New Recipe, feedback wanted: Citra Amarillo Pale Ale

Hey Everyone, I've bought some Citra hops and wanted to put together a nice pale ale for summertime drinking that is not too strong and has a nice hops flavor. I tend to like full, bitter beers, but an trying to reduce the bitterness a bit for the wife. She like the flavor and aroma of the hops, but not so much of the bitterness. I've selected Citra for the nice mango/citrus/fruity flavors it brings, and based on some other posts on the site selected Amarillo for pairing. This combined with the Safeale US-05 should lead to a nice flavor profile.

What I am looking to to understand more is the Extract and Steeping Grain bill I've put together. I want to ensure it has a nice amount of malty-ness to balance the hops, and a decent light-ish color. Here is what I put together with BeerSmith, it's my second custom recipe (the first was a Racer 5 clone). Please let me know your thoughts, feedback and suggested changes.

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 5.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.056 SG
Estimated FG: 1.013
Estimated Color: 8.5 SRM
Estimated IBU: 68.9 IBU
Estimated ABV: 5.6
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

6 lbs Light Dry Extract (8.0 SRM)
1 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM)
1 lbs Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM)
8.0 oz Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM)
6.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM)
6.0 oz Wheat Malt, Ger (2.0 SRM)

0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (60 min)
0.50 oz Citra [13.40 %] (60 min)
0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (15 min)
0.50 oz Citra [13.40 %] (15 min)
0.25 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 min)
0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (5 min)
1.00 oz Citra [13.40 %] (5 min)
0.50 oz Citra [13.40 %] (0 min)

1 Pkgs Safale US-05 (Fermentis #US-05)

0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (Dry Hop 10 days)
0.50 oz Citra [13.40 %] (Dry Hop 10 days)

I was planning on leaving in the primary for about 10 days, until the krausen falls. Then dry hop for 10 days then to the keg to be carbed (set and forget).

Cheers - Brian

68 ibus is pretty high for a pale ale. You could do the 60 minute additions as first wort hops (add during steeping the secialty grains). This will improve flavor/aroma and reduce the perceived bittness.

Nice idea, have not tried that before.

Doing FWH is supposed to taste similar to a 20 minute bittering addition, so when I do it I add the hops as FWH for 20 minutes (actually boil the whole 60 though). That will give you an idea of what the bitterness will taste like.

or you could just cut the 60m hop addition in half and add them as dry hops.

be careful with that Citra. i have used it and It's very strong. Better for dry hopping, but. I think it might overpower the Amarillo, which is a nice aroma hop on its own

I think that will be too much hops for your wife. If you really want to make a low hop beer for her, I would use either the Citra or the Amarilo for 60, not both, and finish with a lower IBU hop like Saaz. If you are doing a full boil I would use just an ounce of each. If you are topping off you would want to use a little more.

OK, after some great feedback, and recipe rethinking, here is the revised.

Changes
---------------------
Removed 60 minute .5 oz Citra addition
Changed 60 minute Amarillo to FWH
Increased Citra dry hop to 1oz.

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 5.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.056 SG
Estimated FG: 1.013
Estimated Color: 8.5 SRM
Estimated IBU: 45.6 IBU
Estimated ABV: 5.6
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

6 lbs Light Dry Extract (8.0 SRM)
1 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM)
1 lbs Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM)
8.0 oz Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM)
6.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM)
6.0 oz Wheat Malt, Ger (2.0 SRM)

0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (FWH)
0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (15 min)
0.50 oz Citra [13.40 %] (15 min)
0.25 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 min)
0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (5 min)
1.00 oz Citra [13.40 %] (5 min)
0.50 oz Citra [13.40 %] (0 min)

1 Pkgs Safale US-05 (Fermentis #US-05)

0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (Dry Hop 10 days)
1.00 oz Citra [13.40 %] (Dry Hop 10 days


I'm still not sold on the Amarillo as FWH rather than the 60 minute add since removing the 60 min Citra add. Should I leave as above,put the Citra back as a FWH too?

Thanks!

Brian

I like hops a lot, the more the merrier, but since you are trying to accommodate some that don't I think that looks good.

Did you brew this yet? I'm interested in the Amarillo/Citra combo. I would think the Amarillo would need to be at more of a 2:1 ratio with the Citra though. Citra seems like it can overpower the other hops pretty easy. I've used it in a few recent brews though. Made an all citra apa that started tasting great after a month or so in the bottles, used them for flame out and dry hop additions, along with simcoe, amarillo and cascade in a 125 IBU IPA, and just did a 3% with cent, casc and cent/citra for KO-was going for something similar to Bells session brew, Third Coast Beer.

Also, as far as FWH, I have had great experience with them so far. You can almost hop it more, because the perceived bitterness is less, but it brings out some great flavor from the hops. I'm sure you'll be happy with the results of the Amarillo FWH. You could maybe even bump it up to 1oz, since you cut the Citra.

I actually brewed this tonight. I've modified the recipe a bit, it's posted below. My Buddy thought it looked good so we did a 10 gallon batch. I just tossed it in the Primary...so i'll let you know how it goes.

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 10.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.056 SG
Estimated FG: 1.013
Estimated Color: 7.6 SRM
Estimated IBU: 65.6 IBU
Estimated ABV: 5.5
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

6 lbs Light Dry Extract (8.0 SRM)
6 lbs Extra Light Dry Extract (8.0 SRM) [Late Addition 15 Min]

2 lbs Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM)
1 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM)
1 lbs Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM)
1 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM)
1 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (10.0 SRM)

1.00 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (FWH)
0.50 oz Citra [13.40 %] (FWH)
1.00 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (15 min)
1.00 oz Citra [13.40 %] (15 min)
0.50 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 min)
1.50 oz Citra [13.40 %] (10 min)
0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (5 min)
1.50 oz Citra [13.40 %] (5 min)
0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (0 min)
1.50 oz Citra [13.40 %] (0 min)

2 Pkgs Safale US-05 (Fermentis #US-05)

2.00 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (Dry Hop 10 days)
4.00 oz Citra [13.40 %] (Dry Hop 10 days)

Some will think it is too much caramel, but it looks great to me.

I do an Amarillo/Citra pale ale that is really good. I do partial boils so the hop amounts are a little higher but here is what I do. Everyone likes this beer. Nice citrus, grapefruit taste.


Hops
Variety Alpha Amount IBU Form When
US Centennial 8.5 % 1.00 oz 26.5 Bagged Pellet Hops 60 Min From End
US Amarillo 8.2 % 0.50 oz 12.8 Bagged Pellet Hops 60 Min From End
US Citra 12.3 % 1.00 oz 19.0 Bagged Pellet Hops 15 Min From End
US Amarillo 8.2 % 0.50 oz 6.3 Bagged Pellet Hops 15 Min From End
US Citra 12.3 % 0.50 oz 3.8 Bagged Pellet Hops 5 Min From End
US Amarillo 8.2 % 1.00 oz 0.0 Bagged Pellet Hops At turn off
US Citra 11.1 % 0.50 oz 0.0 Bagged Pellet Hops At turn off

Initially I thought so as well, but the impact will be minimal since I'm only steeping it.

BTW, I've been following your Zombie Dust thread...look great!