Red Rye Mini-IPA - I need feedback

This is my first post, so please be easy on me.

I had this idea to make an extremely sessionable IPA. My hope is to end up with a nice bitterness and aroma while keeping the beer at a fairly low ABV.

My recipe is below and any feedback would be extremely welcome!

Thanks in adavance!


Amt Name Type # %/IBU
8.0 oz Special B Malt (180.0 SRM) Grain 4 5.9 %
2 lbs Carared (20.0 SRM) Grain 2 23.5 %
2 lbs Rye Malt (4.7 SRM) Grain 3 23.5 %
4 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 47.1 %
0.50 oz Apollo [17.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 5 33.9 IBUs
0.50 oz Liberty [4.30 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 6 4.3 IBUs
0.50 oz Liberty [4.30 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 7 3.1 IBUs
1.00 oz Liberty [4.30 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 8 3.4 IBUs
1.00 oz Ahtanum [6.00 %] - Dry Hop 3.0 Days Hop 10 0.0 IBUs
1.0 pkg California Ale V (White Labs #WLP051) [35.49 ml] Yeast 9

Mash @152 degrees for 60 minutes. Batch sparge.

Estimated OG: 1.038 SG
Estimated FG: 1.010 SG

If all goes according to plan it should end up at approx. 3.8% abv.

Thanks again!

Looks really tasty! Only suggestion would be to up the dry hop - I personally don't get very much aroma from just 1 oz. I usually do 2-3oz for my Ambers/PAs

Do you think Ahtunum will work out well for dry hoping? This will be my first dry hopped beer.

I'm hoping to brew this on Sunday, and I'll update as things progress.

That 33.9 IBU bittering addition might seem pretty huge in a 3.8% beer - that'd be my concern... I've also seen where a lot of people on here seem to mash their session beers really high, so you don't end up too thin tasting.

That makes sense. I'm going to tweak this down a bit on the hops. I think you're right on the bittering addition turning this into an overly bitter mess. How about this instead:


0.40 oz Magnum [14.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 5 22.4 IBUs
0.50 oz Liberty [4.30 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 6 4.3 IBUs
0.50 oz Liberty [4.30 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 7 3.1 IBUs
1.00 oz Liberty [4.30 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 8 3.4 IBUs
3.00 oz Ahtanum [6.00 %] - Dry Hop 3.0 Days Hop 10 0.0 IBUs

Hey how did this recipe turn out? Also did you use BeerSmith to make the calculations?

It came out great! It was definitely not as red as I was hoping, more on the amber side. It was delicious, and yes BeerSmith.