IPA really bitter

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by trublucali, Nov 8, 2016.

Tags:
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. trublucali

    trublucali Initiate (0) Nov 8, 2016

    I was brewing an All-Grain, Hop Blonde IPA and added:

    1 oz Cascade at 60 min
    1 oz of Chinook @ 30 before end of boil,
    1 oz Williamette last 5 min before flameout
    1 oz SimCoe @ flameout

    The problem is that I didn't have any yeast so I left these sitting in the pot over night (pitched yeast next afternoon @ 70 degrees), so the heat continued to extract oils, etc.. Now after ten days when I taste the beer, it has a good taste, but a really bitter after taste.

    Is there anything I can do to save it...I don't really want to try to brew again with no hops and mix them. I'm guessing the IBUs are off the chart.
     
  2. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    10 days after bottling or 10 days into fermentation?

    If it's into fermentation I wouldn't worry. IPAs always taste very bitter to me when still but after conditioning are fine.
     
  3. trublucali

    trublucali Initiate (0) Nov 8, 2016

    10 days after fermentation...I hope it's ok
     
  4. GormBrewhouse

    GormBrewhouse Pooh-Bah (2,111) Jun 24, 2015 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah

    Like what was said above, Pisa are bitter at first, then mellow some so I believe you'll be fine 10 days to 2 weeks after bottling or legging.
     
  5. hoptualBrew

    hoptualBrew Initiate (0) May 29, 2011 Florida

    Bitterness is probably related to such a long steep overnight. How long was it from the end of boil to when the wort was cooled down?
     
  6. trublucali

    trublucali Initiate (0) Nov 8, 2016

    Long time...20 hours
     
  7. telejunkie

    telejunkie Savant (1,107) Sep 14, 2007 Vermont

    Tons of questions here... This is a 5 gal batch? How long before you started chilling? Did you chill by just placing the pot in the fridge? Alpha acid%s on the hops? With just a guesstimation, you landed at 65 IBUs if you chilled immediately. That's in the ball park for an IPA…but again depends how long it took to slow down the isomerization rate of alpha acids.

    Other possible things are culprits are hardness levels of your water…astringency from tannin leach….
     
    GormBrewhouse likes this.
  8. hoptualBrew

    hoptualBrew Initiate (0) May 29, 2011 Florida

    This is your problem. Have to cool relatively quickly or else so much alpha acid will isomerize into the wort and over-bitter your beer.

    I've done this recently with a new system that I now cool in ice bath as opposed to counter flow chiller I used to use. I will now change my flameout hops to a whirlpool hop addition when the beer cools down to 180F I will add them and whirlpool until 65F for pitching.
     
    GormBrewhouse likes this.
  9. trublucali

    trublucali Initiate (0) Nov 8, 2016

    Looking for a way to fix it, or should I dump it...it was 5 gallons
     
    GormBrewhouse likes this.
  10. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I wouldn't dump it. I'd go ahead and bottle it, but you may have to give it extra time after carbonation to further condition the flavors in the bottle. Hop flavors (and I assume hop bitterness too) always take a bit longer to reach their peak taste before beginning the mellowing and declining process. It may not be the best beer that you'll ever brew, but maybe it will be, and you won't know the answer for another month.

    P.S. Welcome to the BA site and to the Homebrewing forum. We're glad that you're here.
     
    A2HB, kcq101, telejunkie and 2 others like this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.