IPA Recipe Critique (All-Grain)

[sundaybrewingco]

Hi all,
I have never made an IPA recipe and was going to be brewing this as my next AG batch... Do the hops seem like a nice mixture?? I'm going kind of the floral/hoppy route with this batch. Any advice would be appreciated! I was also thinking about subbing in 3.5 lbs of Maris Otter and knocking the 2-row to 8 lbs...

14-B American IPA
Author: MaBlaze
Date: 8/30/10

Size: 5.28 gal
Efficiency: 75.0%
Attenuation: 75.0%
Calories: 232.94 kcal per 12.0 fl oz

Original Gravity: 1.070 (1.056 - 1.075)
Terminal Gravity: 1.017 (1.010 - 1.018)
Color: 7.71 (6.0 - 15.0)
Alcohol: 6.88% (5.5% - 7.5%)
Bitterness: 58.9 (40.0 - 70.0)

Ingredients:
12.0 lb American 2-row
1.0 lb White Wheat Malt
1.0 lb Caramel Malt 10L
0.25 lb 2-Row Carapils® Malt
0.25 lb Honey Malt
0.5 oz Summit (17.0%) - added first wort, boiled 75.0 min
0.5 oz Amarillo (8.5%) - added during boil, boiled 30.0 min
0.5 oz Nugget (13.0%) - added during boil, boiled 15.0 min
0.25 oz Summit (17.0%) - added during boil, boiled 5.0 min
0.25 oz Amarillo (8.5%) - added during boil, boiled 5.0 min
0.25 oz Nugget (13.0%) - added during boil, boiled 5.0 min
1.0 ea White Labs WLP041 Pacific Ale
1.0 oz Simcoe (13.0%) - added dry to primary fermenter
1.0 oz Amarillo (8.5%) - added dry to primary fermenter

Schedule:
Ambient Air: 70.0 °F
Source Water: 60.0 °F
Elevation: 0.0 m


Notes
Mash @ 154F
Ferment 68F then slowly raise to 74F

 

[humann_brewing]

if this is your first one, why don't you start off a little more basic on the grain bill. How about just 20-row and 5-8% crystal. Let the hops come out.

If you put all those other in there including the honey and you like a taste you may not be able to discern where it came from.

As far as the hops, the times look good (except maybe move the 5 to 0) but the general rule of thumb is that your late additions are double what you bittering ones are.

 

[strat_thru_marshall]

I'd crank the IBU's up to 70. Plus I like the previous posters remarks about simplifying the grain bill.

 

[Irrenarzt]

Lose the summit hops while you're at it. Summit hops are disgusting and add no value. They taste like a dead hookers arse after she shat out a bloomin' onion. Don't go there.

C hops are a better choice in all instances.

 

[humann_brewing]

I'd crank the IBU's up to 70. Plus I like the previous posters remarks about simplifying the grain bill.

oh yeah, didn't see that, but by doubling the late additions that should be applished.

another rule of thumb for a American IPA. the bitterness to gravity ration should at or above 1

so IBU/Gravity

IE 70 IBUs / 1.070 or 70 gravity.

 

[humann_brewing]

Lose the summit hops while you're at it. Summit hops are disgusting and add no value. They taste like a dead hookers arse after she shat out a bloomin' onion. Don't go there.

C hops are a better choice in all instances.

now let's not force opinions on others now. Summit can be nice if done right like green flash IIPA for example.

 

[sundaybrewingco]

Ok, I kind of tweeked it a bit per everyone's advice (thank you!)...

Below is the updated recipe. I've used Victory in the past and liked it.. I don't know if its good in an APA..

Also, is this hop schedule just absurd? Should I tame it down some with just 1-2 types of hop variety?

Morning Dew APA
14-B American IPA
Author: MaBlaze
Date: 8/30/10

Size: 5.28 gal
Efficiency: 75.0%
Attenuation: 75.0%
Calories: 207.91 kcal per 12.0 fl oz

Original Gravity: 1.062 (1.056 - 1.075)
Terminal Gravity: 1.016 (1.010 - 1.018)
Color: 7.69 (6.0 - 15.0)
Alcohol: 6.14% (5.5% - 7.5%)
Bitterness: 64.8 (40.0 - 70.0)

Ingredients:
12.0 lb American 2-row
.5 lb Caramel Malt 10L
0.5 lb Victory® Malt
.5 oz Chinook (13.0%) - added during boil, boiled 75.0 min
0.5 oz Nugget (13.0%) - added during boil, boiled 45.0 min
0.5 oz Amarillo (8.5%) - added during boil, boiled 30.0 min
0.5 oz Chinook (13.0%) - added during boil, boiled 15.0 min
1 oz Amarillo (8.5%) - added during boil, boiled 0.0 min
1 oz Nugget (13.0%) - added during boil, boiled 0.0 min
1 oz Chinook (13.0%) - added during boil, boiled 0.0 min
1.0 ea White Labs WLP041 Pacific Ale
1.0 oz Simcoe (13.0%) - added dry to primary fermenter
1.0 oz Amarillo (8.5%) - added dry to primary fermenter

Schedule:
Ambient Air: 70.0 °F
Source Water: 60.0 °F
Elevation: 0.0 m


Notes
Mash @ 154F
Ferment 68F then slowly raise to 74F

Results generated by BeerTools Pro 1.5.11

 

[joel4482]

If this is your first IPA I would simplify the Hops and Grain bill, so if you ever want to make it again you will know what you need to add or take away. With so many different ingredients it is hard to tell what you do or do not like. Some of the best beers are the simplest ones!

