httpss://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZmtxDkzJZ7c/Tfym2hpwdTI/AAAAAAAALQM/dY1RvEtpeqU/s720/CIMG2093.JPG
as for the tasting I had my wife do it blind. initially she liked mine better which I think is in large part due to lower carbonation than the real beer (she doesn't like super carbed beers). after considering the carbonation she realized which was the clone beer. she said mine had more intense flavor. after the real thing decarbed a little she said she'd have a really hard time picking out which was which.
I def agreed mine was less carbonated (for better or worse). I think mine had slightly more sweet orange peel or coriander (not sure) but it was close. I found the real beer to have more yeasty spice aspect but this was mostly in the nose and could be attributed to the higher carbonation.
Overall I'd say this was a success - they are extremely close in appearance, aroma, and taste. Other than the diff in carbonation I think I nailed it.

recipe:
7.50lbs PILSEN
1.00lbs MUNICH MALT
1.00lbs US PALE ALT
0.75lbs AROMATIC
0.75lbs CARAVIENNE
0.25lbs SPECIAL B
mash at 150F for 60 mins
1.5oz styrian goldings for 60 mins
1.0oz czech saaz for 15 mins
0.5oz sweet orange peel at 15 mins
0.25oz coriander at 15 mins
1/2 star of star anise at 1 min
fermented on yeast harvested from 3 rare vos bottles (ferm temperature 71-73F)
0.75lbs of table sugar after 2 days of primary fermentation
primed bottles with 136g of table sugar (bottled after about 3 weeks in primary)
Edited by mashleyJwilliams, 19 June 2011 - 01:09 PM.