Brewing IPA's

[Rookie]

I'm also toying with the idea of a black IPA using a similar recipe but with the addition of 4% chocolate malt and 4% cararoma malt.

Do you want black color and roastiness or just the black color?

[Nathan]

It's just an idea at the moment, I prefer caramel/chocolate flavours rather that toasted flavours. My idea was to try and produce a slightly more complex IPA. Another of my favourite beers is one called Albury Ruby (a little more toasted flavour than I normally go for tbh)made by the Surrey hills brewery. It's a darker ale and trying to get some of the flavours from this in an IPA would be a fun experiment.

[Rookie]

It's just an idea at the moment, I prefer caramel/chocolate flavours rather that toasted flavours. My idea was to try and produce a slightly more complex IPA. Another of my favourite beers is one called Albury Ruby (a little more toasted flavour than I normally go for tbh)made by the Surrey hills brewery. It's a darker ale and trying to get some of the flavours from this in an IPA would be a fun experiment.

I did some experimenting awhile back and found midnight wheat to be a good choice for color with little roastiness.

[Clibit]

A black IPA is meant to be black but have no roasted grain flavours, so I guess this wouldn't be a black IPA as such. More like an American porter. No harm experimenting with ideas that appeal though. Maybe some dark crystal or Special B.

[Nathan]

A black IPA is meant to be black but have no roasted grain flavours, so I guess this wouldn't be a black IPA as such. More like an American porter. No harm experimenting with ideas that appeal though. Maybe some dark crystal or Special B.

I don't really want the roasted grain flavours I just don't know how to achieve the blackness without adding those flavour profiles, I'm very new to brewing and whilst I have read lots on the web, I don't know anyone that actually brews, hence me joining JBK.

It's just an idea at the moment, I prefer caramel/chocolate flavours rather that toasted flavours. My idea was to try and produce a slightly more complex IPA. Another of my favourite beers is one called Albury Ruby (a little more toasted flavour than I normally go for tbh)made by the Surrey hills brewery. It's a darker ale and trying to get some of the flavours from this in an IPA would be a fun experiment.

I did some experimenting awhile back and found midnight wheat to be a good choice for color with little roastiness.

Would the wheat not make it taste more like a dark blonde beer?

I'm very grateful for all of the answers to questions you have probably had 50 times before I have learnt more in the week since I found this forum than most of my weeks reading combined. A great many sites over complicate things and assume you are already an expert brewer.

[Clibit]

Look up Black IPA recipes online. They tend to use Carafa malt to add colour without flavour. But if you're new to brewing its probably best to stick to more standard recipes. Actually, I think the best advice is probably to choose one or two beers you really like, and aim to make beer as close as possible to them. I started out wanting to check out all the different grains and hops, and I've learnt that I prefer simple to complicated beers. Technique and fresh ingredients are the main roads to good beer, I think. Good yeast is crucial.

[Cpt.Frederickson]

I'm a bit of a fan of so called red IPAs, which are really just amber/reds that are stronger as far as I'm aware. Bit of chocolate malt, some crystal (I used some crystal rye too) optional carafa to darken a little...lots of hops...delicious. Floydmeddler had a good recipe which I based one on and it was very satisfying. Next time I would add a little more crystal i reckon. Yet to try a black IPA, but in principle i would go standard ipa (crystal and base malt) with carafa to darken. Roasty doesn't sound in keeping with style, and would make it more like a porter. Although, after trying Sixpoint x-porter at 'spoons t'other week, this isn't always a bad thing. A 6% hoppy porter is a good thing!

[Nathan]

So carafa seems to be the way to go instead of the chocolate and cararoma. To be honest, as long as it turns out drinkable, I will be very pleased indeed. I enjoy the commercial brews but hopefully my own brews will match up to these and won't cost me 5 quid for 3 bottles! I have a king keg and bottles so I'm going to do both to see how the flavours change with the way they are stored.

[oz11]

If you just want the colour it's the Carafa SPECIAL you will need, which is dehusked. See here

[Rookie]

Sinimar coloring extract is made from caraffa and is supposed to add color with no roastiness. My LHBS doesn't carry it which was why I did some experimenting last year.

[Cpt.Frederickson]

Just to add, with regard to carafa (special ), there are 3 types available. I used type 2 in a red rye, so I'd go for this at the least. Type 3 would be better, as colour is darker so you'd need less in your grainbill.

[oz11]

Is the eye-rolling for me?
I thought it was worth pointing out there are two types of the Carafa malts and the Special are the ones used generally to give colour without the roastiness, as you say type III normally.

Also, as you are in Maidstone, do you know about the new-ish Home Brewers Club that meet towards the end of the month at the Thirsty Pig?

[Cpt.Frederickson]

Oops, thought I'd clicked the facepalm! . I could say it was the laptops fault, but more likely the idiot on the end of it.
I always forget there's a regular carafa as Rob only stocks the special. I've been meaning to drag my ass down to the pig for the meet but haven't got round to it yet, hopefully be able to make it down sometime. Great little pub and would be good to meet some other folks who brew.

[oz11]

Ah.. understood

We're a friendly bunch and there's been some good beers, it's nice if people bring some of their own but by no means compulsory.

[Cpt.Frederickson]

On hiatus from AG brewing at the moment after landlord sold the house from under us! Just kits at the mo, which is even more of a b'stard as I bought a new shiny boiler from Mr Lard just before said landlord f'd us up.
Will try to get down for next one if I can though.