Help with my Hoppy APA/Session IPA recipe

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by DVoors, Apr 23, 2015.

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  1. DVoors

    DVoors Zealot (627) Jan 6, 2014 Indiana

    I am working on a low gravity APA/session IPA (will not be dry hopping) that I also intend to utilize as a starter for a big IPA/DIPA that I will be making several weeks from now, and since this is my first time attempting a low gravity APA, i:'m hoping for some guidance on the recipe. Here's what I'm thinking:

    Cascade Pale Ale (all grain)
    Batch size: 5.5 gallons (fermentor)
    Boil size: 7.5 gallons
    Boil time: 60 minutes
    Efficiency: 60%
    Estimated OG: 1.047
    Estimated FG: 1.015
    Estimated ABV: 4.26%
    IBU: 40.66 (tinseth)

    Grain Bill:
    10 lb golden promise
    .5 lb German carapils
    .25 lb honey malt
    .5 lb crystal 20l
    .5 lb german Munich light
     
    #1 DVoors, Apr 23, 2015
  2. CavemanBrau

    CavemanBrau Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2013 Iowa

    Doesn't look hoppy enough :wink:
     
    #2 CavemanBrau, Apr 23, 2015
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  3. DVoors

    DVoors Zealot (627) Jan 6, 2014 Indiana

    Hit post by accident. I'm planning to use the following hopping schedule:
    1 oz cascade (pellet) at 30
    1 oz cascade at 15
    1 oz cascade at 5
    1 oz cascade at 0
    1 oz mosaic at flameout

    I will be using WLP002. Since the yeast has such low attenuation, I plan to mash low (149 - which I know is counterintuitive for a low gravity APA, but with the amount of unfermentables in the grains i:'m using and the natural low attenuation of WLP002, it seemed to make sense.

    In addition, do u think with the low OG, could I get away with only using one vial and no starter, or will that stress the yeast?

    Thoughts or suggestions on my recipe or brew plan? Thank you!
     
    #3 DVoors, Apr 23, 2015
  4. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Fwiw, there's a thread on this topic a little further down.
     
    #4 VikeMan, Apr 23, 2015
  5. DrMindbender

    DrMindbender Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2014 South Carolina

    Wow very popular threads lately...

    Why no dry hopping? That's where much of the aroma comes from and most session IPAs I've had lately are very up front in the nose.
     
    #5 DrMindbender, Apr 23, 2015
  6. premierpro

    premierpro Savant (1,060) Mar 21, 2009 Michigan

    I like the bitterness of a 60 minute addition. I would move your 30 minute to 60. Also not a big fan of honey malt combined with crystal. I did this once and was not happy with the results. Other people liked it but they always like free beer. Good luck.
     
    #6 premierpro, Apr 23, 2015
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  7. DVoors

    DVoors Zealot (627) Jan 6, 2014 Indiana

    [QUOTE="DrMindbender, post: 3570912, member: 824885r threads lately...

    Why no dry hopping? That's where much of the aroma comes from and most session IPAs I've had lately are very up front in the nose.[/QUOTE]
    I wasn't planning on dry hopping because I plan to harvest the yeast cake from the bottom of the carboy to use in a double IPA that I'm planning to brew in a few weeks. I didn't want to taint the yeast with a bunch of hop material, although I suppose I could do a secondary and just dry hop in secondary. My original plan though was to keg straight from primary.
     
    #7 DVoors, Apr 23, 2015
  8. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,775) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Personally, I think that simpler is better with APAs and IPAs when you're talking about the grain bill. I've had some good results with either single mash, or adding a bit of crystal 20 or 30 for interst. I've done some complicated grain bills, and I don't think it really helped the beer any. Unless you have specific reasons for adding multiple types of grain, simple is better.
     
    #8 JrGtr, Apr 23, 2015
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  9. wspscott

    wspscott Pooh-Bah (1,958) May 25, 2006 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    I would go with either C20 or honey malt, but not both. I don't think the munich will do much here.
     
    #9 wspscott, Apr 23, 2015
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  10. CavemanBrau

    CavemanBrau Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2013 Iowa

    Just brewed an IPA with Pearl, Munich and Flaked Oats. Turned out really tasty. I agree you should cut 1 or 2 of the Honey, Munich and Crystal, IMO I would cut 2 of them out.
     
    #10 CavemanBrau, Apr 23, 2015
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  11. DVoors

    DVoors Zealot (627) Jan 6, 2014 Indiana

    Thanks for the suggestions. Based on the comments above, I removed the honey malt and Munich, and I bumped the base malt up to 11.5 lbs (note that I changed the base from GP to MO because my homebrew store apparently doesn't carry GP). One other question: based on Brewer's Friend, using WLP002, even mashing at 148 or 149, it is still showing a FG of 1.016. Is that going to be too sweet for a light APA? (4.5% ABV, 40 IBU). Should I decrease the MO and add dextrose, or should I increase the hop bitterness, or do u think it is okay as is? Also, do u think I'll be okay with one vial of WLP002 and no starter, or do I need a second vial? Thanks
     
    #11 DVoors, Apr 23, 2015
  12. wspscott

    wspscott Pooh-Bah (1,958) May 25, 2006 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    You may get away with one vial, but it depends on how fresh the yeast is. I would not chance it. Have you considered a dry yeast instead of liquid? Maybe Windsor if you want lower attenuation.

    I don't know how Brewer's Friend does these types of calculations, but that seems high to me. You might try BrewCipher http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/brewcipher-3-6.261248/ @VikeMan did an excellent job with this spreadsheet.
     
    #12 wspscott, Apr 23, 2015
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  13. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    If I'm following correctly, I think this is your current recipe, as relating to attenuation...
    92% MO
    4% Carapils
    4% C-20
    Mash Temp 149
    WLP002
    1.047 OG

    I popped this into BrewCipher, and assumed a mash length of 60 minutes.
    Predicted FG is 1.011.
     
    #13 VikeMan, Apr 23, 2015
  14. DVoors

    DVoors Zealot (627) Jan 6, 2014 Indiana

    @VikeMan , thanks for running that for me! That sounds much better! I kept modifying my fermentable on brewers friend and couldn't believe the FG was still so high. I will have to download your brew cypher when I get home from work today. Thanks for putting that together!
     
    #14 DVoors, Apr 23, 2015
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