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Ster

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What if you increased your bittering hops a lot, and reduced your boiling time by the same multiple? Mathematically, IBUs would be the same. What would the result really be? Could you spend a few extra $ on hops and brew a beer in 15 minutes?
 
The isomerization of hop acids aren't the only thing happening during the boil, though.
 
one other thing you'd have to figure out is your sugar to water ratio. You boil off water during the hour plus boil which makes your wort more concentrated thus making a higher gravity.
 
Boiling for a shorter time means more hops flavor and aroma, and less bitterness.

That's the principle behind "hopbursting". I have several recipes that have hops added starting at 15 minutes left in the boil, through whirlpool additions. Here's the hopping in one I'm drinking at this exact moment:
2.50 oz Galaxy [14.80 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 13 33.3 IBUs
2.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 14 4.0 IBUs
3.00 oz Galaxy [14.00 %] - Boil 0.0 min Hop 15 0.0 IBUs

As you can see, there are still 37 IBUs from this hops schedule- just using more hops (2.5 oz at 15 minutes instead of 1 oz at 60 minutes). It has much more hops flavor and aroma than a 60 minute addition, though, and that is a big advantage of hopbursting.

I still boil my wort for 60 minutes, for an all-grain batch. If you're making a batch with extract, which doesn't need to boil, the 15 minute boil is sufficient.
 
Wow. I am still doing extract. Thanks. I may try this next.
 
wow, that's a lot of hops. what is the style of beer?
seems like it should be in the APA or something like that but with no early additions I'm confused.
Just one more thing on the list to read about...
 
I've done a 15 minute and a 30 minute boil with extract, upping the hops a bit. The beers turned out fine. Try it.
 
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