Columbus & Citra IPA- Suggestions?

[msu09]

Hello everyone,

Recently I've been trying to experiment with creating my own recipes. For the past year I've been doing all grain batches with the wonderful recipes on this forum (and there are many). Usually I make 5 gallon batches, but want to try and use a BIAB setup to experiment with smaller volumes. I constructed the following IPA recipe in Beersmith. I wanted to make an IPA that had some citrus and honey overtones and that has a medium body. Any thoughts?

Style: English IPA
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 3.36 gal
Post Boil Volume: 2.61 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 2.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 1.78 gal
Estimated OG: 1.081 SG
Estimated Color: 10.9 SRM
Estimated IBU: 58.9 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 65.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 64.1 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
4 lbs Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) Grain 1 64.0 %
1 lbs Honey Malt (25.0 SRM) Grain 2 16.0 %
4.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 30L (30.0 SRM) Grain 3 4.0 %
0.50 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] - Boil 60. Hop 4 48.9 IBUs
0.40 Items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins) Fining 5 -
0.10 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 6 4.6 IBUs
0.10 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] - Boil 15. Hop 7 5.3 IBUs
1.0 pkg California Ale (White Labs #WLP001) [35. Yeast 8 -
1 lbs Honey (1.0 SRM) Sugar 9 16.0 %


Mash Schedule: BIAB, Full Body
Total Grain Weight: 6 lbs 4.0 oz
----------------------------
Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Saccharification Add 16.91 qt of water at 161.4 F 156.0 F 60 min
Mash Out Heat to 168.0 F over 7 min 168.0 F 10 min

 

[chickypad]

Just a clarification point, but this would be an American IPA not English with those hops and yeast. With a BU:GU ratio of 0.72 and 16% honey malt I'd be worried about it being too sweet and underbittered. I should disclose that I don't have any direct experience with honey malt, the description of " intense honey-like sweetness" sounds yuck to me in an IPA so I have been afraid to try it.

Regarding your late hop additions, you've got the equivalent of .4 oz hops in a 5 gallon batch, which is not nearly enough for a pale ale IMO let alone an IPA. I'd up the 15 min, and add some flameout and dry hops to that.

that's my .02

 

[Billybrewer09]

I use honey malt in almost every beer I make, and I never use more than a half pound.
As for your hops, I would cut your 60 min addition in half and definitely double your late additions.
Good luck!

I should note that the half pound honey malt I use is in 5.5 gal batches.

 

[stevedasleeve]

Seems way short on hops & IBUS. For my 1.080ish IIPAs or imperials I go over 130 calculated. Off the top of my head, not knowing your aa% I'd go .25 Columbus at 60, 45, 30, and 0.5 at 20, 1 Citra at 10 and 5 and throw in a combination at 0. Honey malt works well IMHO but I agree I'd cut it to 4 oz. also if it were me I'd just use cane sugar over honey. Oh and I mash much much lower for a hop forward big beer 148-50 f.

Citra and Columbus are a fantastic hop combination btw!

 

[msu09]

And this is why I love these forums! I learn new things every time I log on. I made some changes... any thoughts?

Style: American IPA
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 3.36 gal
Post Boil Volume: 2.61 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 2.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 1.78 gal
Estimated OG: 1.079 SG
Estimated Color: 7.9 SRM
Estimated IBU: 115.2 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 65.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 63.3 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
4 lbs 8.0 oz Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) Grain 1 75.0 %
4.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 30L (30.0 SRM) Grain 2 4.2 %
4.0 oz Honey Malt (25.0 SRM) Grain 3 4.2 %
0.25 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] - Boil 60. Hop 4 24.9 IBUs
0.25 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] - Boil 45. Hop 5 25.2 IBUs
0.25 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Boil 30.0 min Hop 6 18.1 IBUs
0.25 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] - Boil 30. Hop 7 21.1 IBUs
0.25 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] - Boil 20. Hop 8 16.6 IBUs
0.40 Items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins) Fining 9 -
0.50 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 10 9.4 IBUs
1.0 pkg California Ale (White Labs #WLP001) [35. Yeast 11 -
1 lbs Honey (1.0 SRM) Sugar 12 16.7 %
1.00 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Dry Hop 7.0 Days Hop 13 0.0 IBUs
0.50 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] - Dry Hop Hop 14 0.0 IBUs


Mash Schedule: BIAB, Light Body
Total Grain Weight: 6 lbs
----------------------------
Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Saccharification Add 14.91 qt of water at 153.2 F 147.9 F 90 min
Mash Out Heat to 168.0 F over 7 min 168.0 F 10 min

 

[Billybrewer09]

This is just my personal opinion, I would cut the crystal and honey malt in half and add that amount in base malt.
I think for 2 gal you will be a bit too sweet.
As for the hops, I would do a 60 with CTZ,
Then nothing until 15 min.
With the 45&30 min addition I think will add too much bitterness.

 

[benflath]

Agree on the 45 & 30 min additions, specifically as 30 seems early for citra. Granted I've never put them in before 15, but they have such a great aroma I'd hate to lose it.

As far as the sweetness goes... you won't know 'til you try it, so I say keep the grain as is.