AG Brew #3 English IPA

[TheRedDarren]

So heres the third AG brew for me, an English IPA. Nothing groundbreakingly new but I need to learn how hops work together so I thought this would be a good choice.

Batch size - 23l
Total grain - 6.277kg
Total hops - 160g
Brewhouse eff - 70%
Boil time - 90 mins
OG - 1060
FG - 1015
ABV - 5.89%
Colour - 10.6 srm
Bitterness - 41.8 ibu


Grain bill:
5.524kg Maris Otter
0.722kg Crystal 10 (I'm not sure what crystal this is, I got it from The Homebrew shop online as simply "Crystal malt")
0.031kg Black malt

Hop bill:
25g EKG (3.74) @90mins
25g Fuggles (4.98)@90mins

25g EKG @20mins
25g Fuggles @20mins

30g EKG @10mins
30g Fuggles @10mins

Single step infusion at 69c
Safale 04 yeast.

Any thoughts very welcome!

 

[clibit]

Seems fine. Will you dry hop?

 

[TheRedDarren]

Cool, thanks mate.

Not sure yet, would you? I like the idea, and I like a nice hoppy IPA. What would you suggest?

Also, 69c mash temp, is that ok? Looking over other IPA recipes they seem to be around 65-67c. I did make it a bit higher on purpose because I wanted a good balance between bitterness and sweetness, but I'm wondering now if thats ok after seeing every other IPA mashed at lower temps.

 

[clibit]

IPA was originally dry hopped. But it's ok either way.

 

[TheRedDarren]

I'm a little surprised at how dark the wort is...

 

[GHW]

If you are going to dry hop Don't use the fuggles. Never tried them myself but have read many bad things about using them for dry hopping. If you want lots of hop aroma, dry hopping will help with that.

 

[TheRedDarren]

Ok matey, EKG instead? I have Target and Challenger in the freezer but wanted to try and keep this one simple so I can see what flavours come from where...

 

[Dads_Ale]

It will be pretty dark with that much Crystal Malt. Probably be more like an Old Ale than an IPA.

I did one fairly similar but with a bit less crystal and a bit more black. Turned out good but you may need to leave it a while to mature.

 

[TheRedDarren]

Ah bummer. I'm not sure which Crystal it is, thats the problem. I was hoping to make an IPA but, yes, I agree with you. I was hoping it'd be ready in a month for when my brother gets back from backpacking.

 

[clibit]

It could be ready in a month. Maybe the crystal was quite dark. But the beer in the glass will be much lighter. Always looks darker in a large quantity.

 

[Dads_Ale]

It should be ready to drink in a month but the flavour will change over time. You may prefer it green. I must admit the one I did I liked early and after it had matured (not that it lasted very long) and is the only recipe I have repeated without any changes.

What EBC was the Crystal. the Home Brew Shop standard Crystal is usually about EBC 150.

Regarding dry hopping personally I wouldn't as the hop aroma might fight the sweetness of the crystal malt.

And don't worry it may not be an IPA but I am sure you won't be disappointed :thumb:

 

[TheRedDarren]

Finished this last night, all went very well. I collected 22l of wort @ 1070. Slightly less wort but obviously a slightly higher FG.
I've worked it out at having an efficiency of 89%, is this correct?

5.5kg MO.
.73kg Crystal.
. 030kg Black Malt.
22l @ 1070FG.

 

[TheRedDarren]

Not FG... OG obviously!

 

[MyQul]

If you want to hit your target OG just dilute it down a bit in the FV using a dilution calculator

http://www.brewersfriend.com/dilution-and-boiloff-gravity-calculator/

 

[TheRedDarren]

I just wanted to know if I'd worked out brewhouse efficiency correctly?
Seems a bit high doesn't it?

 

[TheRedDarren]

Just took a sample and after 9 days in the FV It's at 1020 and tastes very sweet indeed. Too sweet! I guess it'll carry on fermenting for quite a while
Yet and hopefully dry out?

 

[Tony1951]

I'm really interested in how this turns out. I just did an English Ipa kit from Geterbrewed and have high hopes of it. I got an OG of 1062 though and it isn't as dark as this one.

 

[Tony1951]

How is the IPA doing after another week Darren?

 

[TheRedDarren]

I won't be home until tomorrow morning mate, I'm planning to bottle it tomorrow though, I shall let you know ;-)

 

[Joeyriles]

This sounds tasty! RE the dry hopping: I have found that EKG are nice when put into the beer about 3 days before bottling (though if I had Challenger I'd be tempted to sprinkle some of those in, too.)