Imperious IPA Recipe

[Torchiest]

Okay, I think this is the final version of my Imperial IPA that I'll be brewing in a week. However, I want to throw it up here for review in case there might be anything that needs tweaking. This is by far my most ambitious recipe to date, and it's also going to be the most expensive, so I'd hate to have it come out badly. It has a MASSIVE hops schedule, which should be fun. The Burton Ale Yeast is actually going to be the yeast cake from my currently fermenting Blonde, which should give this a nice jump start. I'll be buying a blow off tube this week. :rockin:

10.00 lb Pale Liquid Extract
2.00 lb Munich Malt
0.50 lb Cara-Pils/Dextrine
0.50 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 10L
1.50 lb Honey
1.00 lb Brown Sugar, Light

0.33 oz Summit [18.00%] (60 min) Hops 11.3 IBU
0.33 oz Summit [18.00%] (50 min) Hops 10.8 IBU
0.33 oz Summit [18.00%] (40 min) Hops 9.9 IBU
0.33 oz Summit [18.00%] (30 min) Hops 8.7 IBU
0.33 oz Summit [18.00%] (20 min) Hops 6.9 IBU
0.33 oz Summit [18.00%] (10 min) Hops 4.1 IBU

0.33 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50%] (60 min) Hops 5.3 IBU
0.33 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50%] (50 min) Hops 5.1 IBU
0.33 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50%] (40 min) Hops 4.7 IBU
0.33 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50%] (30 min) Hops 4.1 IBU
0.33 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50%] (20 min) Hops 3.2 IBU
0.33 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50%] (10 min) Hops 1.9 IBU

0.33 oz Cascade [5.50%] (60 min) Hops 3.5 IBU
0.33 oz Cascade [5.50%] (50 min) Hops 3.3 IBU
0.33 oz Cascade [5.50%] (40 min) Hops 3.0 IBU
0.33 oz Cascade [5.50%] (30 min) Hops 2.7 IBU
0.33 oz Cascade [5.50%] (20 min) Hops 2.1 IBU
0.33 oz Cascade [5.50%] (10 min) Hops 1.3 IBU

0.50 oz Summit [18.00%] (10 min) (Aroma Hop-Steep)
0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50%] (10 min) (Aroma Hop-Steep)
0.50 oz Cascade [5.50%] (10 min) (Aroma Hop-Steep)

0.50 oz Summit [18.00%] (Dry Hop 7 days)
0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50%] (Dry Hop 7 days)
0.50 oz Cascade [5.50%] (Dry Hop 7 days)

1 Pkgs Burton Ale (White Labs #WLP023) Yeast-Ale

Estimated Original Gravity: 1.095 SG
Estimated Color: 12.7 SRM
Bitterness: 91.8 IBU
Alpha Acid Units: 10.6 AAU
Estimated Alcohol by Volume: 9.2 %

 

[Dude]

WOW! That looks killer!

I'd make only one suggestion, but it is a small one...do another hop addition (similar to your 10 minute addition) at flameout. It will help aroma qualities immensely.

 

[Desert_Sky]

Now in your other post you were saying that you didn;t like the grapefruit citrus flavor in your pale. With all those amarillos you are going to have some of that flavor in this brew

 

[the_bird]

Now in your other post you were saying that you didn;t like the grapefruit citrus flavor in your pale. With all those amarillos you are going to have some of that flavor in this brew

I'm thinking the Cascade might contribute some of that, too.

Oh well, if you don't like it - we can help you find a new home for it!

 

[Desert_Sky]

.

Oh well, if you don't like it - we can help you find a new home for it!

exactly!!!! thats what we are here for.....proper beer disposal

 

[Torchiest]

Hmm. I got the impression from the research I did this afternoon that Amarillo had more of an orange citrus taste. I could be wrong. And like I said, some grapefruit is okay, as long as it's not the only thing I can taste. What about Warrior and Nugget?

This is the whole reason I wanna iron this out now, while I still have time. My hop experience is still small. All I know for sure is that I love DFH 90, and it uses Warrior, Simcoe, and Amarillo, so something must be working right with those hops.

