1. You need Untappd for Business. Get a demo, get a $25 gift card. It's that easy.
    Dismiss Notice

DIPA much darker than expected

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by trevord13, Apr 1, 2015.

Tags:
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. trevord13

    trevord13 Initiate (0) Sep 30, 2010 Virginia

    Brewed a DIPA three weeks ago, targeting an SRM of around 7, but it looks like I ended up closer to 9-10 based on the SRM chart. I did end up with 1/4 gallon in my fermentor than expected, but should it make that much difference? I dry hopped 2x in the primary, and a final dry-hop last night at kegging. Below is the grain bill, mashed at 152 for 90min. All of my numbers were spot on with OG 1.084 and FG: 1.017

    Grain Bill:
    13lb 8oz 2-Row (80%)
    13.75oz German Pilsner (5%)
    13.75oz Flaked Oats (5%)
    11oz Crystal 40 (4%)
    1lb Corn Sugar (in boil) – (6%)
     
    #1 trevord13, Apr 1, 2015
  2. ChrisMyhre

    ChrisMyhre Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2013 Massachusetts

    How long was your boil? Maybe some scorching? Also with just 3 weeks of conditioning you may see significant lightening as the beer clears, yeast in suspension will cause the beer to appear darker than it really is.
     
    #2 ChrisMyhre, Apr 1, 2015
  3. trevord13

    trevord13 Initiate (0) Sep 30, 2010 Virginia

    The boil was 75min. I seriously doubt there was any scorching, but anything is possible. My plan is to pull the final 3.5oz of dry hops from the keg on Sunday, flush with Co2, and bulk condition for a week or two in my fridge at 40.
     
    #3 trevord13, Apr 1, 2015
  4. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,336) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm leaning towards kettle carmelization as well. What's your kettle like? triclad bottom?
     
    #4 SFACRKnight, Apr 1, 2015
  5. Mike_Aguirre

    Mike_Aguirre Initiate (0) Jan 20, 2015 Mexico

    Some base malts usually come a little darker than they should, experienced brewers get a tech specs sheet with every shipment of malts, but homebrewers don´t really have a problem with some SRM discrepancies.
     
    #5 Mike_Aguirre, Apr 1, 2015
  6. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    Was that regular NA 2 Row or NA Pale Ale 2 Row?
     
    #6 GreenKrusty101, Apr 1, 2015
  7. trevord13

    trevord13 Initiate (0) Sep 30, 2010 Virginia

    #7 trevord13, Apr 1, 2015
  8. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,533) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Are you comparing your color as a small quantity in a gravity sample, or as the bulk amount in your carboy? Large amounts of wort will always look darker than smaller amounts because less light gets through.
     
    #8 PapaGoose03, Apr 1, 2015
  9. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,363) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    The topic of beer color and assessing an SRM value by comparing a beer against a color chart is a tricky exercise.

    “Wikipedia (which was the only source I could which gave the spectroscopic determination of beer color) defines the SRM of a beer as the absorbance at 430 nanometers times a constant and a dilution factor.

    SRM = 12.7 * D * A, where D is the dilution factor (for an undiluted sample, D = 1, for a sample diluted 1:1 with deionized water, D = 2, etc.) and A is the absorbance at 430 nm.”

    If you have access to a spectrophotometer, then conducting a measurement is really the only ‘foolproof’ way of truly assessing beer color SRM.

    @Mothergoose03 brought up the topic of sample size. Below is discussion concerning this aspect:

    “SRM 14 means that, in a 5 cm wide glass viewed under illuminant D65…”

    So, it is actually a combination of sample size (5 cm wide glass) but also a defined amount of light present (illuminant D65).

    I would highly encourage others to read what A.J. deLange has to say on this topic in this forum discussion: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f128/measuring-srm-169872/

    Cheers!
     
    #9 JackHorzempa, Apr 1, 2015
  10. trevord13

    trevord13 Initiate (0) Sep 30, 2010 Virginia

    I filled a 7oz taster and small hydrometer test tube. Hydrometer looked closer to 7, but the 7oz taster glass looked to be around 9. Really just splitting hairs, but I really wanted this to come in a little lighter. Next round I`ll skip the C40 and just got CaraPils
     
    #10 trevord13, Apr 1, 2015
    GreenKrusty101 likes this.
  11. bathtubbrewer

    bathtubbrewer Initiate (0) Feb 23, 2015 New Hampshire

    Maybe the Chrystal 40 Briess?? A little Chrystal goes a lonnnng way! I hope you don't find that it's a bit on the sweet side as well..
     
    #11 bathtubbrewer, Apr 1, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2015
  12. trevord13

    trevord13 Initiate (0) Sep 30, 2010 Virginia

    Unfortunately, it was a touch sweet for my taste. I knew not to mess with Crystal, but kept seeing DIPA recipes that called for it in small doses, and 3-4% seemed safe.

    I`ll probably just stick to session and straight IPA`s from here on out as I`ve had pretty good luck with those.
     
    #12 trevord13, Apr 2, 2015
  13. GatorBeer

    GatorBeer Initiate (0) Feb 2, 2010 South Carolina

    Mash pH affects color. What was yours?
     
    #13 GatorBeer, Apr 2, 2015
  14. trevord13

    trevord13 Initiate (0) Sep 30, 2010 Virginia

    pH should have been adjusted to 5.46 according to EZ-Water Calculator. I do not measure during my brewday, but have had both consistent and good results with the particular profile used.
     
    #14 trevord13, Apr 2, 2015
  15. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    Briess does make both...I've noticed my LHBS using both interchangeably...even though there is theoretically a small price difference...inventory control, maybe?
     
    #15 GreenKrusty101, Apr 2, 2015
    JackHorzempa likes this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.