My first recipe

[Tapout]

This is my first attempt at putting together a recipe and I welcome your feedback.

I'm shooting for an American IPA. My goals were 6.5-7.0 ABV and ~70 IBUs. This is with a 7 gal boil and 5.25 gal batch.

Ingredients are:

GRAINS
11 lbs Pale Malt (2 row) US
1.2 lbs Crystal Malt 20L

HOPS
1 oz Chinook 60 min
1.5 oz Chinook 10 min
1 oz Cascade 5 min
.5 oz Chinook 5 min ( I didn't want to waste the other .5 oz)

YEAST
Wyeast 1272

FERMENTATION
2 wks primary
2 wks secondary
2 wks bottle (Carb at 2.5 with 4.72 oz Corn Sugar)

My end calculations from iBrewmaster II end up at 6.07 ABV and 76 IBUs. As I have never attempted an all grain before, I am estimating an efficiency of 75%.

 

[atom]

I would drop you crystal to .5 lbs and adjust your hop schedule to something like:
1 oz Chinook 60 min
1 oz Cascade 5 min
2 oz Chinook 0 min (whirlpool for 30 min or so)

I'd also dryhop with at least another oz each of Chinook and cascade...but probably double that. also...skip the secondary.

 

[m00ps]

agreed. skip teh secondary. Especially on your first brew. All it will do is either oxidixze your beer and strip the hop character or infect it

 

[chickypad]

I would drop you crystal to .5 lbs and adjust your hop schedule to something like:
1 oz Chinook 60 min
1 oz Cascade 5 min
2 oz Chinook 0 min (whirlpool for 30 min or so)

I'd also dryhop with at least another oz each of Chinook and cascade...but probably double that. also...skip the secondary.

It's certainly your beer, but this is about exactly what I was going to say. Some folks like crystal in their IPA's, but even then IMO you look pretty heavy on it. I also like the above hop schedule better to give you bigger flavor and aroma.

 

[bigplunkett]

+1 to much crystal if u want it darker split the crystal and add some munic imo. Also not enough hops id dry hop with at least 1oz of each and whirlpool with atleast 1oz of each just mho. I like ur hop choices pm if you have any questions

 

[cyberbrew]

For my tastes I prefer US-05 (WY 1056) as it produces a nice dry ale. That said, the 1272 will be good, just not bone dry and won't let the hops thru quite as much. Either way, your beer will be tasty!!

 

[Steady-Hopper]

agreed. skip teh secondary. Especially on your first brew. All it will do is either oxidixze your beer and strip the hop character or infect it

Secondaries have their benefits. Most of the harms that could come from racking to secondary (e.g oxidizing and infection) are due to a poor brewer; it's not like your brew will definitely get infected from a secondary. That being said, if it's your first brew just stick to a primary.

Your recipe will make a fine beer; I would drop the crystal by a bit.

 

[Tapout]

Thanks for your replies. I will definitely make a few changes. I used as much crystal as I did because of what I was reading about the malt makeup of IPAs. Maybe it said the 2 row should be AT LEAST 90% of the makeup and I made it exactly 90%.

As far as secondary fermentation, I've brewed about 30 extract batches so far and put all thru secondary. I think it clears it up some. It may not always be necessary, though. Just habit at this point with me.

If I were to drop the secondary, should I still dry hop for at least a week? So, a total of at least 3 weeks fermentation (I realize I should take readings to see if it's finished) with one of those weeks a dry hop?

I will definitely make changes per your inputs.

Thank you!

 

[Steady-Hopper]

Thanks for your replies. I will definitely make a few changes. I used as much crystal as I did because of what I was reading about the malt makeup of IPAs. Maybe it said the 2 row should be AT LEAST 90% of the makeup and I made it exactly 90%.

As far as secondary fermentation, I've brewed about 30 extract batches so far and put all thru secondary. I think it clears it up some. It may not always be necessary, though. Just habit at this point with me.

If I were to drop the secondary, should I still dry hop for at least a week? So, a total of at least 3 weeks fermentation (I realize I should take readings to see if it's finished) with one of those weeks a dry hop?

I will definitely make changes per your inputs.

Thank you!

You can dry hop fine in a primary. Drop the hops in gently so as not to splash the beer and introduce too much oxygen. I like to do shorter dry hops (3-5 days). I find that any longer and aroma begins to fade and grassy, unwanted compounds start to appear. This is a personal choice and many people do longer than a week.

 

[budbo]

agreed. skip teh secondary. Especially on your first brew. All it will do is either oxidixze your beer and strip the hop character or infect it

Huh? that is the worst advice I have ever seen here.
Been brewing long?

 

[JKaranka]

As posted it's likely to make good beer but I'd prefer less crystal and a steep or dry hop. Or darker crystal and no dry hop to go towards a quaffable amber. Maybe half 20l and half 60l in the second case.