 

[Torchiest]

Oh well, if you don't like it - we can help you find a new home for it!

exactly!!!! thats what we are here for.....proper beer disposal

Aww, you guys are the best. If it's good enough, I might send some round in a beer swap.

 

[Torchiest]

I'd make only one suggestion, but it is a small one...do another hop addition (similar to your 10 minute addition) at flameout. It will help aroma qualities immensely.

What do you mean? The addition I labeled as aroma-hop steep is basically a flameout addition, which I let sit for 10 minutes before I start cooling. You think I should up the amount?

 

[the_bird]

What do you mean? The addition I labeled as aroma-hop steep is basically a flameout addition, which I let sit for 10 minutes before I start cooling. You think I should up the amount?

I think there's just confusion about how you labelled those additions; you're refer to those with a (0) notation to indicate that they are added after the boil, regardless of whether you let them steep for two minutes or ten. The number refers to the amount of time they are boiled.

 

[Dude]

What do you mean? The addition I labeled as aroma-hop steep is basically a flameout addition, which I let sit for 10 minutes before I start cooling. You think I should up the amount?

I guess I was confused by the time number by it. I assumed it meant a boiling addition. If your intention is to steep it and not boil it, then that would work too. :rockin:

 

[Torchiest]

Cool. Yeah, the way it's set up in beersmith is a little confusing. You can set the hops as a boil addition for 0min, or set it as aroma steep and put whatever time you want with no IBUs added to the calculation. Since I'm going to have to buy a bigger pot, I recalculated all the additions again! I think I'm going to add 1/4oz of each instead of 1/3oz, and then throw a full ounce of each in at flame out. Screw it. I think I'll need something to scoop all the hops out or filter them before I transfer to primary though.

 

[Torchiest]

I'm brewing it right now. The hop addition schedule I came up with is pretty involved, so I pre-divided and labeled my additions so I wouldn't get confused:

It's going to be a monster! :rockin:

 

[roggae]

i really am going to follow this thread. this looks like a great brew!

 

[Torchiest]

After the disastrous thermometer explosion yesterday, I was determined to get right back after it again today. The brew came out a little low on gravity, 1.089, but I think that's because I ended up with about 5.5gallons of wort. I racked it on top of the Burton Ale yeast from my Blonde Ale, and hopefully it should be going nuts soon. The IIPA is on the right, with the blow-off tube, of course. :rockin: The peanut butter brown I brewed today as well is on the left.

Two brews in one day. Today I am a man.

 

[Torchiest]

I forgot to post the final recipe I used:

11.25 lb Pale Liquid Extract
2.00 lb Munich Malt
0.50 lb Cara-Pils/Dextrine
0.50 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 10L
2.50 lb Honey

0.50 oz Summit [18.00%] (45 min) 22.4 IBU
0.50 oz Centennial [10.00%] (40 min) 11.9 IBU
0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.00%] (35 min) 9.0 IBU
0.50 oz Cascade [6.00%] (30 min) 6.3 IBU
0.50 oz Summit [18.00%] (25 min) 17.0 IBU
0.50 oz Centennial [10.00%] (20 min) 8.2 IBU
0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.00%] (15 min) 5.4 IBU
0.50 oz Cascade [6.00%] (10 min) 3.0 IBU
0.50 oz Summit [18.00%] (5 min) 4.9 IBU
0.50 oz Centennial [10.00%] (5 min) 2.7 IBU
0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.00%] (5 min) 2.2 IBU
0.50 oz Cascade [6.00%] (5 min) 1.6 IBU

0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.00%] (Dry Hop 14 days) Hops -
0.50 oz Cascade [6.00%] (Dry Hop 14 days) Hops -
0.50 oz Centennial [10.00%] (Dry Hop 14 days) Hops -
0.50 oz Summit [18.00%] (Dry Hop 14 days) Hops -

Burton Ale (White Labs #WLP023)

Steeped grains at ~160ºF for 25mins, added extract, brought to boil, followed hop schedule, then added honey at flameout. Pitched onto Burton Ale yeast cake.

