Imperial IPA with English hops?

[Jocky]

I really wanted to brew an Imperial IPA this weekend, but I realised that I also have a stack of English hops (Challenger, Target, Fuggles, Goldings mainly).

Is it possible to brew an Imperial IPA with lots of lovely hop character, using just these English hops?

My feeling is... probably not.

If I finished the beer with something with a bit more oomph, like some Cascade, could I get close?

[seymour]

Of course you can. Just use your favorite software or online calculator to dial in the appropriate quantities of lower-alpha hops. You guys invented IPA, "Imperial" just means more of everything. Keep our grapefruity Cascades away from this batch!

I made an Imperial IPA with Saaz once (Czech, not English, I know...but still low-alpha which is your real concern here) which turned-out beautifully. I recommend the McEwan's yeast strain: Wyeast 1728 or White Labs WLP028. May need a little extra time to reach FG and to drop all the extra vegetal matter, but this beer will be worth the wait.

[barney]

England invented the Imperial IPA,

All pale malt to whatever OG you fancy and hop with fuggle or golding at 15g per litre for 90 minutes, age for 6 months.

[Jocky]

I'm looking for an ABV of around 6.5% and 60 IBU, and really sceptical I can get enough hop character in to make it work...

I'll stick it in the brewing software and see why comes out.

[seymour]

I'm looking for an ABV of around 6.5% and 60 IBU, and really sceptical I can get enough hop character in to make it work...

Mine was 8.4% ABV and 107 IBU, using hops which were lower-alpha than yours. Stick to your guns.
I'm telling you it'll work. There is no reason to think it won't.

Consider following this hop-burst schedule (increasing your hops quantities for each "burst" of course.)
http://www.northernbrewer.com/documenta ... hDream.pdf

[scuppeteer]

Sorry Jocky 6.5% isn't an Imperial, just a plain old India. For it to be classed IMPERIAL it needs to be 7.5% and over.

Target first, to around 60-70IBU
then use your Goldings or fuggles
and a pile of Challenger at the end and maybe dry hop also with them.

[Jocky]

Duh, now I remember that I threw out my Target and Goldings a while ago, so I'm left with Challenger and Fuggles. Now I know Challenger, but I've never used Fuggles extensively, and doing a more extreme ale with English hops is well outside of my comfort zone already!

My idea for an English Double IPA, although a small experimental batch:

Boil Size: 10164.00 ml
Post Boil Volume: 8364.00 ml
Batch Size (fermenter): 8200.00 ml
Bottling Volume: 7200.00 ml
Estimated OG: 1.076 SG
Estimated Color: 23.3 EBC
Estimated IBU: 84.2 IBUs
Estimated ABV: 7.5%

Ingredients:
------------
1700.00 g Light Dry Extract 15.8 EBC
150.00 g Crystal Malt 120EBC
15.00 g Fuggles [5.17 %] - Boil 60.0 min 23.0 IBUs
10.00 g Challenger [7.12 %] - Boil 60.0 min 21.1 IBUs
30.00 g Challenger [7.12 %] - Boil 15.0 min 16.9 IBUs
20.00 g Challenger [7.12 %] - Boil 10.0 min 8.4 IBUs
20.00 g Challenger [7.12 %] - Boil 5.0 min 7.0 IBUs
20.00 g Challenger [7.12 %] Flame Out

I'll dry hop with some more Challenger probably.

I'm tempted to sub in some Fuggles for some of the Challenger for the 15/10 min additions (go 50/50 on weight, but try and get the same IBU).

Thoughts?

[brodington]

More more more. And then add some more for good measure.

You cannot add too many.

And them add some more.

[TC2642]

As what brodington said,

My Camra IPA book has recipes in it that call for over 400gms of coppering hops for a 9.9% IPA.

[Befuddler]

I agree. Those late additions should be three digits for an IPA of that strength.

My latest IPA had 10g per litre in the hopback, and it'll be getting almost the same dry.

[deanrpwaacs]

Would anyone have a tried and tested recipe for this style as i would like
to give it a go .
Dean.

[seymour]

Would anyone have a tried and tested recipe for this style as i would like
to give it a go .
Dean.

Yes: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=55978#p588175

[Rookie]

According to the recent IPA book some early IPAs in England were hopped to HUGE levels of IBUs from British hops, then aged for a year before shipping to India.

[seymour]

According to the recent IPA book some early IPAs in England were hopped to HUGE levels of IBUs from British hops, then aged for a year before shipping to India.

Exactly. We Americans take too much credit for the Imperial IPA. I know the modern resurgence utilizes grapefruity American hops which wouldn't have appeared in the English originals, but still...

Barley Water and I were recently lamenting there isn't even an appropriate way to enter an "Imperial-strength" English IPA in a BJCP competition, which seems backwards.

[louiscowdroy]

Jesus,

That recipe will blow your socks clean off!!!!..........Hahahaha....

Thats one serious IPA Seymour........

Louis

Would anyone have a tried and tested recipe for this style as i would like
to give it a go .
Dean.

Yes: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=55978#p588175