Smoked IPA recipe

[Redleg84]

I just had a Burn The Ships smoked IPA from the Able Ebenezer brewery in New Hampshire and I'd love to brew something similar.

I'm pretty new to brewing and this will be my first IPA. I was hoping someone here might have a suggestion or recipe.

Would it be reasonable to contact the brewery and ask them what sort of ingredients they use for certain beers? I would imagine they might be hesitant to give out the information.

 

[BentBrewer]

Well, you've got a few hints right on their beer page:

BtS is an IPA brewed with cherry-wood smoked specialty malt and a bevy of complex hops to give it a unique flavor of smoke, caramel and hoppy notes

So some cherrywood smoked malt, (a little goes a long way) some medium crystal, and hops that you think meet the flavors you experienced, is where I'd start.

 

[JordanKnudson]

Would it be reasonable to contact the brewery and ask them what sort of ingredients they use for certain beers?

Yes, do it. This happens all the time, and most craft breweries are very generous about sharing with homebrewers. They may not give you all of the specs (or they may), but we can help you interpret anything they share as best as possible. And hey, the worst they can do is say no.

 

[cegan09]

An acquaintance who at times perfectly embodies a hipster beer snob has 100% written off Able Ebeneezer because someone claimed they used liquid smoke in Burn The Ships. I'm not sure why this turned him off, but it did. Also not 100% the validity as I can't find his reference anywhere.

I live close to the brewery. The owners are super nice, and I wouldn't be surprised if they gave hints, but I do not expect them to give away the recipe.

 

[Redleg84]

I'll contact them and see what they say. I wouldn't expect a recipe by any means.

If nothing else I might find an IPA and add in some smoked malt.

I also had their double IPA that I enjoyed as well. I'm planning on stopping by the brewery next time I'm in the area. I don't believe they distribute to anywhere in Maine yet.

 

[cegan09]

I'll contact them and see what they say. I wouldn't expect a recipe by any means.

If nothing else I might find an IPA and add in some smoked malt.

I also had their double IPA that I enjoyed as well. I'm planning on stopping by the brewery next time I'm in the area. I don't believe they distribute to anywhere in Maine yet.

they do not. This summer they finally started with quart cans. First just for sale at the brewery, then recently very local distribution. I don't think they distribute to more than a 15 mile radius. (however they have tap contracts in a much larger area)