West Coast IPA feedback

Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum

Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:

CascadesBrewer

Supporting Member
HBT Supporter
Joined
Mar 24, 2013
Messages
2,807
Reaction score
2,815
Location
VA, USA
I do not have distilled on hand so I am going to go with tap + campden. Can I blindly add any salts to improve this, even marginally? or am I better off not adding anything

It is a bit of a gamble. I suspect most places in New Jersey uses surface water that is fairly low in mineral content (Calcium, Sulfate and Chloride levels in the 20 to 60 range). There is a chance that adding 0.5 to 1 gram of Gypsum per gallon would help get your Calcium and Sulfate levels into better ranges for a West Coast IPA. Acid adjustments are a bit harder to predict without a water report. With my DC Suburbs tap water I often have to add around 30 ml of 10% Phosphoric Acid for a 5 gallon batch (that is a full volume mash BIAB process...I just switched over to 88% lactic for my last batch).

I would suggest you try to track down some info on your water.
 
OP
OP
RyPA

RyPA

Supporting Member
HBT Supporter
Joined
Feb 10, 2017
Messages
700
Reaction score
398
Location
NJ
@CascadesBrewer I've tried, but only found about bad stuff/contaminants, nothing that matters to my beer. I normally do distilled but my food store was sold out, and plan to eventually get a RO setup. Maybe I'll just use the water as-is.
 

hout17

Crush it REAL Good
HBT Supporter
Joined
Jun 16, 2013
Messages
1,172
Reaction score
3,489
Location
N of Denver
Also consider sending off a sample to Wards Lab and get a water report so you have an idea. They have a pretty quick turn around.

Without knowing I would just brew as is adding some Campden as you mentioned.
 
OP
OP
RyPA

RyPA

Supporting Member
HBT Supporter
Joined
Feb 10, 2017
Messages
700
Reaction score
398
Location
NJ
I considered that but you'd need to redo it at an interval to keep it true/accurate. I think a RO kit for $200 would be better
 

CascadesBrewer

Supporting Member
HBT Supporter
Joined
Mar 24, 2013
Messages
2,807
Reaction score
2,815
Location
VA, USA

Brooothru

Supporting Member
HBT Supporter
Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Messages
2,870
Reaction score
3,296
Location
Either in the brewery or on the road
Consider using basic / "classic" ingredients that support non-tropical hop flavors / aromas.
  • 90% "two row", 10% "light munich";
    • 25% Golden Promise is probably too much
    • Sugar (as @Beermeister32 mentioned) for higher ABV recipes
  • Color is pale (otherwise, see Red IPA).
  • 50 IBUs of a classic bittering hop (Magnum, Warrior, ...)
  • Flavor/Aroma hops appropriate for either a "classic" or "modern" IPA
  • Yeast strain appropriate for either a "classic" or "modern" IPA
Hops: for a more "classic" West Coast IPA (the anit-NEIPA?) consider the full list of classic "C" hops as well as Simcoe and Amarillo. There's more to classic "C" hops than Cascade and Centennial.

Yeast: something that doesn't contribute flavor and "lets the hops shine". Verdant's flavor wheel (link) shows 'red apple' and 'tropical'.
^^^All good; spot on suggestions.^^^
 

Bill2017

Supporting Member
HBT Supporter
Joined
Nov 26, 2021
Messages
61
Reaction score
247
HB Westi WCIPA with home grown wet hops. Brewed on 9-4-22 and just now reaching prime. Pretty damn good.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5943.MOV
    20.9 MB

wepeeler

Supporting Member
HBT Supporter
Joined
May 31, 2018
Messages
1,799
Reaction score
3,427
Location
CT
Hey guys,

After brewing back to back NEIPA's I decided to switch it up and try out a west coast IPA. What are your thoughts on this recipe? Any recommendations/suggestions?

Edit: Thank you all for your feedback. I created brewers friend recipe for review.


Ideally, I want to use what I have on hand, but I can order whatever is needed if I cannot make it work.

Grain
  • 2-row - ~40 lbs
  • Golden Promise - 10 lbs
  • White wheat - 8 lbs
  • Honey malt - 4 lbs
Hops
  • Citra lupomax
  • Citra T-90 (2 oz)
  • Columbus lupomax
  • Galaxy
  • Mosaic lupomax
  • El Dorado lupomax
Thanks
I made a killer WC-ish IPA that has since become a staple in my keezer with similar ingredients. You won't get a nice amber color or the WC malt flavor without some darker grain though. Personally, I'd steer clear of Crystal malt. I used it when I started the recipe, but have since moved away from it.

I've settled on 75% 2 Row, 15% Munich and 10% carapils/carafoam. US05. I did Citra/Mosaic for hops, and although it wasn't piney and weed-ish, it was definitely firmly bitter and dank. I just brewed up a version of this last week using all Simcoe, so I can't report on that just yet, but my all Simcoe NEIPA is not dank or weed-like at all. It's bursting with tropical citrus and maybe even a touch of vanilla.
 

dmaxweb

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2006
Messages
143
Reaction score
62
Location
Williamsburg
I think that's the one, nice and simple. Two Hearted Ale is delicious. I had Hop Slam for the first time a few weeks ago
Deuce of Hearts (Bells Two Hearted clone). I very happy the way it turned out
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20221016_145141376.jpg
    PXL_20221016_145141376.jpg
    393.9 KB · Views: 0
Last edited:
Top