critique APA recipe

[brewseph_stalin]

Hello everyone!

Give me your thoughts on this recipe please

Original Gravity:
1.054
Final Gravity:
1.014
ABV (standard):
5.35%
IBU (tinseth):
35.8
SRM (morey):
9.43
Fermentables
Amount Fermentable PPG °L Bill %
6 lb Liquid Malt Extract - Extra Light 37 2.5 60%

Steeping Grains

2 lb American - Pale 2-Row
1 lb American - Caramel / Crystal 40L
8 oz American - Carapils (Dextrine Malt)
8 oz American - Victory

Hops
Amount Variety Type AA Use Time IBU
0.5 oz Citra Pellet 11 Boil 60 min 12.34
0.5 oz Amarillo Pellet 8.6 Boil 60 min 9.65
0.5 oz Cascade Pellet 7 Boil 60 min 7.86
0.5 oz Amarillo Pellet 8.6 Boil 5 min 1.92
0.5 oz Citra Pellet 11 Boil 5 min 2.46
0.5 oz Cascade Pellet 7 Boil 5 min 1.57
0.5 oz Amarillo Pellet 8.6 Dry Hop 5 days
0.5 oz Citra Pellet 11 Dry Hop 5 days
0.5 oz Cascade Pellet 7 Dry Hop 5 days

Other Ingredients
Amount Name Type Use Time
1 tsp Yeast Nutrient Other Boil 10 min.
1 tablet Whirlfloc Fining Boil 10 min.

Yeast
White Labs - California Ale Yeast WLP001

-

 

[m1k3]

Citra at 60 is a waste.

3 hops in a bittering addition is overkill.
Just pick one hop to bitter with... Magnum/Warrior/Columbus are good.

I guess the Dry hop is fine these days but I like to separate my APA from my session IPA.
(therefore I don't dry hop my APA)

 

[m1k3]

oh, and for the positives...

1.054 is spot on.

and WLP001 is great!

 

[Qhrumphf]

I would cut out the Carapils entirely, and cut the crystal 40L down to 8-12 oz.

Switching to a sole high-alpha hop for bittering as mentioned above would work too. Citra is likely the highest of the three, so I'd probably go with that. I'd highly recommend Magnum (although Citra is a similar AA so in your case I'd stick with that). I'm not a fan of Warrior or Columbus. Would although theoretically allow you to round things to the whole ounce in the batch so you don't have leftovers (assuming you're not buying hops by the pound yet).

Also make sure you're giving enough time in the right temp range for conversion. Both the Victory but especially the 2-row will need to convert. Go 45 mins to an hour at 150-155 and you'll be good to go. Congrats, this is a partial mash beer, not an extract beer.

 

[crusader1612]

assumin this is 5gal - you have too many specialties, particularly becuase you partial mash.

halve you C40 addition at least
alternatively do this.


Steeping Grains
3 lb American - Pale 2-Row
1 lb American - Caramel / Crystal 40L

 

[brewseph_stalin]

So kick the victory for sure, but why the dextrine? I have it in there for head retention, could someone elaborate? As far as the hop schedule, I'm definitely looking to brew an APA so I'll probably kick the dry hop too. Although one mans pale is another mans IPA lol but I'm down to save money and my apologies for posting in the wrong forum

 

[Qhrumphf]

You could leave the Victory. I think it works well in the style but isn't for everyone. Dry hopping an APA is just fine.

Carapils/dextrine malt is a waste in general. If you brew properly you won't need it. It won't do anything thr Crystal 40 won't do. Together it's WAY to much.

 

[TurnipGreen]

I've been doning a couple SMASH APAs 'cause I drink a lot of APA and I want to get my hops bill dialed. I think in doning that I've convinced my self I don't like citra as a bittering hops. That's just my preference, so take it for what it's worth.

It think you're good with the grain bill. The carapils won't do much for you unless you had challenges getting a nice head on your beers.

WPL 001 is a solid yeast, if you want to be a bit adventurous, I really like using a dry English ale yeast in an APA.

Looks great! let us know what you settled on and how it turned out.

