Tropic Thunder - American Pale Ale - All Grain

Tropic Thunder
American Pale Ale
All Grain
5.25 Gallons
OG: 1.049
FG: 1.011
ABV: 5.0%
SRM: 11
IBUs: 54 (Tinseth, adjusted to my system)

Extract Efficiency: 87%

Grain Bill:
8.50# Vienna Malt (98.3%)
0.15# Carafa Special III (1.7%)

Hop Bill:
15 mins 2.00 oz Amarillo 9.50%AA
15 mins 2.00 oz Simcoe 13.00%AA
WP 25 2.00 oz Amarillo 9.50%AA
WP 25 2.00 oz Simcoe 13.00%AA
DH 2.40 oz Simcoe 9.50 %AA

Yeast:
WLP 644 Brett Brux Trois (1.5L Yeast Extract Stirred Starter)

Water:
Ca 52.7, Mg 2.6, Na 6.1, S04 88.4, Cl 34.3, Bi Carb -58.1, pH 5.2

Process:
Mash 10 hours @ 150, boil 30 minutes. Whirlpool or hop stand for 25 minutes. Chill to 64*F. Pitch yeast and ferment 5 days between 65-68*F, then 70-72*F for 3 days, 76-78*F for 2 days, 62-64*F 3 days (DH in keg while carbing warm), 39-41*F 4 days in keg (if bottling add DH to primary for 4 days then bottle, carb, chill).

Other Notes:
Took 1st place at just under 4 weeks old in the Sasquatch Homebrew Comp, May 2014.

 

Aroma: 9/12
Big burst of North West hops and esters hit first. Hard to discern where each aroma comes form, is it the Brett or the hops. Starts with pineapple and mango, gives way to pine drops, and some grapefruit pith, floral hop notes, and a touch of the funk. There is a little sweatiness in there, not sure if that is some Brett funk or Amarillo as I have gotten it from this hop before. Beyond this are some plum skins, rosy alcohol, and gooseberry, all layered over a toasty malt backbone.

Appearance: 2/3
Pours into my IPA glass a hazy burnt orange under 2+ fingers of thick and rocky tannish head with small, tight bubbles. The head drops to a thick ring that lasts the whole way down, constantly re-energized by the glass design. Leaves spotty lace down the glass, should be better with all the hops in there.

Taste: 15/20
Taste starts off with a low level of funk which starts to show the nature of the Brett. This gives way to juiciness, over-ripe peach, and sweat (hello Amarillo). There is some yummy pine cone in there from the Simcoe, mango, and floral hop notes (mild geranium). Hop oils coat the tongue. A touch of dankness hits before you get the toasty malt. Medicinal note in the finish, as well as a soft but noticeable bitterness.


Mouthfeel: 3/5
Body is light on the tongue thanks to Brett not producing glycol in beers (and breaking it down in beers where it is present). Spritzy carbonation tingles all around the mouth (keg keeps overcarbing, even at low 40s the Brett is continuing to attenuate the beer more). Dry finish gives way to a lingering bitterness and phenolic note.

Overall: 7/10
Wonderful blend of big hops, bold fruity esters, and mild funk. The beer is fading from its former glory upon judging though. Starting to move towards funk and away from fruit, and the medicinal note is distracting from what would be a great end. Still a very enjoyable, quenching, juicy, hoppy, fruity, refreshing session beer. You just want another pint. Need to find a way to make this beer again without the phenolic and funk creeping in so quick. Might back off on the Carafa a tad too and lighten it up a touch, but not much. Brett doesn't flocc well at all so it remains muddy, a lighter color could help with this.

36/50

 

I have a ballvalve on my kettle that feeds to my pump which sends the hot wort back into the kettle through a whirlpool arm I have attached to my immersion chiller. It is a length of copper tubing that is bent at the top and has a quick connect attached to it. I turn off the heat, toss in my last dose of hops, push the bag down with my SS spoon, put my IC in, put the lid on, hook up my pump, open the kettle valve, turn on the pump, and let it swirl for however long until I turn on the chiller water. Then it only takes a short time to get the still hot wort down to pitching temps.

If you don't have a way to do this, just give it a good stir after KO and then let it sit for 25 minutes.

 

Wow. Having one tonight and the hops are just popping off on all cylindars. The yeast esters have backed off, the funk is minimal, but oh the hops. Dank pine oil, over ripe peach, floral, tangerines, mango. Palate hits with pine, resin, citrus pith, floral, touch of spice, bitter finish, super dry. Oh my, this beer is tasty.

 

Some pix here. Of course, the beer shifted flavor one week after reviewing it to lots of wonderful hops and no funk.

 

Killed my keg last night so sad

 

If you have a super fresh vial you might be able to do a 2L, but I wouldn't do it as the inoculation rate is so low.