Imperial IPA - Extract Recipe Concerns

[PurplePope]

I'm looking to brew an imperial IPA with extract. I think this might be challenging. I think its important to finish dry in this style. Anything too malty, sweet, or harsh alcoholly is just plain bad here. This is my first attempt and would really appreciate some feedback / criticism before I sink the time and money into the attempt.

I plan to use roughly 15% simple sugar to dry it out.

I'm also experimenting with Belma hops. If anyone has any experience here, would be awesome.

I'm also wondering if I'm over-hopping (if that's even possible).

Here's the recipe I came up with:

Brew Method: Extract
Style Name: Imperial IPA
Boil Time: 60 min
Batch Size: 5.5 gallons (fermentor volume)
Boil Size: 6 gallons
Boil Gravity: 1.077

STATS:
Original Gravity: 1.084
Final Gravity: 1.024
ABV (standard): 7.96%
IBU (tinseth): 80.58
SRM (morey): 13.41

FERMENTABLES:
9.75 lb - Liquid Malt Extract - Light (68%)
2 lb - Cane Sugar (14%)

STEEPING GRAINS:
0.86 lb - American - Caramel / Crystal 40L (6%)
0.86 lb - American - Carapils (Dextrine Malt) (6%)
0.43 lb - American - Caramel / Crystal 120L (3%)
0.43 lb - American - Munich - Dark 20L (3%)

HOPS:
1 oz - Super Galena, Type: Pellet, AA: 12, Use: Boil for 60 min, IBU: 32.46
0.5 oz - Belma, Type: Pellet, AA: 10.4, Use: Boil for 20 min, IBU: 8.52
0.5 oz - Cascade, Type: Pellet, AA: 7, Use: Boil for 20 min, IBU: 5.73
0.5 oz - Belma, Type: Pellet, AA: 10.4, Use: Boil for 15 min, IBU: 6.98
0.5 oz - Cascade, Type: Pellet, AA: 7, Use: Boil for 15 min, IBU: 4.7
0.75 oz - Belma, Type: Pellet, AA: 10.4, Use: Boil for 10 min, IBU: 7.65
0.75 oz - Cascade, Type: Pellet, AA: 7, Use: Boil for 10 min, IBU: 5.15
1 oz - Belma, Type: Pellet, AA: 10.4, Use: Boil for 5 min, IBU: 5.61
1 oz - Cascade, Type: Pellet, AA: 7, Use: Boil for 5 min, IBU: 3.78
2 oz - Belma, Type: Pellet, AA: 10.4, Use: Boil for 0 min
2 oz - Cascade, Type: Pellet, AA: 7, Use: Boil for 0 min
2 oz - Belma, Type: Pellet, AA: 10.4, Use: Dry Hop for 5 days
2 oz - Cascade, Type: Pellet, AA: 7, Use: Dry Hop for 5 days

YEAST:
Fermentis / Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05
Fermentation Temp: 65 F
Pitch Rate: 22 grams (2 yeast packs)

 

[chickypad]

I think you've got way too much crystal especially if you are concerned about finishing high. At over 2 lbs that's 15% which is more than I would use in just about anything let alone a DIPA. If you're including crystal I would keep it to 5%. I can't believe I'm saying this but IMO you may be a bit over doing it with the hops. Especially if experimenting with a new hop to you I'd consider backing that down on the first go, you can always increase the additions on later versions if you like the recipe. Or you can ignore that and go for it

 

[Yooper]

I think you've got way too much crystal especially if you are concerned about finishing high. At over 2 lbs that's 15% which is more than I would use in just about anything let alone a DIPA. If you're including crystal I would keep it to 5%. I can't believe I'm saying this but IMO you may be a bit over doing it with the hops. Especially if experimenting with a new hop to you I'd consider backing that down on the first go, you can always increase the additions on later versions if you like the recipe. Or you can ignore that and go for it

I also think it's too much crystal.

Go with about .5-1 pound total, as it seems like you've got 12% there according to your recipe. You want 5-7% at a max.

I have no issues with using a pound or two of sugar, and think that would be fine.

I'm not familiar with belma hops, so I can't speak to the flavor of those but I do like 1-2 oz for each hops addition in total, and I generally will do that at 60/15/10/5/0 and dryhop. You want big hops flavor and aroma.

 

[hopbrad]

the sugar will dry it out, but then the steeping grains are going to sweeten it up. im not sure what is a good ratio, i'd do 1.5 lbs of sugar and .5 lbs of the steeping grains.
the hops should give it plenty of head so i'd completely cut out the carapils.
I've never used Belma, the description looks to be fruity. Maybe add in a piney hop to battle the sweetness that you are worried about. regardless i think youll have a nice beer. but for sure lighten up on the crystal malts.

 

[PurplePope]

Thanks for the feedback. Didn't realized I was overdoing it on the crystal. That would have been a bummer.

I'm also going to scale back on the belma hops only the air on the side of caution. May up my cascades, undecided.

I plan on brewing this weekend. Plan to follow up with results.

Thanks again!

 

[bozizle]

You will be fine with that hop schedule I have played with Belma for awhile now and the cascade will dominate the flavor and Belma will add a nice berry softer hop profile.

 

[chickypad]

That was my main concern, it being a new hop to you. I'm usually of the mind that you can't have too many hops, but I overdid it the first time I used citra and ended up with a fruit bomb that wasn't really what I wanted. Sounds like Belma may be a little more mellow, though.

 

[PurplePope]

You will be fine with that hop schedule I have played with Belma for awhile now and the cascade will dominate the flavor and Belma will add a nice berry softer hop profile.

Very awesome. Just what I was looking for. Do you have any recipe recomendations for using belma? I have a fair amount of it and I'd like to play around with it some more.

Thanks!

 

[Pattidrum]

Just curious as to how this came out. Did u bottle/keg yet? Or at least sample? Or aging it? Lol a little anxious cuz I was thinking bout trying something similar. Not any time soon, but would be nice to keep this as some brewing notes. Ill probably do that anyway.



Primary: Nothing
Secondary: Paddy's Pale Ale
Bottled: Nothing