Pale 60 - How to Handle Hop Additions

[tofuguy]

Hi all, I have Monday off, so I decided I wanted to brew a pale ale. I already bought the ingredients, but I am having second thoughts on my hop additions.

The recipe is...
87% 2-Row
8.7% Munich
4.3%. Crystal 60

Mash at 152F for 60 to 75 minutes checking conversion.

US-05 Yeast

My target OG is 1.050

I bought 2 oz of Cascade hops with an alpha acid content of 8.4%. I originally was planning 1 oz at 60 minutes and 1 oz whirlpool for 10 minutes. That is getting me in the ballpark of 40 IBUs. Now I am far from a hop head, I love flavor and aroma but my concern is I will have too much underlying bitterness. So I am seeking more experienced Brewers for their thoughts on how to close out this recipe.

Thank you!

 

[tofuguy]

So I settled on a hop schedule...
0.5 oz at 60 minutes
1.0 oz at 10 minutes
0.5 oz at 5 minutes

Ending with 32 IBUs.

Hoping to have a balance of hop to maltiness similar to Sierra Nevada PA (lower OG for my preference.)

 

[bigplunkett]

Should work out well i like more hops but thats me.

 

[wiggybrewer]

Love Apa's, you could dry hop the last half oz. - to one once would be nice.

 

[tofuguy]

Love Apa's, you could dry hop the last half oz. - to one once would be nice.

How long would you dry hop for? And would you stick with cascade hops? I usually dry hop after 7 - 10 days and still in the primary. Then cold crash and switch to the secondary for further settling.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

How long would you dry hop for? And would you stick with cascade hops? I usually dry hop after 7 - 10 days and still in the primary. Then cold crash and switch to the secondary for further settling.

You can mix up the hops for dry hopping, most do. It brings different flavors to your beer that makes for a better beer in an IPA/APA,in my opinion anyway. Dry hopping after 7-10 days is fine. Skip the secondary and leave the beer in the primary until racking to bottle/keg. Using a secondary has been proven unnecessary and opens the door for infection and oxidation.

 

[wiggybrewer]

Yeah, you can use cascades for dry hops, I usually go 5 to 7 days in primary then use a paint strainer bag when racking to keg.

 

[tofuguy]

Thanks guys. I will look into dry hopping with Citra or more cascade. I am mashed in and waiting for vorlauf now.

 

[tofuguy]

Picked up an ounce of Citra hops. Also found a brand new ball lock keg with a minor (very gradual) dent for $60 I could not pass up. Now I have an on deck keg.