Question re Hops?

[chris1643]

Advice please.....I am reading an American book, Dave Miller's Home Brewing Guide and have just attempted my first AG brew from the recipe section which is a British IPA (5 US Gallon).

The recipe called for 13 AAU of Fuggle, Goldings or Norther Brewer Hops for Bittering and then 2oz of Goldings for finishing.

Here is where I think I have gone wrong. The book says "If a recipe calls for 8 AAU of Hops, for example, then this would require 2 ounces of 4 percent hops, or 1 ounce of 8 percent."

I bought 4 ounces of hops at 3.6 percent which I calculated at 3.6 X 4 = 14.4. As the recipe called for 13 AAU I figured on putting the whole 4 ounces in which was a pack of Youngs vacuum packed hops?

I tasted the finished wort and recall thinking it tasted very hoppy. I think I have calculated things right although looking at IPA recipes in a new book I have bought (British Real Ale by Graham Wheeler) I cant see any recipes with anywhere near 4 ounces of hops in a 5 USG brew for bittering?

Have I got the AAU calculation wrong?

Any advice would be appreciated :wha:

 

[joe1002]

It does sound a lot but the hops you are bittering with have a very low alph acid. Typically you would use a hop with a much higher AA content, thus reducing the amount required. That's my experience anyhow.

What was your brew length and what hops did you use?

 

[chris1643]

Styrian Golding, I put them in at the start of the boil which was a 60 minute boil with the lid off?

 

[jonnymorris]

Not sure of your calculations but, simply put, you need proportionately less hops the stronger they are. A recipe calling for 20g of 5% AA hops will only require 10g of 10% AA hops.

That said, bittering hops (start of boil) won't make it hoppy. That'll be the aroma hops (end of the boil).