Critique Please

[Phlyborn]

I'm not really wanting to make an IPA this go around so I'd like to make something to achieve the aroma and some of the bitterness you would expect without going all in. So I based this recipe off of the American Pale ale parameters and I'm trying to adjust the grain and hop bill to achieve that IPA feel. Maybe I'm just trying to thread the needle but I figure it's worth a try.
Any suggestions are appreciated.

Batch Size: 6.25 Boil size: 7.125
Boil time: 75min. Eff: 70%
OG: 1.052 FG: 1.013
ABV: 5.0% IBU: 41
SRM: 7.2

11.5lbs Maris Otter
.5lb Victory
.5lb Honey Malt

75min .5oz Apollo 17%, FWH
25min. .5oz Centennial 10.5%
5min. .5oz Simcoe 13%
6 Days 1.0oz Apollo 17%, Dry Hop

American Ale Yeast
Mash @149F for 60min

 

[JustLooking]

I'm not really wanting to make an IPA this go around so I'd like to make something to achieve the aroma and some of the bitterness you would expect without going all in.

You don't even have your big toe in.

 

[Phlyborn]

Ha, yes that is true.

 

[Juno_Malone]

I like throwing 1/4 to 1/2 pound of Carapils in to my APAs for head retention. Also, yours is going to be pretty light/golden - maybe throw in a bit of Caramel 60L or 80L if you'd like to darken it up a bit? I've never used Apollo as a FWH before, that could be interesting. Simcoe and Centennial should work well together for flavor/aroma though! Looks tasty.

 

[bobbrews]

You have a dank-resiny hop combo going with a malt forward, nutty, toasty grist. That combo just doesn't mesh well for me.

For my tastes in a lowly bitter, highly aromatic APA, I would choose a different grist (maybe some combo of pale malt, wheat malt, rye malt, vienna, light munich, light crystal)

I would also change the hop profile as follows:

75 min boil

0.33 oz. Apollo @ 60 min
0.75 oz. Simcoe @ 10 min
0.75 oz. Centennial @ 10 min
1.25 oz. Simcoe @ Hopstand
1.25 oz. Centennial @ Hopstand
0.33 oz. Apollo @ Hopstand
1.50 oz. Simcoe @ 5 Day Dryhop
1.50 oz. Centennial @ 5 Day Dryhop
0.33 oz. Apollo @ 5 Day Dryhop

 

[Phlyborn]

Thanks for your quick replies, I'll take them under consideration.