Just a black IPA-nothing more

I love the Men In Black IPA I make often that came from someone on this forum long ago. It's hoppy, great coffee/roasty/stout/porter thing going on. But I want to make just an IPA but black in color with none of the coffee or roasty-toasty flavors. Why? Just because.

So, I've decided to either cold steep Carafa III and not mash it, thereby getting the color but not the full flavor then it hit me that I can just substitute Midnight Wheat in it's place, get some black coloring and none of the somewhat bitterness.

So, here's what I've come up with so far that I hope will just make a simple, hoppy IPA (as normal) but just black in color.
Me thinks I'm too OCD! But, I value ALL opinions and ideas on this one. (and, I'm using more yeast than listed in the recipe)


BeerSmith 2 Recipe Printout - www.beersmith.com
Recipe: Naked Darkness Black IPA
Brewer: Paul
Asst Brewer:
Style: American Amber Ale
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 6.22 gal
Post Boil Volume: 5.72 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 5.50 gal
Bottling Volume: 5.50 gal
Estimated OG: 1.069 SG
Estimated Color: 33.6 SRM
Estimated IBU: 80.1 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 72.0 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
11 lbs 8.0 oz Pale Malt (2 Row) Bel (3.0 SRM) Grain 1 79.3 %
1 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt -120L (120.0 SRM) Grain 2 6.9 %
1 lbs Munich Malt (9.0 SRM) Grain 3 6.9 %
8.0 oz Midnight Wheat (550.0 SRM) Grain 6 3.3 %
8.0 oz Special B Malt (180.0 SRM) Grain 5 3.4 %
1.00 oz Chinook [13.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 6 40.7 IBUs
0.50 oz Crystal [3.50 %] - Boil 20.0 min Hop 7 3.3 IBUs
0.50 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] - Boil 20.0 min Hop 8 12.3 IBUs
0.50 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 9 9.3 IBUs
0.50 oz Crystal [3.50 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 10 2.0 IBUs
0.50 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 11 7.4 IBUs
0.50 oz Crystal [3.50 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 12 1.1 IBUs
0.50 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 13 4.1 IBUs
1.0 pkg Safale American (DCL/Fermentis #US-05) Yeast 14 -
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Dry Hop 7.0 Days Hop 15 0.0 IBUs
1.00 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Dry Hop 7.0 Days Hop 16 0.0 IBUs
0.50 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Dry Hop 7.0 Days Hop 17 0.0 IBUs


Mash Schedule: BIAB, Medium Body
Total Grain Weight: 14 lbs 8.0 oz
----------------------------
Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Saccharification Error: Infusion temperature above boili 152.1 F 75 min
Mash Out Heat to 168.0 F over 7 min 168.0 F 10 min

Now what's the fun in that?

I haven't used midnight wheat but I recently used a LB of briess blackprinz malt in a 5 gal attempt at a CDA/BIPA. It ended up a little more on the dark brown side vs the black side, which is what I wanted. My point is; 8 oz may not be enough. I didn't use a LB of crystal 120L though.

Also the beer ended up with a slight roastiness which wasn't my goal.

I've never used Midnight Wheat either, but would be curious to hear your experience if you go that route.

Cold-steeping the carafa III is the method I have heard others using. Just add it to the last 20 min of the boil, I think, right?

Mine was real close, but no special B. some carafa III and the midnight wheat. It was great. Midnight wheat is a full go from now on out....can't wait to use it in some stouts. It was great.

12 lb MO
1 lb munich dark
.75 carafa III
.75 midnight wheat
.5 carapils

mash 152, all grains mashed the entire time.

1 oz chinook FWH
1 oz colombus 60
1 simcoe 15
2 cascade 10
1 centennial 5
2 centennial 0
Dry hop with 2 amarillo, 2 simcoe, 1 cascade.

1.080/1.018, enough IBU's to break dentures. Black as night. Killer head. I think the lack of crystal gave it a dry yet malty and full body, if that makes any sense.

Oh yea, the secret ingredient was some washed WY1450.

My last black used washed 1450 and it was great. Definitely better than the 05 I used the first time. Both were great but the one with 1450 was best.
I'm still tweaking this recipe but did get some Midnight Wheat at my LHBS so I'm good to go when I have the recipe down.
What I'm not sure of is the Crystal hops. I was going to use them since I've had them laying around for awhile but think I'll switch to Centennial.

Going to give this one a try!! Black IPA's are one of my favorites. This one maybe a candidate to be brewed as a lager.

Did this today but substituted Centennial for Crystal which I like better.
Nice, dark and as far as I can tell, none of the roasted flavor. We'll know in 6 weeks or so.

Carafa I might get you as far as you need to go. I used 5 oz in a 13# batch, along with pale chocolate (which is half the lovibond value) and it was black. I suspect with 2% carafa I, you'll be looking at something very dark brown, if not black.