American Pale Ale: Deschutes Mirror Pond clone

[Shawn]

From the podcast Can You Brew It...

5.5 gallons into fermenter, based on 80% efficiency.

2 kg Canadian 2-row
2 kg Maris Otter
400 g Crystal 80
90 g Carapils

Mash at 149 F for 75 minutes.

90 minute boil, 7.25 gallons pre-boil.

31 g Cascade pellet hops (5.4% AA) (85 min)
31 g Cascade (30 min)
1/2 tsp yeast nutrient (15 min)
1 tab Irish Moss (15 min)
28 g Cascade (5 min)
28 g Cascade (0 min)

Wyeast 1968 London ESB
Ferment at 65 F, increasing temp to 72 F after 4 days for diacetyl rest.

Dryhop with 21 g Cascade for 7 days.

OG 1.053, FG 1.015, IBU 42, SRM 10, ABV 5%

Carbonate to 2.5 vol CO2.

[Shawn]

So, I've been drinking this beer for about a week or so now. Not sure if anyone here has ever tried the commercial version of this beer before, but it's really tasty; almost like an English-American Pale Ale, if that makes any sense. The exclusive use of Cascade hops really provides a citrusy flavor and aroma to the beer, but the use of the Fuller's yeast strain definitely makes it a little different than your typical APA (although a lot of commercial APAs use this strain, apparently).

Either way, I don't have a Mirror Pond to do a direct comparison, but from what I remember this batch comes pretty darn close. Very tasty, at the very least.