Strong IPA

[Jaoqua]

While I like a lot of beer styles I'm very keen on some recent shop-bought IPAs, such as Tescos (yep!), 7 Giraffes and now Punk IPA. Strangely enough they're all Scottish, with Tescos and 7 Giraffes both being from Williams Bros.

Anyway, to get to the point: I want to brew something just like them. I gave a Coopers IPA kit a go recently and added some extra hops, and while it's not bad, it's not the same. Not as malty and certainly not as hoppy.

Given that Punk IPA is 6% and my Coopers is about 3.5%, d'you think I'd get closer by brewing 12 litres from the Coopers kit rather than the full 20? Or should I brew 20L but add lots of DME? Also, what hops are best to use? Can anyone who has tried those beers identify the hop family? (e.g. Saaz, Goldings, Target, Fuggles...)

[mysterio]

Punk IPA is Cascades, or at least it tastes strongly of Cascades.

I think your plan sounds good with the Coopers IPA kit. Why not just make a full brew length with two cans, and a mixture of DME & Sugar? I would steep the Cascades in the wort pre-fermentation.

[sparky Paul]

The Cooper's Heritage Sparkling Ale is quite a strong pale ale, around 5.5-6% ABV, I've made this a few times with excellent results. It does require quite a lot of extra fermentables though, the instructions recommend a 1.5Kg can of liquid extract, plus 500g of spraymalt, plus 300g of glucose, but I replace the can of liquid malt with a further 1Kg of light spraymalt.

The hops used by Cooper's are Pride of Ringwood, I've substituted a few different varieties in the additions I've made... Saaz worked quite well, the 'aley' hops like Goldings not quite so good. I too like a very hoppy pale ale, and recommend heavy hop additions to the kit if that's what you are after.

I'm trying Perle hops in the one I have conditioning at the moment, I reckon they might be a reasonable substitute for PoR hops.

[Waffty]

I rate the Brupaks pride of yorkshire IPA, as it ticks all of my IPA boxes (strong hop flavour, aroma & high ABV). I actually made the kit up to 24l as opposed to 22l as per the kit requirement (by mistake ) & still got a craking brew of around 4.3% ABV, so it may well have hit mystical 5% ABV value for an IPA.

Interestingly, I've noticed that a lot of breweries are actually selling IPA at between 3.6% to 5% ABV in their pubs i.e was in Oxford on a stag weekened & was horrified to see Greene Kings IPA being dispensed at 3.6% ABV, yet in another pub, there was a locally brewed IPA being sold for a simplier price with an ABV of 4.8%

[Jaoqua]

Thanks lads.

After reading your comments I think I might try the Coopers IPA again, with Cascade hops but a shorter brew length. That way I will have some cash left for another brew of Coopers IPA but with Saaz or if I can get them PoR or Perle (if SP says that works out well). If at any point I hit on a delightful brew I'll scale up to the 2-tin approach. (I'm too new at the moment to risk too much cash on any one brew).

I may even try a Pride of Yorkshire IPA, which is a surprise because I've never liked any beer I've tasted called 'Yorkshire Bitter' (even though I've drunk some lovely draught ales actually in Yorkshire).

[Chris The Fish]

just as a point aside, 3.5% is very low and im quite surprised as ive done the coopers ipa a few times with good results.

I have an unwritten rule that if it isnt above 1046 at SG then i up the sugar till it is (i prefer 1050+ for all beers, there is no point doing all that work for carling-esque homebrew)

as for hops, i did a woodfordes great eastern with a shed load of progress hops added to the can rinse, half boiled/half steeped for about 10 mins each and it was fantastic.

coopers IPA needs extra hops, and both times ive used upwards of 1kg of fermentables getting me about 1050.

good luck, and if you need inspiration - get hold of a bottle of TITAN IPA, possibly the best IPA in the world (it pains me to say its American!)

http://www.shoppersvineyard.com/product ... ?pID=35343

[sparky Paul]

I'll keep you updated on the results of the Perle hops in the Sparkling Ale, it's the first time I've used them. I've also got them in the Brewferm Pils I have fermenting now. Well, in for a penny...

They certainly smell the business.

The Pride of Ringwood hops are not the easiest to find, and usually pellets is the only way you can get them.

[PMH0810]

I have an unwritten rule that if it isnt above 1046 at SG then i up the sugar till it is (i prefer 1050+ for all beers, there is no point doing all that work for carling-esque homebrew)

Could not agree more; whilst a 3.0% can be a great thirst quencher of "mid-day" ale that won't leave you yawning all afternoon, I am moving more and more to greater OG as I too feel that all that work requires a stronger tasting result.

I am annoyed at all the range of "IPAs" available in the 3 to 5% bracket. IMO IPA should be 6% at the minimum, after all it was designed to be brewed strong for transportation. On arrival it was watered down tp 3-4% for the rank and file.

Still, the Milestone IPA I have in secondary may help alter my opinion, its OG was 1.052 and fell to FG 1.012 about 5.2%

[Damfoose]

Nice brew that milestone IPA so good it lasted about a week before it was gone ....

[sparky Paul]

Still, the Milestone IPA I have in secondary may help alter my opinion, its OG was 1.052 and fell to FG 1.012 about 5.2%

A 40 point drop will give you a beer over 5.5% ABV after taking priming into account...

[StrangeBrew]

I have an unwritten rule that if it isnt above 1046 at SG then i up the sugar till it is

Surely the best way to hit a desired OG is to add water until it has been reached and not add more sugar after extract has been diluted too far!

[Chris The Fish]

Surely the best way to hit a desired OG is to add water until it has been reached and not add more sugar after extract has been diluted too far!

i normally make the brew up to a desired size (normally a few litres short of suggested) then test the OG, if its still down on the suggested then i add sugar.

Your way would seem logical, only it would be a bit of a faff checking the OG every time you add 2 litres or so, and with some claims made by manufactuers on the abv you would have some kits only made up to 10l!

[Bongo]

Could not agree more; whilst a 3.0% can be a great thirst quencher of "mid-day" ale that won't leave you yawning all afternoon, I am moving more and more to greater OG as I too feel that all that work requires a stronger tasting result.

I am annoyed at all the range of "IPAs" available in the 3 to 5% bracket. IMO IPA should be 6% at the minimum, after all it was designed to be brewed strong for transportation. On arrival it was watered down tp 3-4% for the rank and file.

Still, the Milestone IPA I have in secondary may help alter my opinion, its OG was 1.052 and fell to FG 1.012 about 5.2%

I know what you mean fella many claim to be keeping within style but as you say most just use the letters IPA,I have not had teh pleasure of this beer but for an english IPA this looks good
http://www.ratebeer.com/Ratings/Beer/Be ... erID=83718

I'm sure i have tried something from Burton Bridge which seemed to fit my idea of an IPA but i forget.

I think with IPA it's an ongoing thing.