from graduate school, I decided it was time to get serious about Homebrewing and began accumulating all the necessary homebrew equipment. I naturally switched to all grain brewing from extract and scaled up to 10 gallons.  I am excited for what great beer is to come.

I hope to post more regularly here with some good Brew talk, but mainly this blog will serve as on online diary of my Homebrew experiences and endeavors. Feel free to share your opinions, experiences and of course advice. Recipes are always welcomed and I will try my best to do the same.

Slainte`

Brady

Brady's Awards

2012 Beerdabbler Winter Carnival Homebrew Competition

  - 2nd place Spice, Veggie, Xmas Beers (A Very Brady Xmas Winter Warmer)
  - 1st place Fruit Beers (Lazy Cherry Sour)
  - 3rd Best of Show (Lazy Cherry Sour)

2012 Upper Mississippi Mashout

   - 2nd place American Barleywine (Barelywalk Barleywine 2009)


2011 Bigvvyr Cup Results      

  - Finally some Brewing BLING

2010 Hope for Emma JAB Club Brew Off