Imperial IPA Suggestion needed

[killerzeek]

I've planned a 2.5 gallon IIPA batch for this weekend, here is my ingredient list and I need help with the boil times and hop staging.

5lbs 2-row
2lbs marris otter

2 oz simcoe A12.2%
2 oz Glacier A7.4%
1 oz Chinook A11.4%
1 oz Centennial A9.9%
1 oz Nugget A12.2%
.5oz Perle A7.9%

Pacman yeast Starter


I am looking for help on, mash time and hop staging.

 

[weirdboy]

Are you going to dry hop?

How much dead space have you got in your system?

 

[killerzeek]

I'll probably dry hop, hadn't decided. As for head space, right now I will be using a 5g carboy for the primary and a 3 gal for secondary.

 

[kanzimonson]

I haven't run the numbers but I'm not sure if that amount of grain will get you to the generally accepted BJCP gravity range for a IIPA (1.075-1.090). Sure, you could probably go a little lower, but I'd guess 1.065 would be the very least. Some people use a little table sugar to raise the gravity but keep the beer dry. Maybe 4oz in your smaller batch size?

As for hops, I'm a big fan of LOADING up on late additions to get at least 50% of your IBUs from the flavor and aroma hops. You've got a nice mix of hops (I actually prefer to use fewer varieties myself because when you use so many, how do you know which one provided what flavor?). I'd say try to get at least 1-2oz of dry hops, and about 4oz in the last 20 minutes. After that use what you have to get the IBUs you need.

Finally, mash low and slow, baby. Like 150*, for at least 60 minutes but could take as long as 90. Check conversion with iodine.

 

[milwaukee]

I second the comment that you might want to bump up your 2-row to get into the IIPA range. Unless you're rocking some crazy high efficiency.

On the hop staging I also second the idea of pushing like 5.5... 6-ish oz of your hops into the last 20 minutes... and some of that into a dry hop... just in the name of balancing bitterness/flavor/aroma.

And you know what you like... but I think people build a lot of complicated hop bills... the same way people make complicated marinades for steak. Best steak I've had was seasoned with salt and pepper and nothing else. Favorite IIPA I've had recently was Founder's all-Centennial. But like I said, don't let me harsh your mellow--you know what you like.

Give a holler about how it turns out.

 

[killerzeek]

I just downloaded Beer Alchemy and ran the numbers, see below.
The IBUs are coming out really high. Basically undrinkable, I would guess.

If these numbers are correct I might jump into a full 5 gallon batch.

Insane IIPA
Selected Style and BJCP Guidelines
14C-India Pale Ale(IPA)-Imperial IPA
Minimum OG: 1.070 SG Maximum OG: 1.090 SG
Minimum FG: 1.010 SG Maximum FG: 1.020 SG
Minimum IBU: 60 IBU Maximum IBU: 120 IBU
Minimum Color: 8.0 SRM Maximum Color: 15.0 SRM

Recipe Overview
Wort Volume Before Boil: 3.50 US gals
Wort Volume After Boil: 2.50 US gals
Volume Transferred: 2.50 US gals
Water Added To Fermenter: 0.00 US gals
Volume At Pitching: 2.50 US gals
Volume Of Finished Beer: 2.50 US gals
Expected Pre-Boil Gravity: 1.071
SG Expected OG: 1.100 SG
Expected FG: 1.023
SG Apparent Attenuation: 75.0 %
Expected ABV: 10.4 %
Expected ABW: 8.0 %
Expected IBU (using Tinseth): 366.4 IBU
Expected Color (using Morey): 5.9 SRM
BU:GU ratio: 3.66 Approx Color:
Mash Efficiency: 75.0 %
Boil Duration: 90.0 mins
Fermentation Temperature: 64 degF

Fermentables
Ingredient Amount % MCU When
US 2-Row Malt 112.00 oz 77.8 % 5.0 In Mash/Steeped
UK Pale Ale Malt 32.00 oz 22.2 % 2.4 In Mash/Steeped

Hops
Variety Alpha Amount IBU Form When
US Glacier 7.7 % 1.00 oz 51.6 Loose Pellet Hops 90 Min From End
US Glacier 7.7 % 1.00 oz 50.9 Loose Pellet Hops 80 Min From End
US Chinook 11.4 % 1.00 oz 68.0 Loose Pellet Hops 50 Min From End
US Nugget 12.2 % 0.50 oz 36.4 Loose Pellet Hops 50 Min From End
US Centennial 9.9 % 1.00 oz 54.5 Loose Pellet Hops 40 Min From End
US Simcoe 12.2 % 1.00 oz 58.8 Loose Pellet Hops 30 Min From End
US Simcoe 12.2 % 1.00 oz 46.3 Loose Pellet Hops 20 Min From End
US Nugget 12.2 % 0.50 oz 0.0 Loose Whole Hops Dry-Hopped

 

[milwaukee]

With 45 or more minutes of boiling on hops you will isomerize the alpha acids... and they'll serve as bittering hops. You've still got 4.5 out out of 7 ounces serving as bittering hops.

Push more back to the last 20 minutes and knockout. You'll balance the flavor contribution and pull down your IBUs... not that I have any idea if you'll pull it down enough... but...

 

[milwaukee]

Some useful reading on IBUs.

http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter5-5.html

Longer boil... higher utilization... increased IBU numbers.

 

[killerzeek]

Great thanks for the information. You seem to have a great deal of information on bittering.

I moded the recipe and this is looking a lot better. I have also reduced the amounts of the hops quite a bit.



Recipe Overview
Wort Volume Before Boil: 3.00 US gals
Wort Volume After Boil: 2.50 US gals
Volume Transferred: 2.50 US gals
Water Added To Fermenter: 0.00 US gals
Volume At Pitching: 2.50 US gals
Volume Of Finished Beer: 2.50 US gals
Expected Pre-Boil Gravity: 1.079 SG
Expected OG: 1.094 SG
Expected FG: 1.022 SG
Apparent Attenuation: 75.0 %
Expected ABV: 9.8 %
Expected ABW: 7.6 %
Expected IBU (using Tinseth): 124.8 IBU
Expected Color (using Morey): 5.7 SRM
BU:GU ratio: 1.32 Approx Color:
Mash Efficiency: 75.0 %
Boil Duration: 90.0 mins
Fermentation Temperature: 67 degF
Fermentables
Ingredient Amount % MCU When
US 2-Row Malt 104.00 oz 76.5 % 4.7 In Mash/Steeped
UK Pale Ale Malt 32.00 oz 23.5 % 2.4 In Mash/Steeped
Hops
Variety Alpha Amount IBU Form When
US Simcoe 12.2 % 0.25 oz 17.9 Loose Pellet Hops 60 Min From End
US Simcoe 12.2 % 0.25 oz 17.0 Loose Pellet Hops 50 Min From End
US Simcoe 12.2 % 0.25 oz 13.8 Loose Pellet Hops 30 Min From End
US Simcoe 12.2 % 0.25 oz 12.4 Loose Pellet Hops 25 Min From End
US Centennial 9.9 % 0.50 oz 17.6 Loose Pellet Hops 20 Min From End
US Nugget 12.2 % 1.00 oz 35.5 Loose Pellet Hops 15 Min From End
US Centennial 9.9 % 0.50 oz 10.5 Loose Pellet Hops 10 Min From End