classic west coast style IPA recipe

[mike_57401]

Hello everyone.

I’m requested to brew a west-coast style IPA for a gift. I realize there’s quite a bit of latitude within that arena. From what I can determine, “west coast” means balanced in favor of hops, dry, low malt character, C-Hop focused, pale to copper colored. This person responded favorably to a Two-Hearted style IPA I brewed in the past, with all Centennials. I am assuming Two-Hearted is more of a “balanced” IPA. They also enjoyed a Chinook/Simcoe/Centennial IPA I brewed, which was heavily late-hopped (about 10 oz). I’m thinking of more classic C-hops, rather than newer fruity/candy hops (Citra, Galaxy, El Dorado, etc).

I’ve only brewed a handful of IPAs, but I’ve brewed about 20 years, and I’m reasonably dialed-in on the process side. I’ve looked at a number of recipes: a Green Flash clone; a Racer 5 clone; “Averagely Perfect IPA” (from a few years back on forums); Scott Janish’s West Coast No. 2; etc. The early kettle hopping varies quite a bit on these recipes, as does late and dry hopping, % and total hopping - from about 5 ounces, to about 11 ounces.

Is there a classic west-coast IPA recipe anyone could point me to? I’m so far thinking the “Averagely Perfect IPA” is a good starting point: Simcoe, Cascade, Centennial hopped, mostly late hopped.
Thanks in advance,

 

[plazola86]

I have a double west coast IPA fermenting right now. I went with Simcoe and Amarillo to give it that classic big west coast floral aroma with a little fruityness. I don't use crystal in my IPA's I feel it gives it a horrible color (oxidized brown) and raisin taste. I use victory or munich instead up to 10% of the grain bill. To dry it out I use up to 10% of table sugar and mash at 148.

 

[jerbrew]

This IPA Rocks and, I think, is a solid West Coast IPA.

HOME BREW RECIPE:
Title: Big Day IPA

Brew Method: All Grain
Style Name: American IPA
Boil Time: 60 min
Batch Size: 5.5 gallons (ending kettle volume)
Boil Size: 7 gallons
Boil Gravity: 1.049
Efficiency: 72% (ending kettle)


STATS:
Original Gravity: 1.063
Final Gravity: 1.011
ABV (standard): 6.84%
IBU (tinseth): 54.44
SRM (mosher): 7.14

FERMENTABLES:
5 lb - American - Pale 2-Row (38.5%)
7 lb - United Kingdom - Golden Promise (53.8%)
0.5 lb - American - Victory (3.8%)
0.5 lb - German - Carapils (3.8%)

HOPS:
0.35 oz - Millenium, Type: Pellet, AA: 15.5, Use: Boil for 60 min, IBU: 18.88
0.25 oz - CTZ, Type: Pellet, AA: 14.4, Use: Boil for 15 min, IBU: 6.22
1 oz - Centennial, Type: Leaf/Whole, AA: 9, Use: Whirlpool for 30 min at 200 °F, IBU: 6.13
1 oz - Cascade, Type: Leaf/Whole, AA: 7, Use: Whirlpool for 30 min at °F, IBU: 4.77
1 oz - CTZ, Type: Pellet, AA: 14.4, Use: Whirlpool for 30 min at 200 °F, IBU: 9.81
1 oz - Simcoe, Type: Pellet, AA: 12.7, Use: Whirlpool for 30 min at 200 °F, IBU: 8.65
2 oz - Cascade, Type: Leaf/Whole, AA: 7, Use: Dry Hop for 5 days
1 oz - Centennial, Type: Pellet, AA: 9, Use: Dry Hop for 5 days
1 oz - CTZ, Type: Pellet, AA: 14.4, Use: Dry Hop for 5 days
1 oz - Simcoe, Type: Pellet, AA: 12.7, Use: Dry Hop for 5 days

MASH GUIDELINES:
1) Infusion, Temp: 150 F, Time: 60 min, Amount: 4 gal
2) Sparge, Temp: 170 F, Time: 0 min, Amount: 4.5 gal
Starting Mash Thickness: 1.45 qt/lb

OTHER INGREDIENTS:
1 each - whirlfloc, Time: 15 min, Type: Fining, Use: Boil
2.8 g - Gypsum, Time: 60 min, Type: Water Agt, Use: Mash
0.8 g - Calcium Chloride, Time: 60 min, Type: Water Agt, Use: Mash
0.8 g - MgSO4 (Epsom Salt), Time: 60 min, Type: Water Agt, Use: Mash
0.6 oz - Sea Salt, Time: 60 min, Type: Water Agt, Use: Mash
16 ml - Phosphoric Acid, Time: 60 min, Type: Water Agt, Use: Mash
3.2 g - Gypsum (Sparge), Time: 60 min, Type: Water Agt, Use: Mash
0.9 g - CaCl2 (Sparge), Time: 60 min, Type: Water Agt, Use: Mash
0.9 g - Espom Salt (Sparge), Time: 60 min, Type: Water Agt, Use: Mash
0.7 g - Sea Salt (Sparge), Time: 60 min, Type: Water Agt, Use: Mash

YEAST:
Fermentis / Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05
Starter: No
Form: Dry
Attenuation (avg): 81%
Flocculation: Medium
Optimum Temp: 54 - 77 F
Fermentation Temp: 64 F
Pitch Rate: 0.75 (M cells / ml / deg P)

TARGET WATER PROFILE:
Profile Name: IPA Profile
Ca2: 57
Mg2: 6
Na: 16
Cl: 50
SO4: 124
HCO3: 0
Water Notes:


Generated by Brewer's Friend - https://www.brewersfriend.com/
Date: 2017-11-16 16:19 UTC
Recipe Last Updated: 2017-07-31 15:43 UTC

 

[thehaze]

This has worked for me the last few times:

Pale Malt 95%
CaraBelge 5%

US-05 or anything other yeast of choice

ABV: 6-6.5%
IBUs: 50-60

Hops: This is really a choice, but Simcoe and Chinook are always good. Get something fruitier ( Amarillo, Mosaic, etc. ) in there to balance it and you're on your way to a great IPA.

 

[mike_57401]

Good thoughts. I have a pretty good starting point now. Thanks!