strong mint flavor on an IPA?

[kjm13]

So - I brewed an IPA about 4 weeks ago. 12g batch, split into 2 separate fermenters (each with a different yeast). It came out with a pretty strong mint flavor. More on the one with the Juice yeast, but it's present in both. I'm trying to figure out where it came from. It's kegged now but not done carbing yet, as I'm just using the "set the head pressure and leave it for a week" method, so I'm hoping it will mellow out because I really don't like it... Any one have any thoughts? Recipe is below.

I had never tasted this in a beer before, but coincidentally, just about a week ago, I was at Boston Beer Works, and had a beer that also had this strong mint flavor. It was a colab beer with Barrel House Z called "Townie ITB" I thought it was gross....

Any and all comments are appreciated!

22.39 g Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) (Mash) Water Agent 1 - -
8.40 g Calcium Chloride (Mash) Water Agent 2 - -
2.50 ml Lactic Acid (Mash) Water Agent 3 - -
19 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 4 73.1 % 1.48 gal
2 lbs Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 5 7.7 % 0.16 gal
2 lbs Wheat, Flaked (1.6 SRM) Grain 6 7.7 % 0.16 gal
2 lbs White Wheat Malt (2.4 SRM) Grain 7 7.7 % 0.16 gal
1 lbs Oats, Flaked (1.0 SRM) Grain 8 3.8 % 0.08 gal
2.00 ml Lactic Acid (Sparge) Water Agent 9 - -
1.00 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [17.30 %] - First Wort 60.0 min Hop 10 27.8 IBUs -
1.00 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [17.30 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 11 9.2 IBUs -
1.00 tsp Wyeast Yeast Nutrients (Boil 10.0 mins) Other 12 - -
2.00 oz Citra [13.30 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 15.0 min, 190.0 F Hop 13 12.1 IBUs -
2.00 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.90 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 15.0 min, 190.0 F Hop 14 3.8 IBUs -
1.0 pkg Juice (Imperial Yeast #A38) Yeast 15 - -
1.0 pkg Vermont IPA (Giga Yeast #GY054) Yeast 16 - -
12.00 oz Citra [13.30 %] - Dry Hop 10.0 Days Hop 17 0.0 IBUs -
4.00 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [17.30 %] - Dry Hop 10.0 Days Hop 18 0.0 IBUs -
4.00 oz Galaxy [14.00 %] - Dry Hop 4.0 Days Hop 19 0.0 IBUs -

 

[NGD]

I’ve seen reports of Perle and Northern Brewer hops throwing minty/phelolic compounds described as spearmint or chloroseptic spray in flavor. No idea with your recipe though. Curious as to what greater minds think.

 

[SanPancho]

Polaris is another culprit, although thats more eucalyptus than mint. Still gross.

 

[kjm13]

So the mint flavor mellowed with a little time and carbonation, now just very light in the background of the finish. Was my first time dry hopping with galaxy. Wonder if it was that...

 

[seatazzz]

I'm thinking your palate may be mis-identifying "minty" for something else, possibly "grassy" (could be from hops, how old were they, and how were they packaged?) or something else. The fact that this flavor mellowed out tells me it wasn't phenolic, because trust me that flavor won't go away. It will probably fade even more with some more time.

 

[kjm13]

I'm thinking your palate may be mis-identifying "minty" for something else, possibly "grassy" (could be from hops, how old were they, and how were they packaged?) or something else. The fact that this flavor mellowed out tells me it wasn't phenolic, because trust me that flavor won't go away. It will probably fade even more with some more time.

It’s certainly possible I mis-identified the flavor, but the first thing I thought of when I tasted it was mint toothpaste! Hops were purchased within the last month from Yakima hops. Standard vacuum sealed, and kept in freezer.
It also did ferment down a little more than planned (fg was 1.010 when I was shooting for closer to 1.014, so it’s also pretty dry). I have a few friends who said it’s more of a medicinal finish then mint, so maybe it is me...

 

[kjm13]

Well, I think I figured this out. Just had a beer from lamplighter called “Major Tom”. It’s single hopped with galaxy. Overall it’s a spectacular beer, but I get a hint of mint on the finish. It’s subtle, but that’s what I get. I guess galaxy hops just taste a bit like mint to me...

 

[powerpunk5000]

I woulda throw in some lactose and chocolate extract and made it a dessert IPA