Recipe: Big-Hearted Gal (clone of Two-Hearted Ale)

By popular request (well… one request, but how can I say no?) here is my recipe for a clone of Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale. I researched just about every THA recipe out there to come up with this.

The decision to stay with Centennial all the way through appears correct, despite the recipes that sneak in a little this or that.Â I was quite radical and did not “secondary” the ale (transfer it–known as “racking”–to another container for clearing), simply dry-hopping in primary, though I will the next time so that it is clear enough to enter in the Queen of Beer competition or similar events.

Here’s a link to the XML for this recipe, as well.

Big-Hearted Gal (Half-Batch)

Brew Type: Partial Mash Date: 8/15/2009
Style: American IPA Brewer: K.G. Schneider
Batch Size: 2.50 gal Assistant Brewer: Emma and Dot
Boil Volume: 2.75 gal Boil Time: 60 min
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.00 % Equipment: PM Half-batch Equipment
Actual Efficiency: 65.83 %

Taste Rating (50 possible points): 45.0
Note: Partial-mash clone of Bell’s wonderful Two-Hearted Ale. Can substitute WLP051.

Ingredients Amount Item Type % or IBU

2.25 lb Pale Liquid Extract (8.0 SRM) Extract 40.91 % [note: late extract addition, at 15 min.]
1.50 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 27.27 %
1.25 lb Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM) Grain 22.73 %
0.25 lb Caramel Pils Malt (3.0 SRM) Grain 4.55 %
0.25 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt – 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 4.55 %
0.66 oz Centennial [8.00 %] (60 min) Hops 30.1 IBU
0.33 oz Centennial [8.00 %] (Dry Hop 3 days) Hops –
0.33 oz Centennial [8.00 %] (15 min) Hops 7.5 IBU
0.33 oz Centennial [8.00 %] (5 min) Hops 3.0 IBU
0.33 oz Centennial [8.00 %] (1 min) Hops 0.6 IBU
1 Pkgs California Ale (White Labs #WLP001) [Starter 35 ml] Yeast-Ale

Beer Profile Estimated Original Gravity: 1.065 SG (1.056-1.075 SG) Measured Original Gravity: 1.063 SG
Estimated Final Gravity: 1.015 SG (1.010-1.018 SG) Measured Final Gravity: 1.011 SG
Estimated Color: 8.4 SRM (6.0-15.0 SRM) Color [Color]
Bitterness: 41.3 IBU (40.0-70.0 IBU) Alpha Acid Units: 7.9 AAU [believe the IBUs are higher, due to late extract addition not noted by Beersmith]
Estimated Alcohol by Volume: 6.58 % (5.50-7.50 %) Actual Alcohol by Volume: 6.79 %
Actual Calories: 281 cal/pint

Mash Profile Name: Temperature Mash, 1 Step, Full Body Mash Tun Weight: 4.50 lb
Mash Grain Weight: 3.25 lb Mash PH: 5.4 PH
Grain Temperature: 72.0 F Sparge Temperature: 168.0 F
Sparge Water: 0.67 gal Adjust Temp for Equipment: FALSE

Name Description Step Temp Step Time
Saccharification Add 4.88 qt of water at 159.5 F 150.0 F 40 min
Mash Out Heat to 168.0 F over 10 min 168.0 F 10 min [didn’t actually do this]

Notes
Due to accident (tipped LME all over floor) went slightly beyond 60 min and am a little unsure how much LME is in there. However, I had boiled off enough that I was well over target, so I brought it up to about 2 gallons. 9/7/09: bottled. Delicious flat, warm, and green! 9/21/09: hazy, but delicious. Fresh hops flavor, no off-flavors, great mouthfeel–not quite a dead ringer, but very close, with lovely color. Had to force myself not to go back for “seconds”!