Estimated Original Gravity: 1.096
Measured Original Gravity: 1.089
Estimated Final Gravity: 1.025
Estimated Color: 12.5 SRM
Bitterness: 94.5 IBU
Alpha Acid Units: 7.4 AAU
Estimated Alcohol by Volume: 9.3 %

I tasted some after it was in the primary. Holy crap! I felt like I was getting punched in the face by a hop monster. It was awesome. And as of 36hrs into the ferment, when I got home from work, the blowoff tube was filled with foam. :rockin:

 

[Torchiest]

This bad boy has been in primary for 17 days, and I just checked the gravity. It's down to 1.022, and it tastes AMAZING! I can taste the Amarillo Gold, which gives it some similarities to Dogfish 90min, and I think the Summit definitely gave it some awesome character as well, lots of citrus, and a lasting bitterness that shows up late to the party. I'm truly impressed by this one. :rockin:

Either tomorrow or Sunday I'll be racking it to secondary for dry-hopping. Any advice for time period? I had planned two weeks, but I've seen other people mention doing it for just a week. Will two weeks impart a grassy or other undesirable flavor? This thing tastes so good, I'd hate to screw it up now.

 

[ill.literate]

That looks fantastic!

Here's what I think will be my final recipe for my Independence IPA.
2 lbs. Extra Light Dry Extract
6.6 lbs. Pale Liquid Extract
2 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt 20L
1 lb Munich Malt - 10L
2 ounces Summit hops - 60 mins
1.5 ounces Simcoe hops - 45 mins
1.5 ounce Northern Brewer hops - 30 mins
1.5 ounce Cascade hops - 2 mins
1 ounce Cascade hops - dry hopped - 14 days
1 ounce Centennial hopes - dry hopped - 10 days

Irish Ale (Wyeast Labs #1084)

Estimated Original Gravity: 1.068
Estimated Final Gravity: 1.017
Estimated Color: 12.3 SRM
Bitterness: 92.4 IBU
Estimated Alcohol by Volume: 6.6%

Not 100 percent sure on the recipe... but it's real close.

 

[Torchiest]

I dig the recipe, but the Northern Brewer seems like a slightly different choice for an IPA. Any particular reason you picked it? I've heard it has a very faint minty flavor. I used it in my Christmas ale and it was awesome.

 

[ill.literate]

No particular reason really... like I said, the recipe isn't 100 percent finished, so input is welcome.

I'm waffling between NB and Centennial. Maybe I'll go with Centennial. I don't want to deviate too far from a typical IPA

 

[Torchiest]

I am planning on using Columbus in my next IPA, and I think that could be a great hop to use in place of the Northern Brewer, if you want to give it a shot. I've heard nothing but good things about it, and it's the only hop used in one of my favorite commercial IPAs, Pyramid Thunderhead IPA.

 

[Brewsmith]

I used it in my last IPA along with Cascade and Amarillo. A great combination.

 

[Torchiest]

Made up a recipe for another IPA using Amarillo, Columbus, and Summit. This one will just be a standard IPA, a bit weaker than the first one. I've discovered a profound love of them recently, and based on how well the first one is coming out, I thought I'd better get rolling on a second batch ASAP.

Speaking of which, I racked to secondary and dryhopped tonight. It seemed to go pretty smoothly, although I left a little beer in the primary. The yeast cake was pretty massive from serving through two batches, and it was mixed up a bit near the bottom of the carboy. Ah well. I can't wait to bottle this monster!

 

[Torchiest]

Just bottled it. 13 days of dry-hopping, and this thing tastes AWESOME. It's a bit sweet, but very very hoppy as well, with a lasting hop bitterness that rocks my world. Can't wait to drink it for real! Only sad thing is this ended up being my smallest batch, a mere 44 bottles, rather than the 50 or so I normally get.

 

[knipknup]

The smaller batch results are probably from increased loss in the hop trub. I'm really curious how it will end up.

 

[Torchiest]

Hm, it's been eight days since I bottled; I think I'll chill one to sample tonight! :rockin:

 

[DraconianHand]

Hm, it's been eight days since I bottled; I think I'll chill one to sample tonight! :rockin:

And...

 

[Torchiest]

Well, I just chilled and poured one a few minutes ago. The smell is awesome, super-hoppy and citrusy. The taste is also very nice, a load of hops, malt backbone, and noticeable bitterness. Only thing: it's still totally flat.


Still tastes pretty good though, but bubbles would be nice.