Carlsberg Clone

[pocketjr]

When discussions about beer come up at work, I'm usually brought in to the conversation if I wasn't already involved because word has gotten around that I'm a home brewer. The down side to people knowing I'm a home brewer, but having no idea what home brewing is actually like, usually means I eventually get the same question….. "so, what does it taste like? What beer does it compare to?"
I hate this question, because I don't brew beers to taste like something bought in the store. I brew beer to taste good.

However, the other day a guy at work asked me if I liked Carlsberg. I do like Carlsberg, especially when I'm watching soccer (typical I know). So he asked if I could make a beer that tastes like Carlsberg. I've been on the internet for 2 days looking for this recipe. It's eluding me.

So I turn to you guys….. Anyone know of an extract recipe for something similar to Carlsberg?

I'm not at the grains stage yet, although I am hoping to try the Brewers Best stuff in the new year.

I know (or am pretty sure) Carlsberg is a Pilsner. What I've read for AG clone recipes is that the Grain usually has to come from Europe, although I'm not sure why.

Anybody?

[mashani]

Do you mean "Elephant" or something else? Elephant is a really strong Pilsner basically. I can't give you an exact recipe, but use enough pilsner malt extract to get to 7% abv, and a bunch of Saaz for bitterness and flavor/aroma I think. And if you want to get the skunky notes you have to bottle it in green bottles and let it sit under florescent lights too long. Otherwise it won't taste the same.

At least that's how I remember it, I haven't consumed that stuff since college like 25 years ago... last time I woke up in the back seat of my car with a security guard pounding on the windows, and I opened the door to talk to him and puked on his shoes. True story there LOL.

[swenocha]

Yes, it's a pils. The reason the recipes use european grains is because that's what is available to the brewers there, and the grains have some differences in taste/aroma/etc. than their american counterparts.

If I was only doing extract with no steep or mash, I might think about using a 90/10 split of pils extract and corn sugar to get to 5.5%ish ABV. I'd likely do a hop boil with Hallertau to get to 25-30ish IBU. So, for a Mr. B sized batch, I might think (just wingin' it here...) 3lbs extract and 1/3lb corn sugar, and a 0.75 oz Hallertau boil for 60 min. If I could lager, I'd certainly use a lager yeast (Wyeast 2042 is the Carlsberg yeast), but if I couldn't lager, I'd go for a clean yeast (kolsch or german ale jump to my mind) at as low of a temp as I could.

Now, will this taste like Carlsberg? Maybe not. It would be hard to get there without getting the grain bill precise, I would surmise. But will this be a good easy drinking beer? I would certainly think so...

[pocketjr]

Do you mean "Elephant" or something else?

At least that's how I remember it, I haven't consumed that stuff since college like 25 years ago... last time I woke up in the back seat of my car with a security guard pounding on the windows, and I opened the door to talk to him and puked on his shoes. True story there LOL.

What is Carlsberg Elephant? The only Carlsberg sold here is uh….. Carlsberg.

Yes, it's a pils. The reason the recipes use european grains is because that's what is available to the brewers there, and the grains have some differences in taste/aroma/etc. than their american counterparts.

If I was only doing extract with no steep or mash, I might think about using a 90/10 split of pils extract and corn sugar to get to 5.5%ish ABV. I'd likely do a hop boil with Hallertau to get to 25-30ish IBU. So, for a Mr. B sized batch, I might think (just wingin' it here...) 3lbs extract and 1/3lb corn sugar, and a 0.75 oz Hallertau boil for 60 min. If I could lager, I'd certainly use a lager yeast (Wyeast 2042 is the Carlsberg yeast), but if I couldn't lager, I'd go for a clean yeast (kolsch or german ale jump to my mind) at as low of a temp as I could.

Now, will this taste like Carlsberg? Maybe not. It would be hard to get there without getting the grain bill precise, I would surmise. But will this be a good easy drinking beer? I would certainly think so...

Wow! Thanks Swen! I was originally thinking of a 5 gallon, but doing a MB size batch might make sense since it's still an experiment.

[mashani]

Elephant is this:



It's just a very strong pilsner like beer.

I don't think I've ever had "regular" Carlsberg.

[pocketjr]

Nope, never seen the Elephant here. Now I want to try it