h22lude

Recipes 

So I made a citra pale ale from AHS today. Everything went well, I thought. The ice bath took a littler longer probably because I didn't buy as much ice as I usually do.

The recipe:
.5lb cara pils malt
.5lb munich malt
.5lb crystal 75L Malt
6lb extra light DME
1oz citra @ 60
1oz citra @ 15
1oz citra @ 5

The grains I steeped in 1 gallon of 165 degree water for 30 minutes. I then boiled that and then added the 6lb DME and stirred until mixed. I added another gallon and boiled that 2 gallons. Then I started my 60 minutes.

My OG was 1.058 (should be around 1.054). I tasted it and it is extremely bitter. Beersmith has the IBU at 33.7. I only took a little sip and the bitterness stayed for a few minutes before going away.

Why would this be so bitter? I'm assuming the bitterness will go away after fermenting for 3 weeks and keg conditioning for another 3 weeks.

Edit: I usually steep in 1 gallon, add a second gallon, bring to a boil then add DME. I wanted to try something different this time...not really sure why. But would that have something to do with it tasting off?

Brandonovich

Recipes 

I have been told never to use citra as boil hops. I bet that is the reason.

ayoungrad

Recipes 

Did you add the hops and the extract just as the recipe states?

If you did, just let it go. You will be fine. No telling how the beer will taste. You may have even inadvertently tasted a piece of hop pellet?

ayoungrad

Recipes 

And no, your extract times shouldn't affect anything the way you did them. But I'm surprised the recipe has you add all the extract at the beginning (as opposed to half at the end) as it tends to darken the beer.

h22lude

Recipes 

Yes I added both at the same times the recipe stated.

I did filter before putting into my primary but you are right, I could still have gotten a small piece of the hop pellet...which is what I am hoping for.

Citra is used for IPAs but with IBU only at 33.7, I would think the bitterness would be low. I don't really want an IPA bitter beer so I am hoping after 3 weeks in primary and 3 weeks conditioning in the keg with CO2, the bitterness will go down a little.

frazier

Recipes 

I have also gotten a very bitter taste from the post-boil gravity sample. I remember being bummed for weeks while my overly-bitter beer fermented. Eventually it came out great. I don't know where the bitter went, but I learned not to judge too much by the taste of the sample.

Relax and look forward to having a great homebrew!

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h22lude

Recipes 

I figured as much but since this was my first time using citra hops, I wanted to see if others had a similar experience.

ajf

Recipes 

Never used citra hops, but every beer I make is extremely bitter when tasting the wort on it's way to the primary. They all calm down during fermentation, and again when aging.
I would be worried if it wasn't very bitter at that stage.

-a.

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whatsleftofyou

Recipes 

I made a pale ale with Citra last summer (recipe here) and I was actually surprised at how bitter that it WASN'T.

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My Bar Build
Primary: Rhubarb Berliner Weisse
Secondary: American Barleywine
On Tap: Orange Chocolate Stout, Belgian Wit, Chocolate Rye Ale, Belgian Singel, American Pale Ale
Bottled: PB&J Sweet Stout, Belgian Saison, Brown Porter

joetothemo

Recipes 

I don't want to assume anything...but you did take out the grains at the :30 min mark...before boiling, right?

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In Primary:
Hoppy Wheat Beer (Chinook/Citra/Amarillo)

In Secondary:
Father's Day IPA (Chinook/Cascade/Centennial/Amarillo/Simcoe)


In Bottles:
Citra-Amarillo Pale Ale
Jamil American Amber Ale