IPA (hopefully)

[jimny14]

Hi guys, pretty new to this recipe making thing, looking at doing something hoppy like an IPA. If anyone could give me an idea as to whether i'm close enough to a decent beer or if i'm not some hints to make it better would be appreciated. I'm trying to make something hoppy but not overly alcoholic. I'm thinking this should turn out at about 5%. I'm using up some hops n this is all the hops of these varieties. I've got a load of goldings though if they'd be more useful. Any thoughts or tips i'd be really appreciative. This is a massive learning curve for me.

Grain bill :-

MO - 5kg
Crystal - 300g
Torrefied wheat - 300g

60min boil
Hops :-

60mins
Fuggles 4% 32g
northdown 7.5% 52g

10 mins
fuggles 4% 30g
challenger 6.4% 50g

Thanks for the help guys.

[Scotty]

What brewlength are planning? If it is a 23l batch then based upon the ingredients, you would be looking at 7-odd % and an IBU of 72-ish.

[TheMumbler]

What brewlength are planning? If it is a 23l batch then based upon the ingredients, you would be looking at 7-odd % and an IBU of 72-ish.

What is your mash efficiency? I'd guess that would be mid 1050s at 75%, qbrew isn't on this machine so I can't check. I don't have much of a sense of IBU from looking at recipes yet. What calculation are you using for hop utilisation? I find that of the two calculations available in qbrew, the lower values given using tinseth calculations work better for my set up.

I see you are also in Lancaster jimny

[jimny14]

Hi, put this in to beer engine for 23l, at 70% efficiency i get 1051 with ebu of 68. Dunno really if this ebu is too high, i'm still learning loads at this time. For something with lots of hoppy flavour should i move some more hops up to later in the boil or even dry hop with something, so i get more hop flavour n reduce the bitterness? What sort of ebu should i be looking at for an IPA type thing?

[TheMumbler]

Personally I'd look for a bit lower IBU maybe 50 or so for that grain bill, depends on how bitter you like them really. Are you after an english style IPA or an american hop monster? Have a look at IBU/OG ratio, I posted some links on this thread about an IPA. If you are after lots of hop aroma and flavour you want hops late in the boil, I would also think about moving some hops down to an 80 degree steep or dry hop. I like to have some hops at 15 for flavour and an 80 degree steep for aroma but I'm still learning too

edit to add link

[Deebee]

If you want to keep it traditional i think i would use just pale malt to whatever OG you want, bitter with goldings, late hope with goldings, then dry hop with goldings. then leave it for a few weeks/months to condition once bottled.I'd also opt for nottingham or Us -05 as yeast too.

[Middo]

I agree - you can't beat Goldings for an English IPA. I'm a big fan of American IPAs and I usually use Cascade for those (although I picked up some Chinook, Amarillo and Columbus when I was out there a couple months ago; can't wait to use those!). And yes, definitely go for Nottingham or US-05 - they really bring out the flavour/aroma of the hops.

[jimny14]

Hey guys thanks for all your help n advice. I've rejigged the idea. I'm also planning an all goldings classic ipa with just MO, so will probably save the goldings for that. I've redone this one to get the ebu's down a bit n add some more hop flavour n aroma. Any thoughts on this now?

60 mins

northdown 7.5% 52g

10 mins

challenger 6.4% 10g

flame out

challenger 6.4% 20g

dry hops for a week in fv

challenger 6.4% 20g.

does this sound better with the same grain bill?

[jimny14]

Oh and how would SO4 work as a yeast with this one, as this is all ive got in stock atm. I could nip and get some nottingham or us05 but its a bit of a trip.

[Scotty]

Personally I would go Nottingham as this would allow the hop character to come through, providing you don't get the duff batch of yeast,

S-04 would be ok if you manage to keep the fermentation temperature low enough to stop the buttery-taste. Plus this yeast will leave a bit residual sweetness, whereas Notts won't.

[lupulin]

Your updated recipe looks a bit more reasonable in terms of bitterness. I would probably throw in some goldings or kent for the flameout and dry hop instead of challenger, but that's mostly personal preference.