I’m looking for a Strohs Beer all grain recipe. The Stroh’s I remember drinking in the 1970s.
Anyone?
Thanks.
Nope, don’t have that one. I do have 1972 Schlitz in the brewer’s handwriting
AIH has a clone that they say “is not based on the fire-brewed, or the cheaper, non-Detroit-made Stroh’s Lager. This is clone pays homage to the historic Stroh’s recipe, and made with Saaz and Magnum hops and Vienna malt.”
Well, Magnum hops (or any high alpha) weren’t a thing, and the old beer was definitely made from standard 6 row and corn grits, if you want the 70s- early 80s beer. Which was damn good if I may say so. When they changed the recipe was one dark day. I made a beer that really reminded me of it once. I know I used a blend of old timey American aroma hops, of the sort with old world parentage, for a modest amount of bitterness, and the bulk of the hops mid boil, a small amount FWH, and about 20% at knockout – a very conventional American hop schedule. Grain bill for a clone? Stroh’s was a little fuller color and maltier flavor than some, maybe ~20% of Vienna with basic US 2 row base malt and corn flakes in some proportion would get there. But Stroh’s as I remember it had a distinct, delicate hop presence compared to competitors. Something like that hop schedule would probably make a contribution to cloning it. I look forward to other people’s ideas. I’d put a decent Stroh’s clone in heavy rotation in my brewery!
I will point out that magnum was released in 1980.
If I see Jason sometime, I will ask where that came from.
I would make one! I have not a clue as to how to get there!
Hopefully, when Jeff talks to AIH, they’ll say something like though it’s unorthodox, their recipe hits pretty close to home. I look forward to hear what they say.
Think I’ve sussed the AIH recipe. The current owners of the rights to the Stroh name (you know, the company that also isn’t Pabst and doesn’t make beer) have recently licensed the name to a craft brewer in Detroit for the production of “Stroh’s Bohemian-Style Pilsner,” which has nothing to do with any historical beer, but is “inspired by” the “Bohemian” beer first made by Stroh’s in the 1850s. (The Bohemian moniker was included in the advertising well into the 20th century. There’s a “Stroh’s Bohemian Beer” sign still just barely visible painted on a brick building here in town, probably from the 50s.) It looks like the AIH recipe aims to clone this, but at a lower gravity it would appear.
You can’t just say a thing like that and not share. 
+1
Kinda drooling here…
I sent AiH Jason a message. Will see what he says.
It’ll be interesting to see if it differs from BYO’s 2012 version (admittedly simplified with flaked corn at working strength vs high gravity)
I’m not allowed to share publicly. But if you PM me your email…
I guess I see why they picked 1975. Looks like 1976 was when the wheels came off.
I contacted Jason at AiH. He said the the online recipe is what the put together for a customer. He’s not sure how accurate that is.
Does BYO saying anything to justify their claim that this is a clone?
I recently brewed an Firestone Walker 805 Blonde “clone” published in BYO. It was not even close and the difference is not due to my brewing error. The BYO “clone” called for 8% Honey Malt. It is a honey malty bomb. I just tried the real thing on draft and in can last weekend and there is no way the real beer has 8% Honey malt. My guess is the real beer has 2-3% Honey malt. After this experience I feel like no one (publisher, article author) ever even brewed and tasted the “clone” recipe.
The experience put a bad taste in my mouth.
Rechecking my recipe, it’s also 1975. I had this for maybe 10 years before the BYO was published. It looks kinda like they found the one I’ve got somewhere.
And so the search continues…
I recall the taste and flavor of a Stroh’s, but not enough to even attempt a clone. Probably the last Stroh’s I drank was in the late 70’s.
I had Stroh’s in the early/mid 80’s and all I remember was that disgusting burnt wood taste.
