American IPA

[aceuass]

I have a couple of mates (yanks) who would like to get into this brewing game, so I said they can join me for my next one, now this got me thinking that I would like to make an American IPA for them as they are both hopheads and came up with this

Sleeping Trent IPA
American IPA

Type: All Grain
Date: 1/3/2009
Batch Size: 6.00 gal
Brewer: Paul
Boil Size: 8.00 gal Asst Brewer: Trent/Ralph
Boil Time: 60 min Equipment: Brew Pot (6+gal) and Igloo/Gott Cooler (5 Gal)
Taste Rating(out of 50): 0.0 Brewhouse Efficiency: 75.00
Taste Notes:

Ingredients

Amount Item Type % or IBU
12.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 88.89 %
1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 7.41 %
0.50 lb Wheat Malt, Bel (2.0 SRM) Grain 3.70 %
1.00 oz Chinook [13.00 %] (60 min) Hops 34.3 IBU
1.00 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [12.00 %] (60 min) Hops 35.1 IBU
1.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] (30 min) (Aroma Hop-Steep) Hops -
1.00 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] (30 min) (Aroma Hop-Steep) Hops -
1.00 oz Chinook [13.00 %] (30 min) (Aroma Hop-Steep) Hops -
1.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] (15 min) Hops 13.1 IBU
1.00 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] (15 min) Hops 18.9 IBU
1.00 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
2 Pkgs SafAle American Ale (DCL Yeast #S-05) Yeast-Ale



Beer Profile

Est Original Gravity: 1.061 SG
Measured Original Gravity: 1.010 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.016 SG Measured Final Gravity: 1.005 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 5.91 % Actual Alcohol by Vol: 0.65 %
Bitterness: 101.4 IBU Calories: 43 cal/pint
Est Color: 9.2 SRM Color: Color

Is this too hoppy?
I know its going to take a while for this to mature so they will have to wait, will it be worth the wait?

Cheers
Paul

[Whorst]

No, it's not too hoppy. I wouldn't let it sit around to age long either. I'd ferment it 'til it's done, and then give it two weeks in the keg.
Your recipe looks good. That beer should be delicious.

[adm]

Seeing as you've got over 100 IBU in there, it's going to be real hop bomb.

Personally, I would probably add some sugar to boost the alcohol content without adding extra body and take it up into Imperial IPA territory. There's a good article on Imperial IPAs in November's Brew Your Own magazine if you can find a copy.

[Barley Water]

Wow, that is a lot of hops, don't you know there is a shortage? Actually, it's all a matter of taste but what you have there is a hop delivery vehicle. Many of my buddies in the brew club just love stuff like that but frankly, it is not my bag. I think homebrew nerds either love or hate Chinook, I personally think that it makes the bitterness very course and harsh (but what the hell to I know). Having said that, every once in a while I get the itch for something hoppy but I will usually go for something like Anchor Liberty ale or maybe Victory Hop Devil which are not anywhere close to what you are proposing. You might want to take a look at the current issue of BYO as there is a big article about what goes on at Stone Brewing Company with several clone formulations. Although not my cup of tea, I am glad there are folks out there that push the envelope, that's how we come up with new beer styles.

There is this guy that shows up at homebrew contests known as the "Hop God". He dresses in a burlap hop bag and if I remember correctly, wears a wreath on his head made of hop vines. If you ever meet him you will not forget him, he is truly one of a kind. Anyhow, you guys should get on really well if you like hoppy brews.

[aceuass]

Thanks for the advice guys, I know 3 floyds alpha king is one of their favs, maybe a bit too hoppy for me but the beer is really to show them they can make their own.
I will keep a couple of bottles for tasting of course.
Looking at the imperial ipa it mentions IBU upto 120 WOW I thought I would keep it at about 100
Cheers
Paul