Why is my bitter not bitter?

[AnchorBock]

I attempted to make a Goose Island Honkers Ale (Ordinary Bitter) clone with the below recipe, it really has not turned out. I'm less concerned about cloning and more concerned about why this beer smells sweet, tastes bland, has almost no perceivable bitterness, yet fermented fine and has no off-flavors. I've had beers under-attenuate and over-attenuate and am familiar with the associated off flavors as well as that of diacetyl.

I didn't deviate from my normal process or anything, BIAB full volume mash for 90 minutes, 10 minute mash out.

60 min boil
Mash at 154 - 90 minutes
8 lbs US 2 row 71%
2 lbs crystal 60 18%
1 lbs white wheat 9%
0.25 roasted barley 300L 2%

1.5 oz Styrian Goldings 4.9%AA 60 mins
2.5 oz Styrian Goldings 4.9%AA 5 mins

WLP007 (repitched from slurry), fermented at 66F
1.046 OG (actual)
1.011 FG (actual)

Beer was in primary for 3 weeks and cold conditioned/carbed for 4 weeks. It's fairly clear and has great head retention. I was thinking the crystal percentage is too high, but had read the commercial version uses 20%. Could that be the reason this beer smells sweet, tastes a bit sweet but is otherwise pretty bland? Did I mash too high? I used WLP007 as it seems to be the closest thing to Goose Island's house strain - I figured I'd mash a bit high to combat the high attenuation potential of this yeast. I get absolutely no bitterness or hop flavor/aroma from the beer.

Any comments/input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Keffa]

Only one late addition would be my guess, even though the 5 minute addition is a large charge of them. I'd do 1.25 each at 15 minutes and 5 minutes, should help perceived bitterness and would probably help the aroma and flavor out. Possibly do a 1oz dry hop for a week as well, if the 15/5 additions don't give you enough aroma.

Otherwise, looks like a fantastic beer. I love Honkers, even if other people don't


Cheers,
Kef

 

[AnchorBock]

I think I might dry hop this batch to try to make it more drinkable, thanks for the suggestion on the late additions.

 

[DamageCT]

It could be that Golding (especially the 4.9%AA) are not very bitter hops, they are more mild and pleasant.. Could be that. If you want a hard bitter try a cascade or a magnum hop.

 

[BrewMU]

More bittering hops - ~7.5 AAU isn't that much with the 2#s of caramel. To be honest, Honker's isn't really that bitter, nor are most bitters, despite the name. In fact, I'll go ahead and commit sacrilege and say that I find Fuller's ESB not to be extra, special, or bitter.

 

[AnchorBock]

IBU wise im in line w the commercial example, could too much crystal be masking that with residual sweetness?