Beginners Error

[jonnyt]

It looks like my TTL clone currently conditioning was messed up.

After reading these forums I began to understand that the A/A rating of hops varies and that recipes should be adjusted accordingly.
So I adjusted GWs recipe from his book using Brewmate which meant a 20% ish reduction in hops.

When I tasted the wort I could taste that wonderful hoppiness of TTL. When I sample last night a lot of that hoppiness has mellowed. Not what I wanted.

On re-reading GW's book last night I found that his A/A values for the Hops were all but the same as those I used, BUT the cruncher is he doesn't use the Late Addition Hops in the IBU calculation. Hence I adjusted for IBU and used 23g of each hop for the boil not the 30g.

I'm sure the brew will be drinkable and I'll just have to go for a water treated, better hoped version 2 in the New Year.

[GrowlingDogBeer]

As long as when you had finished in BrewMate, it said you had an IBU of 35, then you will be fine with that.

[jonnyt]

Yes Brewmate IBU was a shade over 35

[RichardG]

It's all about experimenting isn't it. Once it's conditioned, if you find it hasn't got quite the hop profile you're after, chuck in some extra late hops next time. I'm working on half-dozen or so recipes which I tinker with each time to get what I'm after. I've cracked my porter (all this is my opinion of course! ), need to slightly up the bittering hops for my best bitter, extra late ops in the pale ales etc. But it's all good fun, and is partly what I enjoy about the hobby. My aim is to get some stock, or house recipes which I'm happy with and can repeat when necessary. That way I can then play with different beers and styles as I wish.

[Frothy]

Might not be exact - but most brews that are under-hopped can be rescued by a bit of dry-hopping. It won't boost the IBU's but the hop flavour will be so good you probably won't notice. Hop bitterness extracts are available in the shops but far too hit and miss for most of us to use at home.

Frothy

[stu-le-brew]

Might not be exact - but most brews that are under-hopped can be rescued by a bit of dry-hopping. It won't boost the IBU's but the hop flavour will be so good you probably won't notice. Hop bitterness extracts are available in the shops but far too hit and miss for most of us to use at home.

I have been experimenting in recent brews with hop aroma tablets from Brouwland with great results, but have just realised I was using double the recommended dosage, still OK as its an IPA.
I would very much recommend this - if you love hops