Twenty-two days ago, I felt the immediate need to brew an heavy IPA. There was no planning involved. I grabbed whatever ingredients on hand and let her rip.
IPA
Type: Extract
Batch Size: 3 gal
Boil Volume: 2 gal
OG: 1.082
FG: 1.021
IBU: 108
3.3 lbs Light LME
3.0 lbs Amber DME
2 oz Cascade (5.5% AA) @ 60min
2 oz Cascade (5.5% AA) @ 10min
1 oz E. Kent Goldings (4.5%) @ 10min
Wyeast 1028 London Ale (no starter)
Primary: 10 days ~ 20'C
Secondary: 12 days ~ 23'C
Today before dry hopping (1.5 oz Cascade) , I tried a sample. I know its too early to really tell but... clean, v. strong beer with only a hint of hop flavor and almost no bitterness. I'm happy that the beer really didn't have a sweet taste, but where's the bitterness? (I'm no expert judge, but this should be obvious)
Did the high OG kill my hop ultilization? I know Cascade isn't the strongest bittering hop, but it should have done the job here, right? Could the high ABV mask these flavors more than I would expect? I'm just trying to learn a llittle something for future experimentation.
Aside: (other lessons already learned for next time)
-Make a starter for big beers
-Don't brew a big beer when your stash is low and you're impatient
IPA
Type: Extract
Batch Size: 3 gal
Boil Volume: 2 gal
OG: 1.082
FG: 1.021
IBU: 108
3.3 lbs Light LME
3.0 lbs Amber DME
2 oz Cascade (5.5% AA) @ 60min
2 oz Cascade (5.5% AA) @ 10min
1 oz E. Kent Goldings (4.5%) @ 10min
Wyeast 1028 London Ale (no starter)
Primary: 10 days ~ 20'C
Secondary: 12 days ~ 23'C
Today before dry hopping (1.5 oz Cascade) , I tried a sample. I know its too early to really tell but... clean, v. strong beer with only a hint of hop flavor and almost no bitterness. I'm happy that the beer really didn't have a sweet taste, but where's the bitterness? (I'm no expert judge, but this should be obvious)
Did the high OG kill my hop ultilization? I know Cascade isn't the strongest bittering hop, but it should have done the job here, right? Could the high ABV mask these flavors more than I would expect? I'm just trying to learn a llittle something for future experimentation.
Aside: (other lessons already learned for next time)
-Make a starter for big beers
-Don't brew a big beer when your stash is low and you're impatient