Monday, July 20, 2009

Double IPA?


I don't really think I can count this last IPA as a regular IPA. It's dark enough to convince me we made a hoppy porter...

Here's the ingredient list:

2 oz Columbus 14.4 AAU (60 min)
1 oz Columbus 14.4 AAU (20 min)
1 oz Columbus 14.4 AAU (5 min)
8 oz crystal malt 120°L
1 oz chocolate malt
12.5# Northwestern Northwest Gold Liquid Light Malt Extract
Wyeast 1056 American Ale
2 oz Loose leafe Chinook hops for dry-hopping.

OG 1.091
FG 1.034

Estimated IBUs- 100+
ABV- 8%

This was the first time we had tried dry-hopping, and I'm pleased with the result. The only negative for this beer would be a slight ester flavor that we think it picked up from being too warm during fermentation. Other than a slight banana flavor though, this beer has a powerful and complex hop flavor that systematically debilitates anyone who prefers Blue Moon.

I do believe that the next time we try to make an IPA we will use a different hop at the 5 minute mark to try and develop a little more complexity. Also, I would like to try a little less malt extract for this. I think that is contributing quite a bit to both the color and the issues with fruit/sweet flavor trying to overwhelm the hops.

Also, we are fermenting an Oktoberfest and when the sister-in-law comes up from Arizona we are making a Nut-Brown for her. She seems excited.