Hello everyone. So i decided to brew this 90 minute clone for my dad whom is coming down for labor day. I tapped the keg last night, after two weeks since being kegged, to see how it was coming along. The color looks great but still a little cloudy. The hop aroma smelled enticing as I had hoped. When I took a sip, it was sweet--which puzzled me. I got a hint of bitterness, but there was definitely a strong sweetness to it that I was no expecting. I'm thinking (hoping rather) that it is still too green. Here is the information on the brewing/fermentation process:
I mashed 16lb of 2-row and 2lb of TF&Sons at 150* for 90 minutes, with initial temperature after mash-in probably settling at 152*. Ratio was about 1.5qt/lb. I did the 90 minute boil adding the mixed hops at 10 minute intervals. I threw in some irish moss at the end of the boil and chilled the wort to about 78*. I pitched in two packets of S-04 to hydrate for 30-40 minutes before aerating and sealing up the fermenter. OG was 1.088 (I got about 71% efficiency on the mash).
So fermentation kicked off like a rocket booster which kept temperatures fairly high on the fermenter for the first 24 hours. I kept an eye on it and it started at 74-76* (yikes). I was able to cool it down to the mid 60s using a swamp cooler, keeping it between 66 and 68 for the remainder of the fermentation. It was in the primary for two weeks; SG when I racked to secondary to dry hop was 1.016 (which turned out to be the FG). I left it in the secondary for 10 days or so before kegging. ABV est. 9.3%, IBU 83, SRM 10*L.
I sanitize, sanitize and sanitize; additionally, I ferment in a dark room so no sunlight comes in. I am thinking the beer is either two green yet (9.3% and two weeks probably isn't anywhere near enough) or maybe the high temperature for the first 24 hours of the fermentation has something to do with it. Suggestions on what's causing the sweetness? haha. I know it needs more time to condition because of how big it is, but I am paranoid that I jacked up somewhere during the brew->keg process resulting in the flavor. This is my first AG IPA...