Empress Pale Ale

[Birdman]

Im currently in the process of moving to Sweden fulltime and have been popping back here and there with work for the last 6 months so havent brewed in what feels like forever. But, Ive been living with a mate for the past month and I suggested we brew at his place. He was well up for it, and as he lives on Empress Road we have decided to call it Empress Pale Ale.

Like everyone else, Ive had some Citra kicking around that I have been meaning to use. As most of my stuff is in storage at the moment we decided to use up a few bits and bobs and came up with this pretty simple recipe...

Empress Citra Pale Ale (American Pale Ale)

Original Gravity (OG): 1.048 (°P): 11.9
Colour (SRM): 7.4 (EBC): 14.6
Bitterness (IBU): 53.4 (Average)

52.67% Maris Otter Malt
43.85% X-Pale Maris Otter Malt
3.48% Torrified Wheat

0.5 g/L Citra (11.1% Alpha) @ 60 Minutes (First Wort)
1.8 g/L Citra (11.1% Alpha) @ 15 Minutes (Boil)
1.8 g/L Citra (11.1% Alpha) @ 5 Minutes (Boil)
1.8 g/L Citra (11.1% Alpha) @ 0 Minutes (Boil)
1.8 g/L Citra (11.1% Alpha) @ 0 Minutes (Dry Hop)

0.1 g/L Whirlfloc Tablet @ 15 Minutes (Boil)

Single step Infusion at 67°C for 75 Minutes. Boil for 60 Minutes

Fermented at 20°C with Safale US-05

Recipe Generated with BrewMate

Hopefully it will be ready to drink in about five weeks (the week before I move to Sweden), and we can have a leaving do BBQ with plenty of ale on tap...

[WishboneBrewery]

Looks like a pretty hefty hopping bill.

[Birdman]

Yep. In hindsight I'm a bit worried actually, had a couple of pints of little ale cart gainsborough last night (which Im pretty sure is citra hopped) and the mate I brewed with couldnt stomach it at all (I loved it). I know citra can be a bit of an aquired taste when "overdosed", so hopefully it wont be too rough...

[Chicken Dipper]

Am drinking a citra pa at the moment, and I'm really impressed with the result, not quite so many hops as you mate!