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Old 01-20-2009, 03:38 PM   #1
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Default My first attempt at a special bitter...does this look too hoppy?

I would hate to overhop such a delicate beer:

5.5 Gallons
OG: 1.047
IBU: roughly 40
efficiency: 67%

-10 lbs. Golden Promise
-0.5 lbs. British crystal 55L
-0.5 lbs. British Amber

60 mins- 1 oz Glacier Pellets (6 aa%)
30 mins- 1 oz Glacier Pellets
5 mins- 1 oz Glacier Pellets
0 mins- 1 oz Glacier Pellets

I was thinking of maybe cutting the 60 minute addition to .75 oz of glacier. Do I need to cut the 5 and 0 minute additions? Is 2 oz in the last five minutes crazy? I want it hoppy but wonderfully balanced.


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Old 01-20-2009, 04:01 PM   #2
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What you have in terms of OG and IBU seems about right. I wouldn't change it. You could cut the bittering addition if you have cold feet though. You really don't need the last ones, but it's up to you. Most of what makes a Bitter is in the first and second additions really.
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Old 01-20-2009, 04:02 PM   #3
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Bitters aren't usually quite as hop forward as American pale ale. The aroma should be more subdued. I'd cut the later additions in half instead of the 60 minute addition.
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Old 01-20-2009, 07:51 PM   #4
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I'd cut the 5 & 0 minutes adds completely, that isn't the sort of profile you want in a Bitter. Cut the 30 minute to 1/2 ounce and add 1/2 ounce at 15 minutes.
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Old 01-20-2009, 10:08 PM   #5
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As for over-bittering the Bitter, I made a Bitter as the second batch of a partigyle, and didn't cut my hop additions to account for a lower than anticipated OG. I was aiming for 1.050, but hit 1.039. So instead of 43 IBUs (.87 BU:GU), I got 47 IBUs for 1.2 BU:GU.

However, at 6 weeks, this is turning into one of my favorite beers, and yes, it is quite bitter


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