Black IPA Hop Recommendations

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by CarolusP, Dec 22, 2015.

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  1. CarolusP

    CarolusP Zealot (590) Oct 22, 2015 Minnesota

    So I just popped open and downed the first bottle of my first all-grain home-brew attempt. It was a black IPA (following a kit recipe). The beer has turned out amazing, and I'm already planning on getting another batch in the works so that it'll be done before winter concludes.

    However, based on all the IPA's I've had in the past, I can't say that this beer turned out quite bitter enough to truly classify as an IPA (perhaps others may disagree). When I make the next batch, I'd like to try altering it a bit to try to get the bitterness up a bit. Here is the hops bill for the recipe (a 5-gal batch). Could anyone make any recommendations as far as how to change the timing of the hops additions, or perhaps adding some different/additional hops to the recipe altogether?

    1 oz Columbus @ 45 minutes left in boil
    1 oz Pacifica @ 30 minutes left in boil
    1/2 oz Simcoe @ 30 minutes left in boil
    1 oz Pacifica @ 5 minutes left in boil
    1/2 oz Simcoe @ 5 minutes left in boil
    1 oz Simcoe dry hopped after 7-10 days of fermentation (I added this at 8 days)
    1 oz Ahtanum dry hopped after 7-10 days of fermentation (I added this at 8 days)
     
    #1 CarolusP, Dec 22, 2015
  2. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    Looks hoppy enough for me, but you could get more bitterness out of the Columbus at 60 minutes. FWIW, I just happened to be on a vendor site where a clone recipe for Wookey Jack BIPA is listed, and, well, they use more hops:
    http://www.farmhousebrewingsupply.com/wookey-jack-clone-all-grain/
    So maybe try doubling your dry hops and spreading another ounce each of your pacifica and simcoe around the 30 and 5 minute marks.
     
    #2 pweis909, Dec 22, 2015
  3. Supergenious

    Supergenious Maven (1,273) May 9, 2011 Michigan

    That recipe was posted in Zymurgy about a year ago maybe. I did a version of it around that time. Turned out really nice. I would recommend it.
     
    #3 Supergenious, Dec 22, 2015
    pweis909 likes this.
  4. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    You want old-school IPA bitter...60 min FWH
     
    #4 GreenKrusty101, Dec 23, 2015
  5. MCBanjoMike

    MCBanjoMike Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2014 Canada (QC)

    Hmm, I've been thinking I should maybe do a black IPA this year. Might try that clone recipe in one of my next brews.
     
    #5 MCBanjoMike, Dec 23, 2015
  6. GormBrewhouse

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

    60 minutes with Columbus would help, but 2 oz of Columbus will boost the bitterness a great deal. I make a Columbus IPA doing just that along with 1 0z of Columbus at 15 and 1 oz in the dry hop. Good luck
     
    #6 GormBrewhouse, Dec 23, 2015
  7. peter831

    peter831 Initiate (0) Dec 2, 2012 California

    find out what they do at Boneyard for Armored Fist. One of the best dark IPA's I have ever tasted, 65 IBU's
     
    #7 peter831, Dec 24, 2015
  8. MrOH

    MrOH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,995) Jul 5, 2010 Virginia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    As others have said, and to quote @AlCaponeJunior , MOAR HOPS. Double the late hops and the dry hop.
    While I like doing a 30min addition, 38% of your kettle hops is a waste. 1/2oz is plenty there, and move the rest to late in the boil or FO.
    Also, I don't know if Pacifica and Ahtanum are potent enough to stand up to the Simcoe in the late hops. I like Simcoe, Chinook, and Columbus in my BIPAs. I think the piney, spicy, dank and grapefruit work well with the hint of roast.
    One last thing, what does your malt bill look like? I like Golden Promise as base to meet OG, 4oz Extra Dark Crystal (~150L or Special B), and 1# Midnight Wheat. Mash low and use US-05.
     
    #8 MrOH, Dec 24, 2015
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