Oskar Blues Gordon

[nahthan]

Can I brew it? Split decision! Tasty and I say cloned, Justin and Jamil say not cloned (but close!). Dave Chichura will have to help us decide, but either way a re-brew will happen. So, for Dave from Houston Texas and all the other listeners that sent us this challenge, here's the recipe thus far:

Oskar Blues Gordon CYBI - 5 gallons

Recipe Specifics
----------------
Batch Size (Gal): 5.00 Wort Size (Gal): 5.00
Total Grain (Lbs): 17.51
Anticipated OG: 1.081 Plato: 19.65
Anticipated SRM: 16
Anticipated IBU: 69.8
Brewhouse Efficiency: 65 %
Wort Boil Time: 90 Minutes

Formulas Used
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Color Formula Used: Morey
Hop IBU Formula Used: Rager

Additional Utilization Used For Plug Hops: 2 %
Additional Utilization Used For Pellet Hops: 10 %

All Grain
--------
% Amount Name Origin Potential SRM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
80.0 14.00 lbs./6.35kg Pale Malt(2-row) America 1.036 2
8.0 1.40 lbs./.63kg Crystal 45L America 1.034 45
6.0 1.05 lbs./.47kg Munich Malt Germany 1.037 8
6.0 1.05 lbs./.47kg Carastan 30/37 Great Britian 1.034 30
- 2.5 grams Chocolate Malt America 1.029 250

Extract option
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% Amount Name Origin Potential SRM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
80.0 9.52 lbs. Pale LME America 1.036 2
8.0 .90 lbs. Crystal 45L America 1.034 45
6.0 .70 lbs. Munich LME America 1.037 8
6.0 .70 Carastan 30/37 Great Britian 1.034 30
- 2.5 grams Chocolate Malt America 1.029 250

Hops

Amount Name Form Alpha IBU Boil Time
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.75 oz./21g Northern Brewer Pellet 8.50 28.9 80 min.
4.00 oz./113g Columbus Pellet 12.00 40.9 10 min.
2.15 oz./61g Amarillo Pellet 7.00 0.0 Dry Hop

Yeast
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WYeast 1056 Amercan Ale/Chico

Mash Schedule
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Mash Type: Single Step
Qts Water Per Lbs Grain: 1.30
Saccharification Rest Temp : 152F Time: 60
Mash-out Rest Temp : 165F Time: 30

Water Profile
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http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/files/Utilities/Water%20Quality/water_factsheet_4.pdf
Very even sulfate to chloride ratios. Approximately 6ppm each.
Approximately 50ppm calcium.

--------------------

Re-brew potential improvements:
Lower % of chocolate malt slightly for a total SRM of 14
Lower bittering IBU by about 5-7 for a total IBU of about 62
Big pitch of yeast, Keep fermentation temp no higher than 65F

[BadRock]

Nate, you ROCK!

Gordon is one of my favorite local brews. Thanks for sharing.

[BrewChemistinCO]

The Gordon CYBI was by far my favorite yet. Even though the beer wasn't spot on, to hear the way you guys went into the process was great. You guys described the variations between the two and what you would do to change it very well. When I heard about CYBI I was excited for these "failure" shows specifically. The prevailing message out of Pacheco last night was that it was by no means a failure (with brewers as good as you guys I don't expect any outright failures...until Justin's CYBI) but a great brew that isn't quite Gordon. The debate that you guys got into was exactly what I was hoping for as a new brewer that doesn't quite get the impact of specific ingredients yet. Well done guys.

I also want to point out that Justin was the first one to say not cloned and convinced Jamil of the same.

Again, great show and keep up the good work!!

[ddgbrewing]

I haven't had that beer yet.. I've had the Ten Fidy and loved it... I might have to go pick me up some. The recipe looks quite good.

[D Rock]

Hmmm... guess I know what I will be brewing this weekend!
I love Gordon!
Well, not in that way....
I have been wanting to do an Old Chub, but Gordon will suffice...
...Not in that way....

Any hoo, I do not think that I will need to worry about water adjustment...

[Vitamin T]

Nate, thanks for the Gordon clone! I've been waiting for awhile to get a spot on clone recipe. I worked on one that was close, but I didn't have the Carastan in it and I didn't have as big of Columbus charge at the end. This beer is one of my all time favorites and we can't get in MO. So, I'll be brewing this recipe alot.

[nahthan]

Thanks everyone. Brew it up and enjoy. Some of those hops might be tough to find, and remember that Dave mentioned in the interview that they may be switching away from Northern Brewer once their contract runs out. He mentioned Centennial, Galena and Summit all as possible substitution candidates. BrewChemist - I'm glad you enjoyed the debate, I hope others see the value of us being a little nitpicky on the beers when it counts. And you're right about Justin, as first he was almost a little hesitant to disagree, but he raised some excellent points. A certain part of judging a beer is just plain 'ol confidence in your perceptions. The fact that he stuck with his guns on that made for an interesting discussion.

[TastyMcD]

Nate and I poured 8 pairs of samples of the Gordon at a blind tasting we did at a Bay Area Mashers (Berkeley/Oakland) meeting last week. 6 out 8 said it was cloned. We also did the same for Dead Guy. Same there, 6 out of 8 said cloned.

Tasty