 

[brewseph_stalin]

I decided to change the buttering hop to Magnum. Remove the carapils and the victory and Up the crystal 40 to 3lbs. Hopefully be Brewing this on one of my days off this week, really excited for this recipe as it's my first recipe I designed on my own (with your help of course)

 

[Qhrumphf]

3lbs of crystal is WAY WAY WAY too much. If that's what you want to do, by all means do it, but I'd be surprised if that's not undrinkable.

 

[Yooper]

3lbs of crystal is WAY WAY WAY too much. If that's what you want to do, by all means do it, but I'd be surprised if that's not undrinkable.

Agreed. I'd suggest no more than 10% of any crystal malt, total, and preferably more like 7%. Any malt that has the word cara- or crystal in it should be counted in that percentage.

Remember that most malt extracts also have carapils in them, so you'd be doubling up on that plus adding too much crystal 40L. "Less is more" really applies here.

 

[brewseph_stalin]

Lol whoops

I meant the 2row guys lol the crystal stays at 1lb

 

[bigplunkett]

Dont waste the good hops on bitering just use an oz or so of ctz. Move the hops to the end u wont regret it.

 

[brewseph_stalin]

Finally got around to brewing this. I ended up using DME and My local shop didn't have magnum hops in 1 oz so I brewed with an oz citra as my first wort hop. Estimated OG was 1.061, actual OG was 1.043, not sure where I dropped the ball there :/ but from the picture you can see it is happily fermenting either way.

 

[sendai]

Carapils/dextrine malt is a waste in general. If you brew properly you won't need it.

What do I need to do to brew properly to get the same effect as carapils?

 

[Qhrumphf]

What do I need to do to brew properly to get the same effect as carapils?

Nothing. That's the point. A proper recipe and mash protocol will not need any effect from carapils. Use it if you want, but if you're not happy with the body or head retention of your beers throwing carapils at it is a lazy fix.

 

[sendai]

Understood, but I'm looking for specific suggestions. What recipe and mash protocol changes do you suggest to improve body and head retention?

Here's a concrete example if that helps you:

6lb maris otter
0.5lb carastan
single infusion mash at 156*
1oz uk goldings @60
1oz uk goldings @10
s-04 yeast
carbonated to 1.8 vols

The body is a little too light and head retention almost non-existent. How can I improve both without substantially changing the flavor and balance of the beer?

 

[Qhrumphf]

Understood, but I'm looking for specific suggestions. What recipe and mash protocol changes do you suggest to improve body and head retention?

Here's a concrete example if that helps you:

6lb maris otter
0.5lb carastan
single infusion mash at 156*
1oz uk goldings @60
1oz uk goldings @10
s-04 yeast
carbonated to 1.8 vols

The body is a little too light and head retention almost non-existent. How can I improve both without substantially changing the flavor and balance of the beer?

Flaked grains would be my suggestion. Flaked barley probably. Maybe half a pound.

However low head and head retention with lowish carb is very normal. That can potentially lower the impression of body as well. With where you're headed I'd expect a light, quaffable beer.

 

[sendai]

Thanks. That was helpful.

Honest question: Why is it okay to use flaked grains but carapils is a "waste" and a "lazy fix"?

 

[Qhrumphf]

Thanks. That was helpful.

Honest question: Why is it okay to use flaked grains but carapils is a "waste" and a "lazy fix"?

Because if you're already mashing that high, dextrins aren't your problem. Flaked grains add a distinct impact, moreso than carapils. Not a matter of "okay" or not.

Do you normally carb beers to 1.8 volumes? If so, do other beers have the same issues? I'd guess it's carb related and you're just not used to it. And for the record I'd brew that as is, same carb or a touch lowe, maybe even with a lower mash temp. Shouldn't have any body or head problems as is anyway.

 

[sendai]

I try to carb as appropriate for the style. That one was a British Bitter, so I carbed at 1.8 vols. It was actually too much: the flavor of the carbonation competed too much with the malt. I'd go lower next time.

For American styles I tend to carbonate at between 2.4 and 2.8 vols.