dkevinb
Well-Known Member
I've just recently started brewing from recipes rather than kits. A couple of weeks ago I put together a batch based on Palmer's ESB recipe from "How To Brew". I did a 2.5 gallon batch (full boil) so I just divided everything by half. After the fact I ran the ingredients I bought through a calculator and came up with an insane IBU. His recipe says it's supposed to be about 38. The calculator says it's going to be 70.
For 2.5 gallons:
1/2 oz Northern Brewer at 60 minutes (his recipe = 9%, mine labeled 9.6%)
3/8 oz East Kent Goldings at 30 (his = 5, mine = 7.2)
3/8 oz EKG at 15 (ditto)
Should I expect such a large variation in the IBU? Most recipes don't tell you the exact AA of the hops they were concocted with. Is the freebie calculator I'm using just completely out of whack? Should I run my recipes through a good calculator based on the label on the package before I commit?
I guess I'll find out next weekend when I bottle if it's an ESB or a hop bomb, but I was rather surprised at this. Any thoughts?
For 2.5 gallons:
1/2 oz Northern Brewer at 60 minutes (his recipe = 9%, mine labeled 9.6%)
3/8 oz East Kent Goldings at 30 (his = 5, mine = 7.2)
3/8 oz EKG at 15 (ditto)
Should I expect such a large variation in the IBU? Most recipes don't tell you the exact AA of the hops they were concocted with. Is the freebie calculator I'm using just completely out of whack? Should I run my recipes through a good calculator based on the label on the package before I commit?
I guess I'll find out next weekend when I bottle if it's an ESB or a hop bomb, but I was rather surprised at this. Any thoughts?