To dry hop or not...

[Sol]

Hey guys!

I brewed my third batch last night (still haven't gotten to try the first one dang it! This patience thing is hard!)

It's a clone of Pike's Pale Ale from Midwest Supplies. Recipe is:

6 lb. gold malt extract
2 lb. Amber DME
8 oz. Munich malt
8 oz. Carapils malt
1 lb. British 50-60°L malt specialty grains
2 oz. Northern Brewer (I added at 60 mins)
1 oz. Goldings pellet hops (I added .5oz at 15 mins and .5 oz at 2 mins)
Wyeast 1056 American Ale yeast

I'm contemplating whether I want to dry hop this or not. I was thinking either another 2oz of Goldings or mixing it up with some Cascades or Amarillo. I love hoppy beers but am still new to brewing and don't know know the flavor profiles of the different hops well at this point.

So does it sound like this brew can benefit from some dry hopping? Am I on the right path with the hops mentioned above? Finally, assuming I add these to the secondary (which I plan to leave the beer in for 2 weeks), should I add the hops right away or is that too long to dry hop?

Thanks!

 

[mrtrav]

2 weeks is fine to dry hop. I wouldn't go too much longer then that though. You will be pleased with the goldings, they add a smooth touch to the hop profile. But if you like hoppy beers, I would recommend dry hopping every IPA/PA you do.

 

[jsullivan02130]

I have found that dry hopping greatly improves the hop aroma, which is often blown off during fermentation. For that reason, you want to dry hop only after the beer has settled down (say, roughly, after a week of fermentation). And I skip the secondary -- no need for that. I just do two weeks in the primary and cold crash, then package.

 

[Pappers_]

FWIW, I dry hop in secondary for 4-6 days.

 

[punk_rockin2001]

to dry hop or not?!?! are you insane? I didn't dry hop at first, but there are few beers now that I wouldn't dry hop. I am a hop head, and the more the merrier! Now the only problem I have found w/dry hopping is that when I dry hop, I drink the beer WAY faster than if I don't. I vote amarillo.

 

[Sol]

Thanks fellas! Definitely hitting up the LHBS in a couple of weeks for some hops!

 

[Sol]

Gents, I picked up 2oz of Amariillo to dry hop this brew (would like to rack it tonight) but I'm thinking that's too much to dry hop after perusing the forums. Should I go with 1oz? 1.5? 2?

Thanks!!

 

[ipajay]

I would go with one, I like hoppy beers as well and 1 seems to be perfect.

 

[Uncle Timmy]

I just dry hopped a brew with 1.5 oz of Amarillo. Let it go for 2 weeks in secondary. 2 words - AWE SOME!!! Nice crisp citrus effect.

 

[Sol]

Thanks guys. I think I'll start off with 1oz this time around and try bumping it up a little with the next batch. The recipe doesn't call for dry hopping at all so I know I'll get a little extra kick out of just the 1oz.

 

[Sol]

I've read on this forum countless times not to fear the StarSan foam. I resisted the urge to rinse my freshly sanitized seconday before racking the beer to it and wound up with what you see below. Somebody please put my mind at ease and tell me this is what you guys were referring to.... :cross:

 

[BioBeing]

Looks like good foam to me. Don't fear it.

 

[Trevor57]

I would be more worried about apex seals, than foam

 

[Sol]

I would be more worried about apex seals, than foam

LOL! Very funny....

 

[humann_brewing]

I can't imagine doing a APA/IPA without dryhopping. I am currently dryhopping a APA and IPA probably for 3 weeks because they are at 52 degrees.