Back in Black [IPA] clone (PM) - suggestions appreciated

Hi all,

This is my first PM recipe. As I don't really know what I'm doing, any suggestions/modifications/critiques/complements/criticisms/comments are appreciated

From the 21st Amendment Brewery website:

And mine!

Recipe: Back in Black IPA Clone
Style: American IPA
TYPE: Partial Mash

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 5.00 gal
Boil Size: 5.72 gal
Estimated OG: 1.068 SG
Estimated Color: 40.0 SRM
Estimated IBU: 64.6 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.00 % //I might not get this, will top off with extract
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
3.30 lb Pale Liquid Extract [Boil for 15 min] Extract 26.83 %
6.00 lb Rahr Pale Ale Malt (4.0 SRM) Grain 48.78 %
1.00 lb Debittered Black (500.0 SRM) Grain 8.13 %
//I used a Black Patent in Beersmith; don't know what to change for the "de-bittered" part
1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 8.13%
1.00 lb Munich Malt (12.9 SRM) Grain 8.13 %
0.50 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] (60 min) Hops 22.2 IBU
0.50 oz Centennial [10.00 %] (35 min) Hops 13.1 IBU
0.30 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] (35 min) Hops 11.0 IBU
0.50 oz Centennial [10.00 %] (20 min) Hops 9.6 IBU
1.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] (Dry Hop 5 days) Hops -
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] (Dry Hop 5 days) Hops -
//Cascade as a Simcoe replacement. Any better ideas? (I'm out of Amarillo too)
1 Pkgs California Ale (White Labs #WLP001) Yeast-Ale

Click to expand...

Now, I just put all the things I saw on their website into Beersmith and moved amounts around until I hit the specs, but really, I have no idea what I'm doing. Is there a rule of thumb for the amount of these types of grains to use?

I'm planning on 158deg for 45 mins because of this thread, but based on my experience with my last batch (first PM), I might accidentally have a higher temp on my electric stove
But in general, how does one pick a mash temp?

Here is mine that I made and really like. Pretty close in OG, color and IBU to yours. Carafa is a debittered black that I used.
Next time I'm going to add just a bit of some smoked malt as I think that might add just a bit of the taste I'm trying to get to. I've only had the Back in Black once and that was on draft.


Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 5.25 gal
Boil Size: 7.06 gal
Estimated OG: 1.071 SG
Estimated Color: 38.3 SRM
Estimated IBU: 67.7 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 78.00 %
Boil Time: 90 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
10 lbs Malteruop 2 Row Barley (1.8 SRM) Grain 74.07 %
2 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt - 45L (45.0 SRM) Grain 14.81 %
1 lbs Carafa I (337.0 SRM) Grain 7.41 %
8.0 oz Roasted Barley (300.0 SRM) Grain 3.70 %
28.35 gm Cascade Pellet [6.00 %] (Dry Hop 7 days) Hops -
28.35 gm Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] (90 min) Hops 46.8 IBU
7.09 gm Centennial Whole [10.10 %] (20 min) Hops 4.3 IBU
28.35 gm Cascade Whole [7.50 %] (20 min) Hops 12.8 IBU
14.17 gm Cascade Whole [7.50 %] (10 min) Hops 3.8 IBU
1.00 gm Epsom Salt (MgSO4) (Mash 60.0 min) Misc
1.00 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
4.00 gm Calcium Chloride (Mash 60.0 min) Misc
7.00 gm Baking Soda (Mash 60.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs Northwest Ale (Wyeast Labs #1332) Yeast-Ale
1 Pkgs SafAle English Ale (DCL Yeast #S-04) Yeast-Ale


Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Light Body
Total Grain Weight: 13.50 lb
----------------------------
Single Infusion, Light Body
Step Time Name Description Step Temp
75 min Mash In Add 15.34 qt of water at 162.5 F 150.0 F
10 min Mash Out Add 9.82 qt of water at 200.6 F 168.0 F

I want to bump this from a "suggestions?" recipe to a "this is delicious."
Only changes - temps were a little low for the mash (not used to this electric stove yet), so kept going for about an hour and later added some more liquid extract. Just kegged it- a little more malty, sweeter, and smokier than the BIB, but it's a wonderful change. Winner in a blind comparison, 3-1.

Hope someone finds it useful.

(also, thanks for the similar recipe, chezhed)

Recipe: Back in Black IPA Clone
Style: American IPA
TYPE: Partial Mash

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 5.00 gal
Boil Size: 5.72 gal
Estimated OG: 1.068 SG
Estimated Color: 40.0 SRM
Estimated IBU: 64.6 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.00 % //I might not get this, will top off with extract
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
3.85 lb Pilsner Liquid Extract [Boil for 15 min] Extract 26.83 % (or whatever req'd to reach OG)
6.00 lb Rahr Pale Ale Malt (4.0 SRM) Grain 48.78 %
1.00 lb Debittered Black (500.0 SRM) Grain 8.13 %
1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 8.13%
1.00 lb Munich Malt (12.9 SRM) Grain 8.13 %
0.50 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] (60 min) Hops 22.2 IBU
0.50 oz Centennial [10.00 %] (35 min) Hops 13.1 IBU
0.30 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] (35 min) Hops 11.0 IBU
0.50 oz Centennial [10.00 %] (20 min) Hops 9.6 IBU
1.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] (Dry Hop 5 days) Hops -
1.00 oz Am. Summit [5.50 %] (Dry Hop 5 days) Hops -
1 Pkgs California Ale (White Labs #WLP001) Yeast-Ale

Click to expand...

discoross said:

I want to bump this from a "suggestions?" recipe to a "this is delicious."
Only changes - temps were a little low for the mash (not used to this electric stove yet), so kept going for about an hour and later added some more liquid extract. Just kegged it- a little more malty, sweeter, and smokier than the BIB, but it's a wonderful change. Winner in a blind comparison, 3-1.

Hope someone finds it useful.

(also, thanks for the similar recipe, chezhed)

Click to expand...

Is there an all grain version of your recipe? My LHBS does not carry a ton of extracts all of the time.

Thanks in advance!

I've never done all-grain, but I would assume you just replace the extract with more Rahr pale malt
the partial recipe was developed from this list: http://21st-amendment.com/beer/back-in-black

Just checked and my LHBS does not have Rahr malt... Bries seems to be there main supply. I know it will have some effect on flavor, but does anyone know to what extent?

Just bottle the AG version tonight. Smelt amazing and I got half a bottle to taste. I have to say this tasted better than any other brew I have done. It's going to be hard to wait 3 weeks to bottle condition.

I don't have an of the 21st Amendment version here to compare, but this one turned out great!!!

Cheers! Did you change anything?

discoross said:

Cheers! Did you change anything?

Click to expand...

Other than converting it to AG, I don't really think I changed change anything. I did have to use Briess Malt, since my LHBS didnt have Rahr. Not sure if that had any effect on the taste or not...

I am going back to VA in the next few weeks for the holidays, so I'm going to get a stockpile of Back in Black to compare. Plus after giving away most of my homebrew as gifts for Christmas, I am going to need something to hold me over till I can brew again.

In case anyone is interested...

The Brewing Network.com - Can You Brew It - 21st Amendment "Back in Black"
Can You Brew It recipe for 21st Amendment Back In Black IPA

cdburg said:

In case anyone is interested...

The Brewing Network.com - Can You Brew It - 21st Amendment "Back in Black"
Can You Brew It recipe for 21st Amendment Back In Black IPA

Click to expand...

I want to try this recipe next. I literally saw this post a week after brewing the recipe found in this thread. Hahahaa