Central City Red Racer IPA

[trav77]

AKA Red Betty IPA (in the US I think). NOT aka Racer 5.

Anyone had any luck cloning this beer? It's easily my favourite IPA produced in Canada and one of my top overall.

Specifications and malt/hops are on their website so it was fairly easy reverse engineering this in BeerSmith.

From their website:

ABV: 6.5%
IBU: 80
Malts: UK Maris Otter, Superior Pale Ale Malt, Carastan Crystal Malt
Hops: German Magnum, Centennial, Amarillo, Simcoe
Colour/Clarity: Amber to Orange, Bright
SRM: 14

The only thing that gets me stuck is the SRM. Using only Gambrinus ESB (3.5 L) and Carastan (35 L) I can't get anywhere near 14 SRM. More like 8 SRM using a full pound in 5 gallons (somewhere like 6-7% iirc).

Anyone have any insight into this one? An easy solution would be to add some crystal 120 but I was trying to stick to a true clone if possible since they publish their exact ingredients.

 

[atom]

you're right...no way they are getting that color with only those ingredients (without being an obscene amount of crystal). easy solution would be to add a small amout of carafa III to get the right color.

 

[VictoryAle]

I've thought about this as well, as it is definitely one of my favorites. To get that colour one would need a lot of Carastan, but it does seem to me like Central City does use a generous amount. Maybe they boil long and get some colour that way? But yeah, it doesn't seem to add up.

In the glass, it's such a beautiful colour! No doubt, a massive dry hop would be crucial to get the amazingly pungent hops aroma. Not sure I have ever had another IPA with that intensity of aroma!

 

[trav77]

Yes I agree it definitely has a good dose of Carastan.

This is what I'm thinking. Maybe 10% is too much but I would guess it's closer to 10 than it is to 5. The Carafa III seems like cheating but I just don't see how they get to 14 SRM with that grain bill...

I just used this hop schedule in a NE style IPA and it's certainly pretty close to the Red Racer hop profile. I'll have to grab some on the weekend and compare side by side (although everything else about my IPA is different...)

Estimated OG: 1.061 SG
Estimated Color: 14.2 SRM
Estimated IBU: 79.7 IBUs

6000.00 g ESB Pale Malt (Gambrinus) (3.5 SRM) Grain 89.2 %
650.00 g Carastan (35.0 SRM) Grain 9.7 %
75.00 g Carafa III (525.0 SRM) Grain 1.1 %

45.00 g Magnum [12.30 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 52.9 IBUs

15.00 g Amarillo [6.90 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 3.6 IBUs
15.00 g Centennial [7.70 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 4.0 IBUs
15.00 g Simcoe [11.10 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 5.8 IBUs

30.00 g Amarillo [6.90 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 10. Hop 3.6 IBUs
30.00 g Centennial [7.70 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 1 Hop 4.0 IBUs
30.00 g Simcoe [11.10 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 10.0 Hop 5.8 IBUs

60.00 g Amarillo [6.90 %] - Dry Hop 5.0 Days Hop 0.0 IBUs
60.00 g Centennial [7.70 %] - Dry Hop 5.0 Days Hop 0.0 IBUs
60.00 g Simcoe [11.10 %] - Dry Hop 5.0 Days Hop 0.0 IBUs

1.0 pkg Safale American (DCL/Fermentis #US-05)

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Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Mash In Add 21.17 l of water at 75.4 C 66.0 C 60 min