Belgian Red IPA

[sdillow]

Looking for some feedback on a recipe. I'm still a little wishy-washy on how hoppy it is. I really want to try the Amarillo-Saaz mixture and get something kind of a deep red with a little spicyness and less fruityness. Thoughts?

Style: Belgian Specialty Ale
TYPE: All Grain

Recipe Specifications
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Batch Size: 5.50 gal
Boil Size: 7.22 gal
Estimated OG: 1.058 SG
Estimated Color: 19.7 SRM
Estimated IBU: 64.4 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.00 %
Boil Time: 75 Minutes

Ingredients:
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Amount Item Type % or IBU
9 lbs 8.0 oz Pilsner (2 Row) Bel (2.0 SRM) Grain 76.00 %
1 lbs 8.0 oz Carahell (10.0 SRM) Grain 12.00 %
12.0 oz Aromatic Malt (26.0 SRM) Grain 6.00 %
4.0 oz Special B Malt (180.0 SRM) Grain 2.00 %
0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (Dry Hop 3 days) Hops -
0.50 oz Saaz [4.00 %] (Dry Hop 3 days) Hops -
1.00 oz Chinook [13.00 %] (75 min) Hops 43.2 IBU
0.50 oz Chinook [13.00 %] (30 min) Hops 15.9 IBU
0.75 oz Saaz [4.00 %] (10 min) Hops 3.5 IBU
0.75 oz Saaz [4.00 %] (5 min) Hops 1.9 IBU
0.75 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (0 min) Hops -
0.75 oz Saaz [4.00 %] (0 min) Hops -
1.00 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
1.00 tsp Yeast Nutrient (Primary 3.0 days) Misc
8.0 oz Candi Sugar, Dark (275.0 SRM) Sugar 4.00 %
1 Pkgs Belgian Ale (White Labs #WLP550) Yeast-Ale

Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Medium Body, Batch Sparge
Total Grain Weight: 12.00 lb
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Single Infusion, Medium Body, Batch Sparge
Step Time Name Description Step Temp
90 min Mash In Add 15.00 qt of water at 167.0 F 154.0 F

 

[sdillow]

Bump

 

[SixStringBeer]

Amarillo and Saaz are delicious together, but keep in mind it's easy for the former to overpower the latter. Personally I would drop the second Chinook addition, and up the amount of Saaz you're using (maybe 1oz each at 5 and 10, and in the dry-hop). Maybe add a quarter of an ounce Amarillo addition at 5 and 10 too. That might be a bit overboard for what you want though.

Just of note, be careful using candi syrup in lower gravity IPAs. I find it's really easy to over do it and have the end result be way too dry and bitter. Personally I would skip the syrup and use some Caramunich III and a tiny bit more Special B instead. Would probably scrap the Carahell and Aromatic if you go that route as all those together would probably be overkill.