How much sugar is too much

[shaff1101]

4 pounds of sugar in this batch.

Is it too much? How much is too much? Is there a general rule about how much to add? Any suggestions?

BeerSmith 2 Recipe Printout - http://www.beersmith.com
Recipe: Funky IPA
Brewer:
Asst Brewer:
Style: American IPA
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 15.81 gal
Post Boil Volume: 14.56 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 13.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 12.75 gal
Estimated OG: 1.063 SG
Estimated Color: 7.7 SRM
Estimated IBU: 62.2 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 77.0 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

10 lbs Pale Malt (6 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 34.5 %
10 lbs Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) Grain 2 34.5 %
3 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 3 10.3 %
1 lbs Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 4 3.4 %
1 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 5 3.4 %
4 lbs Corn Sugar (Dextrose) (0.0 SRM) Sugar 6 13.8 %
2.00 oz Warrior [15.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 7 38.6 IBUs
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 8 2.6 IBUs
1.00 oz Chinook [13.00 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 9 5.5 IBUs
1.00 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 10 6.5 IBUs
1.00 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 11 6.1 IBUs
0.50 oz Chinook [13.00 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 10.0 min Hop 12 1.4 IBUs
0.50 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 10.0 min Hop 13 1.5 IBUs
1.0 pkg Safale American (DCL/Fermentis #US-05) [50.28 ml] Yeast 14 -
0.50 oz Chinook [13.00 %] - Dry Hop 5.0 Days Hop 15 0.0 IBUs
0.50 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] - Dry Hop 5.0 Days Hop 16 0.0 IBUs

 

[Calichusetts]

Can I start by asking why you are adding 4 pounds? How thin/dry do you want your final beer and what is your mash temp?

 

[Demus]

I'd also ask why use crystal and carapils that add body, only to thin it back out with corn sugar. What's your goal for this IPA?

 

[m3n00b]

I'm sure this will be fine. I've added up to 1.5lbs to 5 gallons of iipa and it came out excellent. Of course OG was around 1.090

 

[Demus]

13% sugar seems quite high for a 1.063 OG IPA. Personally, I don't think IPA's need any sugar at that strength. They can get a little too "chewy" at about 1.090 or so, but even then I wouldn't go with more than 5% or so. That's my taste though; there's really no rule of thumb as it's up to your taste. If you put 4 pounds in, I hope you like them dry!

 

[AnOldUR]

The generally accepted rule is no more than 10% of your grain bill. You're at almost 14%. A bit high, but like Demus says, not unreasonable if it's to your taste. If I were adding that much, I'd consider feeding the sugar to the fermenter after the yeast had consumed most of the more complex sugars.

 

[shaff1101]

I'd also ask why use crystal and carapils that add body, only to thin it back out with corn sugar. What's your goal for this IPA?

Trying to balance out the body. I guess my goal is a smooth, higher ABV, but not runny (watery) IPA. Would adding the CS thin it out too much? Should I mash at a higher temp? When you talk about dry do you mean alcohol taste or dry (crisp) on the tongue?

 

[shaff1101]

I guess that I see a lot of the hopslam receipes call for a ton of sugar in them. Maybe I will mash at like a 158 and reduce my wort down a bit.

 

[Demus]

Trying to balance out the body. I guess my goal is a smooth, higher ABV, but not runny (watery) IPA. Would adding the CS thin it out too much? Should I mash at a higher temp? When you talk about dry do you mean alcohol taste or dry (crisp) on the tongue?

Corn sugar is 100% fermentable, so it ONLY adds alcohol. This tends thin the body, reduce residual sweetness and thus add by default add relative bitterness. As I said, this can be very useful in higher gravity brews which tend to too heavy and thick. 1.063 isn't really high gravity. I think your recipe looks fairly balanced without the sugar. Have you brewed it before and found it too heavy/sweet? I'd just add more base malt and skip the sugar, and mash about 147 if it's crispness you're after. If you can achieve your desired goal all malt I think you'll get a better beer...