 

[humann_brewing]

Ok, I kind of tweeked it a bit per everyone's advice (thank you!)...

Below is the updated recipe. I've used Victory in the past and liked it.. I don't know if its good in an APA..

Also, is this hop schedule just absurd? Should I tame it down some with just 1-2 types of hop variety?

Morning Dew APA
14-B American IPA
Author: MaBlaze
Date: 8/30/10

Size: 5.28 gal
Efficiency: 75.0%
Attenuation: 75.0%
Calories: 207.91 kcal per 12.0 fl oz

Original Gravity: 1.062 (1.056 - 1.075)
Terminal Gravity: 1.016 (1.010 - 1.018)
Color: 7.69 (6.0 - 15.0)
Alcohol: 6.14% (5.5% - 7.5%)
Bitterness: 64.8 (40.0 - 70.0)

Ingredients:
12.0 lb American 2-row
.5 lb Caramel Malt 10L
0.5 lb Victory® Malt
.5 oz Chinook (13.0%) - added during boil, boiled 75.0 min
0.5 oz Nugget (13.0%) - added during boil, boiled 45.0 min
0.5 oz Amarillo (8.5%) - added during boil, boiled 30.0 min
0.5 oz Chinook (13.0%) - added during boil, boiled 15.0 min
1 oz Amarillo (8.5%) - added during boil, boiled 0.0 min
1 oz Nugget (13.0%) - added during boil, boiled 0.0 min
1 oz Chinook (13.0%) - added during boil, boiled 0.0 min
1.0 ea White Labs WLP041 Pacific Ale
1.0 oz Simcoe (13.0%) - added dry to primary fermenter
1.0 oz Amarillo (8.5%) - added dry to primary fermenter

Schedule:
Ambient Air: 70.0 °F
Source Water: 60.0 °F
Elevation: 0.0 m


Notes
Mash @ 154F
Ferment 68F then slowly raise to 74F

Results generated by BeerTools Pro 1.5.11

your going to want to mash around 150 with WLP041 if you are going to get down to a low FG for a IPA. if you did 1062 to 1012 or so, the hops should pop right out but that is getting close to 80% attenuation. check that, mash at 148 for 90 minutes and make sure to have a starter.

 

[sundaybrewingco]

your going to want to mash around 150 with WLP041 if you are going to get down to a low FG for a IPA. if you did 1062 to 1012 or so, the hops should pop right out but that is getting close to 80% attenuation. check that, mash at 148 for 90 minutes and make sure to have a starter.

Would it be better to go with the WLP001?

 

[humann_brewing]

Would it be better to go with the WLP001?

just depends on what you want, 041 is the NW ale, tends to leave more residual sweetness by the low attenuation and definitely contributes more flavor. 001 is a great one to let the hops shine as it is very clean and neutral.

If you want 041, don't worry about the attenuation, just mash super low, it will attenuate enough.

 

[strat_thru_marshall]

just depends on what you want, 041 is the NW ale, tends to leave more residual sweetness by the low attenuation and definitely contributes more flavor. 001 is a great one to let the hops shine as it is very clean and neutral.

If you want 041, don't worry about the attenuation, just mash super low, it will attenuate enough.

Yes. If you mash at 154 you're going to have a beer you can only drink 1 of at a time. Too sweet and rich.

I'd use the yeast you selected and mash nice and low.

 

[sundaybrewingco]

Sorry for all these newbie APA/IPA recipe critiques here...

I totally revamped what I was going to do, hopefully made it more simpler... I have the IBU/OG ratio to about 1 (Thanks for that tip!), also eased up on the grain bill/hop schedule.

Original Gravity: 1.065 (1.056 - 1.075)
Terminal Gravity: 1.016 (1.010 - 1.018)
Color: 8.21 (6.0 - 15.0)
Alcohol: 6.37% (5.5% - 7.5%)
Bitterness: 65.9 (40.0 - 70.0)

Ingredients:
12.0 lb American 2-row
1 lb Caramel Malt 20L
0.5 lb Vienna Malt
.5 oz Warrior (16.0%) - added first wort, boiled 75.0 min
.5 oz Simcoe (13.0%) - added during boil, boiled 60.0 min
1.0 oz Ahtanum (6.0%) - added during boil, boiled 15.0 min
1.0 oz Ahtanum (6.0%) - added during boil, boiled 5.0 min
1.0 oz Ahtanum (6.0%) - added during boil, boiled 0.0 min
1.0 ea White Labs WLP001 California Ale

Any thoughts?

 

[strat_thru_marshall]

looks good but don't be afraid to try what you originally wanted to do. the only way to really learn about recipe formulation is experimentation and careful observation of the finished product.

 

[sundaybrewingco]

looks good but don't be afraid to try what you originally wanted to do. the only way to really learn about recipe formulation is experimentation and careful observation of the finished product.

Thanks for the help! I might give the original recipe a try at some point, but I think you guys were right with starting off easy then adding to it..

 

[sundaybrewingco]

Also, for the updated recipe, should I still mash at much lower temperatures? I was thinking around 150F... then batch sparge.

 

[Irrenarzt]

now let's not force opinions on others now. Summit can be nice if done right like green flash IIPA for example.

The West Coast IPA is about 10X better IMO.

150 then batch is a fine choice. Summit is not. But hey, it's your beer. Go to town.