MmmBeer
Brewer
When I tasted my first batch it was close to the original, but had slightly more of a burnt note. This could have been the result of using chocolate malt instead of roasted barley, which I have read gives colour, but a softer, less astringent flavour. I recently bought a small pack of roasted barley, so if I make this again, I may use this instead of the chocolate. The hop element tasted right, I tweaked it slightly this time because I ran slightly short of challenger.I'd love to clone OP accurately and I have the GW book. I think his hops are accurate but his malt bill isn't right which may account for your previous experience. If you look at the Theakstons website they now tell you what's in it, and in case they take it down here it is:
Old Peculier is a beautiful, yet very simple beer, brewed using a very generous blend of finest pale, crystal and roasted barley with two bitter hops combined with the majestic and noble ‘Fuggle’ hop to produce a beer of awesome full-bodied flavour with subtle cherry and rich fruit overtones.
Note the roasted barley and I also think that the yeast is going to be important. WLP037 is rumoured to originate from Black Sheep who themselves are an offshoot of Theakstons. White Labs have just released WLP037 from the vault. Alternatively a call to Brewlab asking for a yeast that comes close to a well known brewery in Masham might get me somewhere. I feel a brewday coming on. It'd make a great winter warmer!
Let us know how yours turns out.
I've never used liquid yeast, partly because of the cost, but it might be interesting to try culturing some from a bottle or two, if I can find a suitable donor beer.
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