Help with a Deschutes Hop Trip Clone

[HopRunner]

I have a co-worker who is fairly new to brewing and wants to make a partial mash Hop Trip Clone. I told him that is was a fresh hop showcase beer and he would have a difficult time getting that exact hop profile with dried hops. He seemed undaunted and said getting in the ball park was close enough.

I have only tried beer this once and it was at the local microbrew festival this fall. I'd had about four thousand beers so it is hard to remember exactly what this one tasted like. I think it was basically an expertly hopped fairly malty, but on the light side of an American Amber Ale(at least for a West Coast Amber). Again, my memory is pretty fuzzy on this so please correct me if that is not it at all. The website only lists Crystal hops.

I loaned him my Brewing Classic Styles and URGED him to buy his own! I also gave him links to the and the podcasts. My advice was to brew Jamil's American Amber and just use Crystal hops. He should also adjust the grain bill and hopping so that it came out at 5.2% ABV and 30 IBU.

So... Anyone have a better suggestion? Has anyone attempted a clone, either partial mash or all grain?

[BDawg]

That's about what I would try.

Or maybe try to average out between the Pale Ale recipe's grain bill and the Amber recipe's grain bill, But like you said, go all Crystal/Liberty/Mt. Hood hops (the 3 are so close they are hard to tell apart - all very good).

my .02

[HopRunner]

Damn it!!! Ya know what?? I'm just going to have to brew this and figure it out.

Yeah, I think the starting point is somewhere between the American Pale and the American Amber. Really can't go wrong. Even if it isn't close to Hop Trip it WILL be a very good beer.

[HopRunner]

Here's my first Hop Trip clone recipe attempt. All Grain
Stats:
OG 1.059
FG 1.015
IBU 38
ABV 5.7 %
SRM 13

75.8 % 9.00 American Two-row Pale
6.3 % 0.75 Munich Light
6.3 % 0.75 American Wheat
4.2 % 0.50 American Crystal 40L
4.2 % 0.50 American Victory
2.1 % 0.25 American Crystal 120L
1.0 % 0.12 American Chocolate
11.87

16.7 % 1.00 Mount Hood Whole/Plug 5.2 5.2 60 0.245 17.4
25.0 % 1.50 Mount Hood Whole/Plug 5.2 7.8 20 0.148 15.8
25.0 % 1.50 Mount Hood Whole/Plug 5.2 7.8 5 0.049 5.2
33.3 % 2.00 Mount Hood Whole/Plug 5.2 10.4 DH 0.000 0.0

Mash 150-152F
WLP001 Ferment 68-70F

What do you guys think? Any suggested changes? Am I getting close????? Is it the Chocolate or the Black Patent that will add a red color but very little flavor at small quantities?

[BDawg]

My guess is that that is a good place to start. Try it and see how it turns out. That looks in the ballpark to me.

[consumes]

Search on www.youtube.com for hop trip .. im pretty sure theres a video there

they use all wet crystal hops .... ive had a few bottles of this beer ... i enjoyed them

[HopRunner]

Search on http://www.youtube.com for hop trip .. im pretty sure theres a video there

they use all wet crystal hops .... ive had a few bottles of this beer ... i enjoyed them

Very cool! I checked out the video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyaTcy-1dhQ

I knew they used fresh Crystal hops. Mt Hood hops are damn close and I knew the local HBS had Mt Hood. I checked yesterday and they also had plenty of Crystal so I am going to use Crystal. Obviously not "fresh hops" but should be good anyway.

All in all I think it is primarily an easy drinking IPA. Not too hardcore and a bit more malty than I usually make. Kind of a winter IPA.

[BrewBlender]

Any advice on converting this recipe to a Fresh Hop recipe? I've never brewed a fresh hop beer, but have tons of fresh Mt Hood Hops almost ready to harvest! Should I use ALL fresh hops? Dry some out?
I've read and heard that you should use 4-5 times the amount of fresh hops than you would dry...any help on converting this recipe would be appreciated!

Thanks!