Advice Needed- Moose Drool Clone

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Powaygreen, Mar 21, 2013.

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  1. Powaygreen

    Powaygreen Initiate (0) Nov 5, 2012 California

    Hi All-

    I recently brewed the LME version of the following Moose Drool Clone Recipe (from Big Sky Brewing):
    Grains/Malt
    87% 10.8 lb Domestic 2-row pale malt (Great Western or Briess)
    10% 1.25 lb Crystal 75 to 80 L (adds sweetness)
    2.8% 5.5 oz Chocolate Malt 400 to 420 L (adds roasty character)
    0.2% 0.5 oz Black Patent Malt 500 to 525 L (for color)
    Extract option: substitute 7.4 lb Pale liquid malt extract or 5.9 lb Pale dry malt extract for base malt
    Yeast: 2 vials White Labs WLP002 English ale

    I left in primary for 3 weeks at a temperature range of 68 to 71 degrees. My OG was 1.06 and my FG was 1.02. I ran this through a calculator and it gives my beer a 5.18% ABV and 66% apparent/54% actual attenuation.

    The recipe calls for OG: 1.052, FG:1.012 and 5.1% ABV. So my ABV is good, but my FG and OG were both just a little higher than the recipe.

    My question: Is this FG too high and did I bottle too soon? I'm hoping 3 weeks in priamry was plenty of time and that fermentation was complete?

    My main concern is bottle bombs, am I going to wake up at night to what sounds like a gun battle in my kitchen?

    I appreciate any help/advice and thanks in advance.
     
  2. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    66% attenuation sounds a bit low for this recipe. The only way to be sure is to take two gravity readings, 2-3 days apart. Since you didn't, I would put the bottles somewhere very safe, and carefully open bottles every few days. If attenuation was not finished, you'll get gushers before you will get bombs.
     
  3. premierpro

    premierpro Savant (1,060) Mar 21, 2009 Michigan

    Seems a little high but sometimes things do not work as planed. Check your hydrometer to make sure it is calibrated. If you did not use too much priming sugar you should be fine. I just had two batches finish higher then I expected. They both taste excellent.
     
  4. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    Northern Brewer's Caribou Slobber cloney sounding recipe suggests OG 1.052. The Can You Brew it Clone suggests OG 1.052 FG 1.012. So you are coming in ~8 points high on the OG and FG. Are these 8 points attributable to fermentable sugars? You'll find out, I guess.

    To Vikemans advice (keep in safe place, carefully open), I'll add that if they seem like they are getting over carbed, you can always refrigerate the bottles to slow/down or halt the yeast.
     
  5. scurvy311

    scurvy311 Savant (1,135) Dec 3, 2005 Louisiana

    For next time, I believe there is a Brewing Network podcast devoted to cloning moose drool. I've never listened to it, but it could help for next time
     
  6. Powaygreen

    Powaygreen Initiate (0) Nov 5, 2012 California

    Ok, thanks guys. So it sounds like I could possibly have bottle bombs in the making......

    VikeMan,
    does this mean I should be opening a bottle (carefully) every few days right now to see if I get gushers, or do you mean just open carefuly when they are ready to drink?
     
  7. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    If OP's attenuation is as far off from expected as the numbers indicated, and if the expected attenuation numbers are what the beer should have reached, there's the equivalent of 12 or 13 ounces of extra priming sugar in those bottles (assuming a 6-ish gallon batch from the recipe). That would not be fine. As I said, there's no way to tell without having verified that attenuation was finished. Thus the advice to be cautious.
     
  8. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I would be checking right now, and every 2-3 days until you're sure they are fully carbonated. If you get gushers, you'll know there's a risk for bombs. If no gushers, you're good.
     
  9. sokol21

    sokol21 Aspirant (292) Sep 15, 2009 Massachusetts

    I'd suggest putting the bottles in a cardboard case, then seal it in a big trashbag. That way, if you DO get bombs, it will be contained and easier to clean.
     
  10. Powaygreen

    Powaygreen Initiate (0) Nov 5, 2012 California

    Ok, thanks everyone for the advice. I checked the numbers again, and my apparent attenuation of 67% is in range of the WLP002 English Ale Yeast (63-70%), and my ABV at 5.2% is just about right for the recipe, so I'm crossing my fingers and hoping I'll be ok. I'm thinking it's just going to be a higher gravity/heavier beer?

    I will still open some bottles to check and put in carboard cases and trash bags to be safe, but double checking the numbers gave me some more comfort.....
     
    pweis909 likes this.
  11. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    I believe that is the original source for his recipe, which is posted around the net. But you are right, that something may be gleaned from listening, but probably not specifically related to this inquiry about gravity and bottle bombs.
     
  12. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I would definitely recommend this. I recently made a pretty similar brown ale with WLP002 and got 73% attenuation.
     
  13. premierpro

    premierpro Savant (1,060) Mar 21, 2009 Michigan

    It is odd that the extract finished so high. With the yeast he used and the temp. he fermented at the beer should be finished. This is why I suggested checking the calibration of his hydrometer. In no way was I suggesting that your advise was not valid. If I did I would reply to you for discussion. Take care.
     
  14. JimSmetana

    JimSmetana Initiate (0) May 11, 2012 Illinois

    My Drool Clone came out spot on. Yes, its the NB Caribous Slobber extract kit so you can use the specs from there in the future. BTW. Gets better tasting every week.

    [​IMG]
     
    teal likes this.
  15. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Interesting point about the hydrometer... if the OG of 1.060 was actually an erroneous reading for the expected (and actual) value of 1.052, then the FG sould also be expected to read about .008 high. So the (now) presumed erroneous reading of 1.020 would really be more like 1.012 actual. Which would put both the OG and FG right where they were expected to be.

    OP: have you tried taking a hydrometer reading with plain water? It should read very close to 1.000.
     
  16. Powaygreen

    Powaygreen Initiate (0) Nov 5, 2012 California

    VikeMan- I haven't tested the hydrometer in plain water yet, but I almost expect that is the problem. My hydrometer being off a little would explain both my OG and FG being .008 or so higher than expected. I will try that.

    Also, I opened a bottle last night to see if I had a gusher....wait for it.....NO GUSHER! I think I'm good. I also snuk a taste out of the bottle I opened, and while obviously way too early for the final product, it tasted good!

    JimSmetana- I think I'm going to order that kit from NB and compare the two recipes. Everyone seems to love that kit and says it turns out well. Enjoy it!
     
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