GI Harvest Ale Clone?

[EThome]

Now that the weather is turing cooler, I'm looking to brew a more "fall friendly" ale. Can't do Octos just yet as I have no means of colder fermentation.

I'm partial to Goose's Harvest Ale, now just hitting the shelves in the Chicago area. I have searched online and come up with a few "clone" recipes on other forums/sites - but none seem too sure they have it and the posts are at least 3 years old.

BA lists it as a "good amalgamation of British and American style" ESBs. Goose describes it as a traditional American ESB.

Anybody ever come across a clone recipe for it?

[Mill Rat]

No clone, but taking the Goose's own hint, I'd start with about 8-10 lbs of Briess 2-row. No, I think I'd start by buying a six of the Harvest Ale and mindfully quaffing the first two as ingredient research. Now back to the recipe, without the aid of the above-mentioned research I'm sure you'll do. Depending on how amber and malty it is, I'd sub in Briess Munich malt. If the GI HA is really light-colored, I'd forget the cloning and just use the Munich, but that's just me. I'd plan on a mash anywhere from about 150 F for a thin-bodied beer, or up to 160 if it was rather filling. After that point, I'd have noted the level of hop bitterness, and what kind and degree of hop aroma there is. I'd pick a combo of 2-3 hops out of the dominant hop type and put together a hop schedule to match. Now brew it, age it, keg or bottle it, and then pour your brew and uncap one of your research brews and compare. Repeat as necessary. Have fun, develop the ultimate GI HA clone, and enjoy being a homebrewer in the process. That might not be the answer you were looking for, but I had fun typing it!

[EThome]

Thanks Mill Rat. I could tell you enjoyed typing it.

I always enjoy homebrewing and the research part even more.