Grapefruit Zest in IPA

[kye77]

Im about to dry hop my 2.5 gallon IPA in a few days. When i was picking up some hops, I saw grapefruit zest hanging out in the fridge at the local shop. I love grapefruit IPA's so i thought i would give it a shot and dry hop with it.
How much zest should i use for it to kick through my IPA? The original gravity is 1.060 if that helps figure it out.

As far as sanitation goes, I'm thinking about putting it in a hop sock and letting it sit in 160 degree water for a few minutes. Is that enough heat to kill any bacteria?

Thanks guys!

 

[Mainer]

With citrus, I've read that you get better flavor out of it with a short boil. Maybe simmer it for 5-10 minutes on the stove, then cool and pitch? I wouldn't give it much more than an ounce, ounce-and-a-half.

 

[Jawbox0]

I don't have a great answer, but I suggest trying a grapefruit zest tea first to get a feeling for what it will add to the beer.

 

[BrewerBrad82]

I have had great luck by soaking the zest in just enough vodka to completely cover it. Let that sit around for a few days and then just dump it all in the batch of beer. The vodka will sanitize it all, and it also helps to draw out a lot of the grapefruit flavor.

 

[atom]

i just did brewed an ipa that i "dry-zested" with 3 oz...personally i dind't think it was enough and would probably do an oz/gal next time.

 

[WarmGas]

I have had great luck by soaking the zest in just enough vodka to completely cover it. Let that sit around for a few days and then just dump it all in the batch of beer. The vodka will sanitize it all, and it also helps to draw out a lot of the grapefruit flavor.

This is what I do and it works great. I also just go buy two grapefruits and after washing them without soap in hot water use a cheese grater and get my own natural zest. It makes a huge floral impact on an IPA and I am actually just now off to my LHBS to get ingredients for my next one.

 

[kye77]

Thanks guys! Everyone seems to be on board about sanitizing it with vodka so ill give it a shot! I only have an oz. of zest i got from the store. I might mix it with some fresh zest and see where that takes me. Unless you guys think its a bad idea mixing two different types of zests.

 

[GHBWNY]

I have had great luck by soaking the zest in just enough vodka to completely cover it. Let that sit around for a few days and then just dump it all in the batch of beer. The vodka will sanitize it all, and it also helps to draw out a lot of the grapefruit flavor.

Yup, this^.

 

[Mainer]

Thanks guys! Everyone seems to be on board about sanitizing it with vodka so ill give it a shot! I only have an oz. of zest i got from the store. I might mix it with some fresh zest and see where that takes me. Unless you guys think its a bad idea mixing two different types of zests.

Mixing's not problematic, but I just noticed you're working with a 2.5 gallon batch, not 5 gallon. 1oz is probably as much as you need. It might even be more than you need.

 

[govner1]

Im about to dry hop my 2.5 gallon IPA in a few days. When i was picking up some hops, I saw grapefruit zest hanging out in the fridge at the local shop. I love grapefruit IPA's so i thought i would give it a shot and dry hop with it.

How much zest should i use for it to kick through my IPA? The original gravity is 1.060 if that helps figure it out.



As far as sanitation goes, I'm thinking about putting it in a hop sock and letting it sit in 160 degree water for a few minutes. Is that enough heat to kill any bacteria?



Thanks guys!

I routinely brew a Grapefruit Wheat IPA. At packaging (kegging for me) I take the zest from one grapefruit and make a tea by boiling 2 cups of water, add the zest, let it steep until cool. I add this tea to six gal of beer.