Standard IPA

[leigh1919]

Here's my recipe for a standard IPA i'm gonna give a whirl soon - any thoughts?
Do the IBU's look about right - after a spicy, sharp IPA - but an English one, not a hopbomb US style - think Twisted Thistle or Copper Dragon Challenger IPA. i'm happy with the ABV though if i manage to hit my volumes etc...


Type: All Grain
Date: 04/03/2009
Batch Size: 22.73 L
Brewer: Leigh
Boil Size: 20.80 L Boil Time: 90 min Equipment: Brew Pot (5 Gallon)
Taste Rating(out of 50): 35.0 Brewhouse Efficiency: 75.00
Taste Notes:

Ingredients

Amount Item Type % or IBU
4.75 kg Pale Malt (2 Row) UK (5.9 EBC) Grain 95.00 %
0.25 kg Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (118.2 EBC) Grain 5.00 %
30.00 gm Challenger [6.50 %] (90 min) Hops 20.0 IBU
25.00 gm Cascade [7.30 %] (60 min) Hops 17.5 IBU
10.00 gm Cascade [7.30 %] (10 min) Hops 2.5 IBU
10.00 gm Cascade [7.30 %] (0 min) (Aroma Hop-Steep) Hops -
1.20 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs US05 (Safale) Yeast-Ale



Beer Profile

Est Original Gravity: 1.049 SG
Measured Original Gravity: 1.049 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.014 SG Measured Final Gravity: 1.010 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 4.56 % Actual Alcohol by Vol: 5.08 %
Bitterness: 40.0 IBU Calories: 456 cal/l
Est Color: 15.0 EBC Color: Color


Mash Profile

Mash Name: Single Infusion, Full Body, Batch Sparge Total Grain Weight: 5.00 kg
Sparge Water: 13.72 L Grain Temperature: 22.2 C
Sparge Temperature: 75.6 C TunTemperature: 22.2 C

[Digby Swift]

If you don't want a US style one don't use cascades. They are an american hop, imo you can't go wrong with goldings especially as you mention spicy although I notice you have challenger which would also taste good.

[colonial]

I used Perle (a German strain of Northern Brewer) as the bittering hop for my English IPA - higher aa%, so less hops. Rest were Goldings.

Still in secondary, but smells magic.

[clogwog]

An OG of 1.047 and IBU 40 doesn't really make an IPA, as far as I know.

As it stands, it will make a very nice Pale Ale, somewhat of a UK and USA hybrid, but you need to up both OG and IBU to get to an IPA.

[colonial]

+1 on what clogwog said - higher OG (say around 1055-1060) and 40 would be at the very lowest end of the scale (style guideline - 40 to 60 IBUs).

Mind you, one that I just made had 41.6 IBUs and is plenty bitter. Though, you'd want a highish AA% bittering hop, like Norther Brewer to bitter and finish with something milder (EKG, Fuggles)

[leigh1919]

cheers guys - will bear that in mind, a higher OG is defo a consideration, I want to end up with something around 5% abv - not much higher, like i say I want an IPA but a fairly drinkable one!!

[haz66]

For the Gravity you are probably just about right on the edge with the IBU`s for an extra Hoppy Ale
another 2 or 3 IBU`s and you would have gone over the recommended amount, making it too bitter for the
amount of malts.

[J_P]

Hi Leigh

If you're wanting something that tastes a bit more English then I'd up the late challenger addition at 0 minutes. If you don't mind waiting for the beer then I'd up the bitterness units and let it calm down over a few months, I find that bitterness achieved this way is far more complex and peppery than an ale with just 40 IBU.

Recipe looks good though it reminds me of one I brewed but with less late hops.

[leigh1919]

now then John - how you doing ?

Ah yeah the Hopocalypse! cracking sounding beer - to be honest my touchstone was the old Belhaven Twisted Thistle, which I cant get enough of! I hadn't thought of upping the late hops, purely due to my inexperience! I do want to up the IBU's but not too much - i'd say 50ibu tops?

[J_P]

I just drank the last tester bottle and if twisted thistle is your benchmark then both recipes aint too far off. If you want to try it then you're always welcome to pop up and hit the bar, we could pop over to Biguns place to see what he has on too

[leigh1919]

you know what, that sounds entirely reasonable - give me a shout when you get back from holiday/birthday big game hunting!!