First attempt at my own IPA recipe

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sudsmcgee

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So I've made a fair amount of IPA's and I've decided that I like the fruity/citrusy hops the most, so I'd like to make a hoppy IPA that showcases these flavors and aromas.

I quickly threw this together tonight and I like to hear what you think. The dry hop additions are per fermentor, so the total amount needed is double that listed. Is there a way to cut down on hop usage and still get an abundance of hop flavor and aroma? Will this hop combination work well together?

Citrus Blast IPA
American IPA
Type: All Grain
Batch Size (fermenter): 11.00 gal
Boil Time: 60 min

Ingredients
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
26 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 91.2 %
1 lbs 8.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 2 5.3 %
1 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 3 3.5 %
1.00 oz Chinook [13.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 4 19.6 IBUs
0.50 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 5 7.5 IBUs
2.00 Items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins) Fining 6 -
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 7 4.1 IBUs
1.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 8 7.5 IBUs
1.00 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 9 9.0 IBUs
1.00 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 10 2.6 IBUs
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 11 1.7 IBUs
1.00 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 12 3.6 IBUs
1.00 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] - Aroma Steep 15.0 min Hop 13 0.0 IBUs
1.00 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Aroma Steep 15.0 min Hop 14 0.0 IBUs
2.0 pkg SafAle English Ale (DCL/Fermentis #S-04) [23.66 ml] Yeast 15 -
0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] - Dry Hop 10.0 Days Hop 16 0.0 IBUs
0.50 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Dry Hop 10.0 Days Hop 17 0.0 IBUs
0.50 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Dry Hop 10.0 Days Hop 18 0.0 IBUs

Est Original Gravity: 1.067 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.015 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 7.0 %
Bitterness: 55.6 IBUs
Calories: 218.7 kcal/12oz
Est Color: 9.2 SRM

Mash Profile: Single Infusion, Light Body, Batch Sparge 150.0 F 75 min
 
Looks very good. You might want a little more bitterness up front, but you'll have to see how it turns out on your system.

You might consider lowering the C60 or dropping it all together. I'm not a big fan of lots of crystal in my IPAs.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I realize that it's a pretty basic recipe. I'm just wondering how well these hops will blend together. I believe I like IPA's with less up-front bitterness, so I guess this will be my way of confirming that.

The use of Crystal malts and their quantities is still something that confuses me a little. I understand that you don't want to use too much, but don't you want to use some for head retention? Is the Crystal 20 enough? I know SMaSH recipies don't use it, but it is beneficial to use a little, right?

I guess I'll have to reread that section in Designing Great Beers!
 
I would use around 3-5% Crystal 20, and drop the 60 all together, if you're concerned about head retention, add like 2-3% carapils for a little more body and head retention.

FYI: Stone IPA is 2-row and C15, that's it.
 
I'm not sure if everybody realizes this is an 11 gal batch, but personally I like some crystal in my IPA's, though 2-1/2 lbs may be a bit too much. I would use 1 lb of each and see if you like it.
 
OK, I modified the hops and removed the C-60. As mentioned above, this is an 11 gal batch.

Ingredients
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
26 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 95.8 %
1 lbs 2.4 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 2 4.2 %
0.50 oz Citra [12.00 %] - First Wort 60.0 min Hop 3 10.2 IBUs
0.75 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 4 11.6 IBUs
0.75 oz Chinook [13.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 5 15.1 IBUs
0.70 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 20.0 min Hop 6 3.6 IBUs
0.70 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Boil 20.0 min Hop 7 6.6 IBUs
0.70 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Boil 20.0 min Hop 8 7.9 IBUs
2.00 Items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins) Fining 9 -
1.00 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 10 2.6 IBUs
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 11 1.7 IBUs
1.00 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 12 3.7 IBUs
0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] - Aroma Steep 15.0 min Hop 13 0.0 IBUs
0.50 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Aroma Steep 15.0 min Hop 14 0.0 IBUs
2.0 pkg SafAle English Ale (DCL/Fermentis #S-04) [23.66 ml] Yeast 15 -
0.70 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] - Dry Hop 10.0 Days Hop 16 0.0 IBUs
0.70 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Dry Hop 10.0 Days Hop 17 0.0 IBUs
0.70 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Dry Hop 10.0 Days Hop 18 0.0 IBUs
 
I'm one of those that likes crystal, my house IPA is 12lb 2row and 1lb C60 mash 150 for 5 gal. I am from the thought that standard IPAs should be a tad darker than IIPAs, and C60 gives a beautiful light copper
 
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