3rd Batch

I'm not a fan of Dales dull bitterness and nondesript hops personally, so I cant give you any help there, but if you are looking to do an extract APA, go with a Two Hearted Ale clone...its an easy extract batch and will be a winner when you drink and share it! Drop the base grains and just keep the 1/2 lb C-40 as your steeping grains, then sub 7 lbs of extra light/light DME for those base grains and go with the hop schedule as listed in the link. I've brewed this up many times and everyone loves the results.

http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/homebrew-recipe/bells-two-hearted-ale-clone/

 

Yep, I'd agree with @DrMindbender. At this point you can really make a regular kit pale ale better with a great hop schedule. I'd say keep it simple.

 

I attempted an all grain Dale's clone, and it tasted like a bitter amber.

Of course this could have been due to my recipe or process, but I've since had the real thing and it wasn't as good as my first time.

 

BYO has a recipe online that was someone's homage to Dale's: https://byo.com/stories/issue/item/2919-longmont-pale-ale

I cannot speak to the authenticity but on paper it would be easy to approximate the conversion of the all-grain recipe to extract + steeping. Steep the caramunich. Replace the basemalt with 1 lb of Munich extract and enough of your favorite light LME or DME to make up the remainder of the gravity.

 

If you want some good recipes and to learn along the way, I'll give you the same advice someone here gave me: Get a copy of Brewing Classic Styles. You really can't go wrong with the recipes and info in there.