LVBen's IIPA

Name: LVBen's IIPA
Style: IIPA
Type: All Grain
Batch Size: 5 gallons
60 minute boil
Estimated Efficiency: (77.5%)

Est Original Gravity: 1.084 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.021 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 8.20 %
Bitterness: 102.3 IBU
Calories: 386 cal/pint
Est Color: 5.1 SRM

14.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 93.33 %
1.00 lb Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 6.67 %
2.50 oz Magnum [12.50 %] (60 min) Hops 87.2 IBU
1.00 oz Cascade [5.40 %] (20 min) Hops 9.1 IBU
2.00 oz Cascade [5.40 %] (5 min) Hops 6.0 IBU
2.00 oz Cascade [5.40 %] (Dry Hop 5 days) Hops




I was aiming for a 69% brewhouse efficiency, 4-gallon, 9.00% abv beer, but I ended up with 5-gallons and a 77.5% brewhouse efficiency. Beersmith is estimating an FG of 1.021 and an abv of 8.20%, but I am hoping for a lower FG, because I want to be closer to 9.00%.

What temp did you mash at? What yeast did you use?

Sounds like a tasty recipe to me, I would guess that you would end up lower than 1.021 with only 1 lb of carapils assuming a mash temp around 150 and American ale yeast.

You could consider adding a pound or so of refined sugar to boost the alcohol without adding sweetness, pretty much standard for brewing a big hoppy beer for me. Just boil it in some water to sanitize/dissolve, cool and pour into the beer in primary.

I was aiming for 152°F, but I was using a 10-gallon aluminum pot on my stove-top, and it was hard to keep the temperature constant, so there was a lot of fluctuation between 150 and 154. I was planning on making a starter with a bottle of Stone IPA, but I ended up being too busy the days preceding brew day, and since I like to keep my $s/beer low, I ended up just pitching a packet of Muntons Dry Ale Yeast.