i'm brewing a 90 minute dogfish head IPA clone... It calls for constant hopping... Is there an easier way to add the hops ( and remove them ) instead of stuffing 10 little bags with hops... I thought about putting a larger net in the boil, and weighting it down with stainless steel marbles so when i'm done with the boil, I can lift the whole net up with all the hops... the few times i added hops to the boil in the little mesh bags, one of them always comes open and i have a huge mess of hops to deal with in the wort... I guess i'm just looking for a 'no mess' solution to constant hopping, instead of having to strain, etc...
I do exactly what you suggest with a 5 gallon nylon paint strainer bag. It seems to work well and is reusable. Most LHBS have them for a couple of bucks each. I got mine at Home Depot at 2 fer a dollar.
I also want to get that really strong grapefruit aftertaste with my dogfish head clone... like the 75 minute IPA they brew.. beer geek nation reviewed this IPA as Dog Fish Head's number one IPA... do I just add the zest of grapefruit last 5 minutes of boil ?
You shouldn't be removing boil hops when adding new additions. Use one 5 gallon nylon mesh paint strainer bag for all your kettle hops (pellets are easier to deal with). These particular bags are cheap and trustworthy. No need to weigh it down either; Just toss in the hops and secure the bag around the kettle handle away from the flame. After the boil, tie the bag with a rubber band and let drip drain in another sanitized pot. Don't squeeze too hard/too much. Reincorporate the runnings back into your main kettle when the bag is mostly dried.
You could also just use pellets and not worry about the bag. When I was trying a similar idea, I just dumped in a tablespoon of pellets every 5 minutes.
No. If you're looking for a boatload of grapefruit flavor, you simply use a boatload of Cascade hops ! Seriously, grapefruit zest can be a wonderful thing in a properly designed beer, but that distinctive grapefruity flavor you get from so many excellent American style IPAs comes from hops. It seems odd but, as with most hop and yeast derived flavors (bananas, cloves, grapefruit, etc.), the real thing is unlikely to give you what you're looking for.
Cascade may still be my favorite hops. I know, I know, citra, simcoe, amarillo. Whatever! Cascade is the shit man!
As soon as I asked about the Grapefruit, of course i started looking online... I have Citra, Palisade, Chinook, and a shitload of Cascade... lol when i was at the brew supply store, i also bought some light oak chips, and some candied orange rind... the orange rind will be for a different batch.. I can't concentrate... i brewed a wheat beer yesterday ( don't ask ) its going to be a fruit beer, and i've NEVER seen a batch ferment this hard... first time i've had to use a blow tube, instead of a air lock
I made me one of these and use it sometimes. I really like it. Over time though the PVC softened enough on mine for it to sag a little more each time. I still use it but at some point ill need to make another one.
Aight, I have both in stock, and haven't planned anything for the citra yet. What's your recipe hoss? I'd like a super fruity/citrusy pale ale borderlining on IPA. Derail it or PM me and we'll start another thread
Let's figure it out then! I'm not familiar with citra but have plenty of experience with cascade. I'll sling something together real quick for debate... 11 lbs 2-row 0.25 lbs C-60 0.5 lbs C-20 0.5 lbs munich magnum bittering to about 25 1 oz cascade 15 0.5 oz citra 5 0.5 oz cascade 5 1 oz each cascade / citra at 0 1 oz each cascade / citra dry hop 1.064 OG 41.5 IBUs 8 SRM 6.6 ABV Pure guessing and speculation. I haven't used citra before. My guess is that this beer would be tasty regardless of that fact, but someone with more experience could probably perfect it.
that looks good... I'd add an ounce of oak chips in the dry hop.. and because i LOVE a real hoppy grapefruity beer, i would add hops to the boil like the clone recipe for 90 minute dog fish head... constant hopping... i just bought 11 lbs 2-row and .5 lb victoria to replace the thomas fawcett i could not get, and like you I have .5 lbs of munich.. brewing tomorrow... lets compare afterwards...
Sounds like a plan. I'm finalizing the tweakage of my recipe as we speak... I'm sure it could be upped on the munich to a pound without issue. Just sayin'
Try: 10# 2 row 2# Munich .75# C40 Hop it as you'd like. Magnum or something at 60.. I like Chinook to FWH with myself. It's a simple clean grist, with enough sweetness and body to hold up and do as you want. Hop it to the gills, or lay it back and let it be a nice easy pale. If you want a good pale grist. 11# 2 row 1# Flaked Wheat 8oz C40 6oz C60 Hop it to around 40-45 IBU's. 10-5-1-0 and make the 0 a good hopstand with citra. I'd do Cascade at 10-, and Citra and Cascade at 5, and then just Citra at 1-0. I'd personally say move the Cascade out and do Amarillo with it. It's a solid, solid beer. Dry hop with 1oz of each.
Thanks man, looks good! Unfortunately I don't have any amarillo. And with all the hops clogging up mine and my bro's freezers, I don't think I need to get any. I have plenty of hops!
Edit that last recipe. It's 4oz of C60, not 6oz.. I looked at that this morning and was like... good lord thats too much crystal.
