Arrogant Bastard Clone (I)

Initial attempt at an Arrogant Bastard Clone. First beer where I made a starter.

Brewed 5.0 gallons on 2013-06-23

Original gravity: 1.072

Final gravity: 1.013

ABV: 7.7%

Apparent Attenuation: 81.9%

Process notes

2013-07-07

Kept between 66-68°. Moved to secondary, S.G. 1.013. Piney hop flavor is dominant, similar (maybe a little sweeter) aftertaste. Not bad, but would be good if bitter hop character was mellowed.

2013-07-15

Bottled 26 22oz bottles. Funky wood aroma. Maybe dark caramel?

Boil for 90 minutes

At 90 minutes

1.5 ounces of 13% Alpha Acid Chinook pellets

At 15 minutes

1.5 ounces of 13% Alpha Acid Chinook pellets

At 10 minutes

1 ounce of 13% Alpha Acid Chinook pellets

At 0 minutes

1 ounce of 13% Alpha Acid Chinook pellets

Mash

[75.91%] 13 pounds of 2-Row (Briess)

[14.60%] 2 pounds 8 ounces of American Pale High Color Malt (GreatWesternMalting)

[7.30%] 1 pound 4 ounces of British Crystal 135/165L (BairdsMalt)

[2.19%] 6 ounces of Special B (DingemansMalting)

Single infusion mash. Mashed with 6.4 gallons (1.49 quarts per pound) of tap water for 90 minutes. 17lb 2oz of grain was used in the mash.

Strike water temp: (0.2/1.49) * (148 - 75) + 148 = 157.8

Sparge

Sparged for 50 minutes with 3 gallons of 170° tap water. (Wound up with 6.5-7 gallons of wort)

Yeast

2013-06-23

Pitch starter (started on 2013-06-22 with 1500mL water, IntermittentShaking, 150 grams DME) made from 1 pack of WLP007 Dry English Ale (WhiteLabs) at 68°. (Decanted about half before pitching)

Tasting notes (4.00/10; 4 ratings)

2013-10-12

[3/10] Still not enjoying this. Pine, dark caramel, still cloudy. It is carbed, though.

2013-11-25

[5/10] Carbed well, super turbid. Dark caramel color, slightly tan head. Aroma isn't as bad as I remember it, still a strong pine flavor and aftertaste. Overall, better than I remember it on 10/12.

2013-12-24

[4/10] Realized that this tastes kind of like Betrayal by Speakeasy.

2015-07-11

[4/10] After two years it hasn't cleared up. Hazy, copper/red color, off-white head. Sharp, bitter, very strong grapefruit aroma. Woody, earthy, herbal as well. Strong aroma. Bitter, woody, caramel flavor. This has some Bigfoot Barleywine character, not as good as it, but similar. Decent, and better than I remember it being.