Sub-Tropic IPA (AG #27)

[AnthonyD]

I had a day off work today so brewed this little number:

Code: Select all

Recipe: Sub-Tropic IPA 
Brewer: Anthony Davies
Asst Brewer: 
Style: American IPA
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0) 

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 31.30 l
Post Boil Volume: 26.75 l
Batch Size (fermenter): 23.00 l   
Bottling Volume: 22.00 l
Estimated OG: 1.066 SG
Estimated Color: 9.9 SRM
Estimated IBU: 70.4 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 65.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 75.6 %
Boil Time: 75 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt                   Name                                     Type          #        %/IBU         
6.00 kg               Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM)         Grain         1        81.1 %        
1.00 kg               Munich I (Weyermann) (7.1 SRM)           Grain         2        13.5 %        
0.20 kg               Caramel/Crystal Malt - 10L (6.0 SRM)     Grain         3        2.7 %         
0.20 kg               Caramel/Crystal Malt -120L (121.0 SRM)   Grain         4        2.7 %         
8.00 g                Citra [12.00 %] - First Wort 75.0 min    Hop           5        9.0 IBUs      
8.00 g                Topaz [17.00 %] - First Wort 75.0 min    Hop           6        12.7 IBUs     
0.33 Items            Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins)        Fining        7        -             
1.22 tsp              Yeast Nutrient (Boil 10.0 mins)          Other         8        -             
20.00 g               Galaxy [14.00 %] - Boil 5.0 min          Hop           9        4.5 IBUs      
20.00 g               HBC 366 (Experimental) [15.00 %] - Boil  Hop           10       4.9 IBUs      
48.00 g               Citra [12.00 %] - Steep/Whirlpool  15.0  Hop           11       11.6 IBUs     
48.00 g               Topaz [17.00 %] - Steep/Whirlpool  15.0  Hop           12       16.4 IBUs     
40.00 g               Galaxy [14.00 %] - Steep/Whirlpool  15.0 Hop           13       11.3 IBUs     
1.0 pkg               Safale American  (DCL/Fermentis #US-05)  Yeast         14       -             
46.00 g               Citra [12.00 %] - Dry Hop 3.0 Days       Hop           15       0.0 IBUs      
46.00 g               Topaz [17.00 %] - Dry Hop 3.0 Days       Hop           16       0.0 IBUs      


Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Light Body, Batch Sparge
Total Grain Weight: 7.40 kg
----------------------------
Name              Description                             Step Temperat Step Time     
Mash In           Add 20.43 l of water at 73.9 C          64.4 C        90 min        

Sparge: Batch sparge with 2 steps (Drain mash tun , 18.73l) of 75.6 C water

I seem to have finally got the correct numbers into beersmith as I managed to getnearly 24L into the FV, which is what I wanted. With this many hops too that's no mean feat! I allowed for 2.5L loss below the hop strainer and 1L per 100g of hops to hop absorption (0.35 quart per oz of hops), seems to have done the trick. The boiler was a bit full mind you! Apparently I got a 93% mash efficiency - but I don't believe that for one moment!

The aroma during the whirlpool was amazing. Full of lychees, apricot jam and melon. I hope it transfers to the final beer.

All in all a very smooth brewday!

Already got the next one planned. A very simple El Dorado Pale Ale for something a bit more sessionable. 23L of Sub-Tropic IPA loopy juice lying around will be hard to resist though!

[Dene]

What do you think Topaz brings? And what do you know of the experiment hop?

[AnthonyD]

I've brewed with both before.

The HBC366 (now known as Equinox) is full of pineapple and mango flavour and aroma. At this small amount it won't add a great deal but as it was in the freezer with nothing planned to do with it I thought it might contribute something subtle to the beer.

Topaz has a quite high Co-Humulone percentage that lends itself to be more of a bittering hop -however "Dry hopping produces resinous characteristics while tropical tones are found in higher gravity beers" I've made both a sasion and an IPA with Topaz last summer and it's a nice light fruity flavour in comparison with something like Citra or Mosaic. I think it's probably one of those hops that sit's back and allows the others to take more of a centre stage while adding complimentary flavours.

Conceptually my beer above was all about the synergy between all those delightfully fruity hops.

[AnthonyD]

This is currently sat in the brewfridge at 17.5C and the aroma from it is simply amazing. A really fruity smell that's far more pungent and 'strong' than anything I've brewed before, even 100% Brett Trois that is notorious for it's aroma. I'm very excited to see how this one tastes.

Going to leave this until next Tuesday, ramp the temp up to 20C for a diacetyl rest and dry hop for 3 days before crashing to 2Cfor 48 before bottling.

[AnthonyD]

Bottled this the other day, after 3 days cooling to 2.5C.



I think the colour is beautiful and the initial impression from the sample tube says I've got it just right - bitter on the palate to start, but not astringent or harshly so. The aroma is fruity and pronounced, all in all a typical American style IPA with an Aussie hop twist.

Finished at 1.013 so 7% ABV. Got to wait a couple of weeks now for the conditioning - always the hard part!