Briars APA

[SiHoltye]

Hello,

Am not brewing this until 15th but thought I'd post and see what people think. I want loads of Cascade flavour and aroma. With some body, hence the crystal.

Ingredients
25L, 90min boil, 90min mash @ 67°C
Amount Item Type % or IBU
4.60 kg Maris Otter (5.9 EBC) Grain 95.83 %
0.20 kg Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (78.8 EBC) Grain 4.17 %
35.00 gm Cascade [7.10 %] (90 min) Hops 24.0 IBU
45.00 gm Cascade [7.10 %] (10 min) Hops 10.4 IBU
45.00 gm Cascade [7.10 %] (0 min) (Aroma Hop-Steep) Hops -
1 Pkgs California Ale (White Labs #WLP001) Yeast-Ale

Beer Profile
Est Original Gravity: 1.045 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.010 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 4.57 %
Bitterness: 34.4 IBU
Est Color: 11.5 EBC

[mr bond]

Looks the goods.

The only thing I would do is add a 30 min hop addition for another 10 IBU's to take it up to 45 IBU total.APA's need a bit more bitterness IMO to set em apart from their British forebears.

[spearmint-wino]

Not too far away from a Townes IPA there. I did a very similar recipe using Amarillo at christmas. I guess its down to taste but LAB tasters and myself found the light crystal added a touch too much sweetness. I prefer to swap it for wheat malt instead, but then it may not be an APA! Depends what you're after I guess, either way I'm sure it will be good

[Stonechat]

Not too far away from a Townes IPA there. I did a very similar recipe using Amarillo at christmas. I guess its down to taste but LAB tasters and myself found the light crystal added a touch too much sweetness. I prefer to swap it for wheat malt instead, but then it may not be an APA! Depends what you're after I guess, either way I'm sure it will be good

Totally agree about substituting the crystal with wheat malt. I think the wheat malt gives these brassy American hopped beers a nice mouth feel and a more creamy taste.

[SiHoltye]

Thanks for your thoughts, I guess what I've realised I'm after is a pseudo English pale ale (using US cascade). I tried a couple of US pale ales at GBBF and that is NOT the kind of bitter hoppiness I'm after . Think I'll drop the Crystal down to 2% here, hopefully still a twinge of sweetness/colour but not off-setting the hop bitterness too much. Do you guys reckon I'm getting the most flavour/aroma from my flavour/aroma additions? The total quantity of hops is all I have but I could add them differently. Actually without any strong opinions I'm done faffing with this recipe now , mashing tonight, boiling tomorrow night - pushed for time both evenings.

[smp465]

Have you considered Hunky Dory from Marc O's book. Uses Pale and a touch of Amber, with Challenger hops for bitterness and Cascade for aroma. There's a recipe on here somewhere.

[SiHoltye]

I don't have that book in my 'Library' yet, though I do have a birthday next month

I did:

22L 1.050
98% Pale
2% 40L Crystal
55g 7.1AA Cascade 90mins
25g 7.1AA Cascade 10mins
20g 7.1AA Cascade Aroma
25g 4.5AA Styrians Aroma
WL001 yeast

Fingers crossed.

[spearmint-wino]

Looks like my kinda beer!
How did it go?

[SiHoltye]

Crackalackin' so far! Wort tasted/smelled great , fermentation gone off after 12hours Really looking forward to this one.

[smp465]

That will quench a few thirsts (it would mine)! Similar to one of my recent brews but with all Cascade - i have supped plenty of it tonight actually. So much cascade aroma in it, my tongue is now numb -anyone got a water biscuit?

It's a worthwhile library addition IMO (Marc O's book), so good luck with the wishlist!

You also inspired me to force in a brew tonight after reading your post (Hunky Dory (ish)- posted) so hats off to you!

[SiHoltye]

Sneaky taster now, and really pleased. Just need the yeastiness to clear up a tadge, and it could do 'cos it's still young.