Compensating for different A.A. levels in hops

[Redleg84]

What do you do if the A.A. level is lower (or higher) for the same hops listed in a recipe? Is there a way to compensate for the level difference?

I just brewed up a Dead Guy Ale clone that called for Perle at 7.5 A.A. and the Perle I purchased was marked at around 5.5 or 6.5.

I brewed it as is and I'm hoping it'll come out ok, but I figured I'd ask for future brews.

Is this something to be concerned about?

 

[Redlantern]

Laziness has adjusted my thinking and I adjust qty of hops for desired IBU's using beersmith

 

[BigEd]

What do you do if the A.A. level is lower (or higher) for the same hops listed in a recipe? Is there a way to compensate for the level difference?

I just brewed up a Dead Guy Ale clone that called for Perle at 7.5 A.A. and the Perle I purchased was marked at around 5.5 or 6.5.

I brewed it as is and I'm hoping it'll come out ok, but I figured I'd ask for future brews.

Is this something to be concerned about?

Remember algebra? It's pretty useful for brewing sometimes. To answer your last question, not necessarily a concern but the difference should at least be looked at and then you can decide what to do about it. The AA differential can be accounted for by changing the quantity of the hops.

7.5 = 5.5(X)

7.5/5.5 = X

1.36 = X, so 1.36units of 5.5AA will yield the same AA as one unit of 7.5AA.

Whatever the quantity of bittering hops was in the recipe @ 7.5AA, use 1.36 times that quantity of 5.5AA to give the same amount of Alpha Acids. So for example if the recipe called for 3 ounces of 7.5, 4 ounces ( 3 X 1.36 = 4.08) of 5.5 will get you to the same place.

If you are using a brewing program, plug in the adjusted quantity and see the results.

 

[BigMack]

I use Beersmith to adjust the bittering addition to the same IBUs, but I leave any flavor or aroma additions unadjusted.

 

[Redleg84]

If only they told me that algebra was going to help me be beer in the future I'd have paid more attention.

Thanks guys, this was something I should have asked before. I wasn't did if you could add me or less and get the desired effect.

 

[RM-MN]

Now that you have the answer to the question you asked (and it was a good question) perhaps the real question you wanted to ask is, "will I notice the difference in the beer if I use these hops with a different AA rating if I have never drunk this exact recipe before?"

 

[ChelisHubby]

Now that you have the answer to the question you asked (and it was a good question) perhaps the real question you wanted to ask is, "will I notice the difference in the beer if I use these hops with a different AA rating if I have never drunk this exact recipe before?"

He speaks the truth!