Noob AG recipe

[Pilotpistolpete]

I went to my local brew supply store and picked up whatever grain they had. I picked up some nice steeping crystal 120L and chocolate last time, but this time my selection was narrow. What do you guys think of this Pale Ale hybrid for a first try? I'll be trying the stovetop method spawned from these forums.

2.13 Gal. batch (Mr. Beer keg)

3.5 lb Two Row
0.5 lb Munich
0.4 lb Vienna

0.3oz Bullion at 60
0.2oz Cascade at 25
0.1 oz Cascade at 10

Should I try it or is this a very bad combo?

 

[Doc Robinson]

I like the malt bill. Very simple with a nice backbone of munich and vienna. I've never used bullion, but based on the description, it doesn't fit the style. However, you are using it for a bittering addition. I'm not sure what the point of the cascade addition @ 25 is for...that is almost too late for bittering and too early for flavoring. Same with the cascade @ 10. Are you going for any hop flavor or aroma with those additions. You aren't going to get much aroma from the 10 minute addition. Other than those comments, you are hitting the numbers for the APA style.

 

[Pilotpistolpete]

So should I add the cascade at something like 5 minutes.

Also, I could use cascade as a bittering. I also have Fuggles which is lower AA.

 

[Doc Robinson]

What are you going for? When you say "hybrid", are you talking about a hybrid between an English Pale Ale and an American Pale?

 

[Pilotpistolpete]

Something of the sort, yes. I'm just not too sure how to hop it correctly. I don't want to go IPA bitter, but definitely something to complement the darker malts.

 

[Doc Robinson]

Well that grain bill is by no means dark...in fact, it is VERY pale...about 5 SRM. If I were hopping this beer for a hybrid APA/EPA looking for moderate bitterness, nice hop flavor, and great aroma, I would do this given what you have:

.3 Bullion @ 60
.5 Cascade @ 10
.25 Cascade @ 5
.25 Fuggles @ 5
.5 Fuggles (Dry Hop)
.5 Cascade (Dry Hop)

 

[Pilotpistolpete]

Thanks. I see there's no point in having hops in the middle between 60 minutes and the 10 or so minutes in the end. I kinda chose the wrong words. Not really dark, more body is what I meant.

For dry hopping, I should add them after a week or so in the fermenter ( i won't do any secondary)

 

[Doc Robinson]

Thanks. I see there's no point in having hops in the middle between 60 minutes and the 10 or so minutes in the end. I kinda chose the wrong words. Not really dark, more body is what I meant.

For dry hopping, I should add them after a week or so in the fermenter ( i won't do any secondary)

That isn't entirely correct. Additions between 60 and 10 have their place, but aroma will boil off if added before 10 minutes left (as a general rule) and flavoring additions become more or less bittering additions if added before 20 minutes left.

If you are dry hopping the primary, I would wait until at least 2 weeks in, if not 3. It depends on the yeast you are using and your final step. I am extremely sensitive to yeast (meaning I can't stand the flavor). If you are using a yeast with a medium to low flocculation rate, and you want the beer clean, I would give it at least 3 weeks in the primary before adding the dry hops...then dry hop for a week before racking to your bottling bucket or keg. For a high flocculation yeast, after 2 weeks should be sufficient. Again, it all depends on what your desired end product may be.