CitraGalactic IPA

[jinxjinx]

13 lbs 12.8 oz Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 94.0 %
14.1 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 2 6.0 %
1.00 oz Galaxy [13.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 3 37.5 IBUs
0.50 oz Citra [14.50 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 4 20.9 IBUs
0.50 oz Citra [14.50 %] - Boil 30.0 min Hop 5 16.1 IBUs
1.00 oz Citra [14.50 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 6 20.7 IBUs
1.00 oz Galaxy [13.00 %] - Boil 0.0 min

Hello everyone!

I have been lurking around these forums for a little while now and I have much respect for the experience and opinions of you all. I am looking for some advice on my hop schedule for this beer. I have heard that these hops are pretty similar and using them together might not showcase their individual characteristics in the best way, but, I have them on hand and would like to use them. That being said, any ideas?

 

[mytommygundont]

I'd move your 60 min addition of Citra to 20 minutes or less. I haven't used Citra for bittering but I have heard it's rather harsh. Also do .5 oz of Citra at 15 min and .5 oz of Citra at 5 min. My two cents.

I've done this Zombie Dust Clone a couple of times and the citra really shine. Keep most of your additions late and you should have a really good beer.

 

[daksin]

Citra is an expensive and difficult-to-acquire hop to be wasting in a bittering addition. Also, leave out any 30 minute additions from now on- they don't contribute as many IBUs as 60 minute additions, but 30 minutes of boiling will drive off all of the flavor and aroma components you're trying to get into your beer. In my opinion, Galaxy is a nice bittering hop that manages to retain some pleasant aroma characteristics, a decent all-around hop, but not a star-of-the-show hop like Citra.

My preference for IPA hop schedules is like this:

60min bittering addition to hit IBU target (Calculate your late addition IBUs first, then come back and adjust bittering to target)

20, 15, 10, 5, 0

In this case, you could go 0.5oz citra (20) 0.5 oz galaxy (15) 0.5 oz citra (10) 0.5 oz galaxy (5) 0.5oz citra (0) with bittering to taste, or some other combination depending on how much hops you have. If you're limited, grab another High alpha hop for your bittering if you've got some.

That's a 94 IBU IPA, if my addition is correct. I didn't do the math to check that your IBU contribution math was correct though- what are you using to calculate it? Looks about right at first glance.

94 IBU is too high for an IPA, in my opinion, and pushing it for a IIPA. What's your estimated OG?

 

[jinxjinx]

13 lbs 12.8 oz Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 94.0 %
14.1 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 2 6.0 %
0.50 oz Galaxy [13.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 3 18.7 IBUs
0.50 oz Citra [14.50 %] - Boil 20.0 min Hop 4 12.7 IBUs
0.50 oz Galaxy [14.00 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 5 10.0 IBUs
0.50 oz Citra [14.50 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 6 7.6 IBUs
0.50 oz galaxy [14.50 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 7 4.2 IBUs
0.50 oz Citra [14.50 %] - Boil 0.0 min Hop 8 0.0 IBUs
1.0 pkg California Ale (White Labs #WLP001) [35.49 ml]

Thanks for the advice mytommygundont and daksin! You were right, my IBUs were at 95. My estimated OG is 1.077 according to Beersmith. I dont know if I have my equipment accurately represented though. That is another thing I need help with lol. This hop schedule brings me to 53.1 IBUs. That is right in the middle of the scale. Thanks!

 

[wonderbread23]

I personally love bittering with citra. It has a pretty low cohumulone level and high alpha. I've never experienced any harshness from it. Scarcity isn't an issue for me since I bought 2lbs of it from HopDirect once the 2011 crop came online.

 

[mytommygundont]

I personally love bittering with citra. It has a pretty low cohumulone level and high alpha. I've never experienced any harshness from it. Scarcity isn't an issue for me since I bought 2lbs of it from HopDirect once the 2011 crop came online.

Maybe someday when my Citra supply is plentiful enough...Even the lb I have in my freezer seems so fleeting. I'm afraid the growers are going to pull a Simcoe and I'll have to pay $35 a lb for my new favorite hop. Also, I have a ton of Summit right now and that's been going in most of my APA/IPAs as the bittering hop.

jinxjinx-You could up your 60 min Galaxy addition if you like your IPAs more bitter. Just from 2 comments, you cut your IBUs by 40. Personally, I would have left that addition alone.

 

[flabyboy]

I would reduce your bittering (60 min) additions drastically. Maybe use closer to 0.5 oz at 60 min or FWH. Then make a 1 - 1.5 oz addition at 10 min and then a big 3-4 oz addition at flameout and whirlpool for 15 mins. save another 2 oz for dry hopping. I hate IPAs that are all early bittering. the flavor and aroma just isnt there. You will get some bitterness just by doing the whirlpool

edit this was in response to your first post. I would add more late additions to your second post

 

[bobbrews]

flabyboy has given you the best advice

I would also recommend dryhopping.

 

[daksin]

Definitely do a dry hop for any IPA. I would also make sure you get the IBUs back up, just add some more galaxy to your 60 minute addition. For an IPA I like to have a BU:GU ratio (bitterness units to gravity units) of at least 1 IBU per gravity point. You can go higher if you want, but that's a good starting point, so shoot for 75-77 IBU. I think it's a nice balance.