Citra hopburst with Marris Otter

[jrodder]

So, I am looking to do a brew with some of the existing 5 oz of citra I have in the freezer. Thought maybe a SMaSH is in order. 14lbs of Marris Otter, and hopbursting 2.5 oz of Citra from 20 minutes on to flameout. I would like to shoot for a citrusy sweet beer.

Rough calc in beersmith says I would be at 32 IBUs if I did .5 from 20 mins to flameout, in 5 minute increments. (I know that's not a burst but I don't know how better to calc it)

In my experience, the Citra doesn't make for a good bittering 60 minute hop, it's a bit overpowering. It also seems to pack more punch than the 14 AA would suggest.

What say you, regarding my target profile and the use of all late addition Citra?

 

[Waynep005]

Would you also dry hop with some of the citra? To me it would be a waste not to? IT s not what you are doing but I make a citra pale ale that I use 1 oz of cascade to bitter and then .5 oz of citra at 15 min .5 citra at 5 min 1 oz citra at 1 min and dry hop with 1.5 oz citra. It turns out great. The grain is 2 row ictory and some crystal 15 so it is kind of simmilar.

 

[jrodder]

What's your OG on your recipe? Most people head for balance between malt and hop, sometimes matching IBU with OG. I was shooting for half, 1.077 OG and ~32 IBU. Dryhop, yeah maybe. I have 5 ounces left, so I was hoping to get two brews out of it if this experiment turned out ok. (money is tightening up, and SWMBO is close to grumbling)

 

[Demus]

Remember, for every SWMBO there is a HWHNS (he who has no spine)!!!

 

[chiteface]

Maybe try FWH with the citra

 

[jrodder]

Remember, for every SWMBO there is a HWHNS (he who has no spine)!!!

Dude, she's a redheaded scorpio. Pissing her off is akin to opening the 7th seal.

 

[Waynep005]

I got an og of 1.055 and a fg of 1.006 beersmith shows 37.4 IBUs

 

[jrodder]

I got an og of 1.055 and a fg of 1.006 beersmith shows 37.4 IBUs

Yeah, oops. I didn't post the correct numbers there. I was more looking at 14lbs of MO, and 2 lbs of honey, before calcing the extra grain for BIAB. That gives me 1.07 and 34ish IBUs. I gues what I was essentially asking was that the IBUs *taste* higher when using Citra in my short experience, and I was asking if anyone else felt the same.

 

[zacster]

I just tasted my first Citra dry-hopped beer and it is just awesome. 14lbs of 2 row, 1 lb 20l Crystal, 1.75oz of Magnum 60 min boil, 3 oz of Centennial at 30,10 and flameout and 2oz of Citra dry hop. OG 1.070 and FG of 1.012 with Wyeast 1056. I didn't believe the FG myself so I took another reading after the 2 weeks of dry hopping and it was the same. I expected 1.018. A large starter helps I guess.

This is one tasty and potent beer.

 

[Waynep005]

I find that the citra gives a lot of flavor and aroma without being oerly bitter. But I have never used it for bittering.

 

[jrodder]

I find that the citra gives a lot of flavor and aroma without being oerly bitter. But I have never used it for bittering.

Right, which is why I was thinking about doing it all with late hop additions, nothing at 60. Just burst the 2.5 from maybe 20 minutes to flameout. Thoughts on that?

 

[jrodder]

I just tasted my first Citra dry-hopped beer and it is just awesome. 14lbs of 2 row, 1 lb 20l Crystal, 1.75oz of Magnum 60 min boil, 3 oz of Centennial at 30,10 and flameout and 2oz of Citra dry hop. OG 1.070 and FG of 1.012 with Wyeast 1056. I didn't believe the FG myself so I took another reading after the 2 weeks of dry hopping and it was the same. I expected 1.018. A large starter helps I guess.

This is one tasty and potent beer.

Is that 3 oz of centennial with 1oz at 30, 1oz at 10, and 1 at flameout?

 

[zacster]

Yes, 1oz at each point. I think 9oz of Centennial would be a little overpowering.

 

[jrodder]

Dredging this up while I am thinking about my next brew.

So, I found out that the issue with my harshness when using Citra wasn't because of the hop, it was more because of my water profile. Highly alkaline. I had several (extract) pales that just weren't good, and my last brew (BIAB AG) was a heavy chocolate porter, and it came out great.

I think I am going to try a Marris Otter / Citra brew, but using the proper water and see what happens with my harshness. I'll make a new post with recipe and taste results when I do!