Clone Brews
Any experience with clone brews out there?, I realize each brewer will prob have variations in technique that may effect it, but for the most part are they dead on and just like the real thing?
Clones are tough, process and equipment plays a big part in how close you're going to get. If you're into cloning I'd advise just cloning the style, if you like Sam Adams make an amber lager, Pilsner Urq make a czech pils. It's easy to get disappointed by trying to clone a specific beer if it doesn't taste right on.
Then again, with all the information that commercial brewers are putting online these days, it's easier than ever to give a shot at doing a clone beer. You can usually determine the style of beer (the BJCP standards help a lot), and most include the alcohol (some actually include plato) and IBUs. With a little knowledge of what grains make up a style and if you can get any info from the brewers website on that particular beer...well you are well on your way. I'll also go as far as saying that a lot of brewers today are more than willing to share their actual recipes (usually grain percentages and type of hops) with homebrewers.
While it's difficult to make an exact clone for several reasons (batch size, equipment, etc.), it is possible to make a beer very close or spot on to what you are tasting in a commercial beer.
DT
I used to make a lot of them and I'd say maybe 3-4 of 10 would hit dead on. Even with OG, alcohol, hops used, and grain info. So much of the brewing process is determined by yeast and fermentation temperature, that without those two items creating an exact dup can be difficult. But like dmofot said you can get close. I think it's sometimes a futile effort for new brewers though, brew someothing you like several times until you get your process and your equipment working how you like it, then try to copy someone else. I think I wasted a lot of good brewing time by bouncing from clone to clone before I dialed in how my system works.
About the only thing I really want to come close to is Lindemans Kriek lambic.
Love the stuff. Not going to be let down if I can't do it. probably can't.
As long as I get close I'll be happy.
Might even try a Cherri wheat instead.
Giving it a shot isn't going to hurt anything though.
Marv.
Wow, that's ambitious. I give you tons of credit for trying it though.
Might as well aim high.
That's a long way down the road though.
I'm more interested in making up my own stuff, other then trying to copy
what someone else was done.
Let me rephrase first statement, I didn't mention Corsendonk.
That would be a good one as well. Maybe Molsons' golden, it's okay.
Tried a wheat beer last year that was pretty tasty, I'd like to have that recipe.
Marv.
I've tried a couple clones and I have to agree that if you are looking for an exact clone you'll probably be dissapointed. But, if you are looking for a tasty beer that is similar to something you know you like, I think a clone would be a great way to broaden the horizons.
Thats what i'm guessing is that it going to be close but not exact.
A good way to do it is just brew a clone of the style, rather than trying to hit a specific commercial brew. If it's a wheat with citrus hops, brew a wheat and use cascades, then build from there until you're happy with the results.