Input on first solo homebrew

I'd probably add another oz each at FO and dry hop.

Also, if you have access to it, I'd make the late extract addition with DME as opposed to LME. The LME will sink to the bottom and scorch if you keep the flame on, and you'll lose your boil if you turn the flame off to stir.

Will you be using tap water or distilled/RO water?

 

If I was making this beer, with 5 oz of Citra, I'd add 3 oz at flameout and then dry hop with 2. Ditch the 15, 10 & 5 additions.

 

Looks good to me. I think if you were to stick with this recipe's hop schedule, then you won't even need to add the simcoe at 60 min and you can call it a single hop PA. Plus, it'll be plenty 'citra heavy'! Either way though, the one you proposed sounds good as well so I expect you'll be good either way.

 

I've always felt that hop forward beers with only bittering and flame out additions were missing something, that 15 minute one would give you more flavor and the late additions more aroma. I'd keep the 15 minute one with an oz.

 

You didn't mention the Alpha Acid % of your citra. So just make sure you'll be getting as many IBUs as you want.

 

Yup that grain schedule looks good.

 

That'll work! But, don't let me talk you out of your original recipe either, as that one looks good as well.

 

I would still boil for 60 minutes. There are other reasons besides alpha acid isomerization for the boil, including DMS formation and removal. Here's a link that explains a lot of it pretty well...
https://byo.com/grains/item/1650-wort-boiling-homebrew-science

Edit: Just remembered this is an extract batch. A lot of the things that happen in the boil have been at least partially accomplished during the manufacture of the LME and DME. You probably could get away with a somewhat shorter boil. But if you do that, you'll need to reduce your total water used, accordingly. And if you start with a smaller volume in the kettle, you'll also reduce hop utilization.

 

Plenty has already been said about your hop schedule so I'll leave that be, but I would like to make a suggestion regarding the grain bill. Many APA recipes call for a small amount (.5 lb) of something like carapils to add body and head retention. This won't do much to your beer in terms of color, flavor, or gravity, but might give you more of that classic APA mouthfeel.

If you've already purchased your ingredients, this is no big deal. Brew on. But perhaps consider making a similar batch again in the future with some carapils to see if you notice the difference.

 

I don't necessarily think an APA needs carapils, but assuming for the sake of argument that it does... the extract in the OP's recipe very likely already contains carapils.

 

I'm not sure I follow this. With a longer boil, water would be added at the beginning to account for the extra boil-off, but wouldn't the two processes be identical in terms of volumes and gravities from 15 minutes and in? I mean, if he's adding the right amount of extra water for the additional boil time, that same amount should boil off in that amount of time, right?

 

Yep, you're right. I had a senior moment. Thanks for catching that.

 

You may be interested in this article by Dave Green (@telejunkie):

https://byo.com/stories/issue/item/2808-hop-stands

I am not sure how critical it is to constantly stir the hops. When I personally conduct a hop stand I add the hops post boil and stir for about a minute and then just let the hops ‘stand’ for the remaining timeframe (e.g., 40 minutes for my IPAs).

Dave, how critical is it to constantly stir the hops for a hop stand?

Cheers!

 

So, you will be standing over your kettle and constantly stir for 20 (or whatever) minutes?

Cheers!

 

would agree with Jack's technique...don't need the constant stirring, but an initial stir. Then what I've done when brewing at the office where we don't have a pump is to add in another one or two stirs, the last one being the most vigorous to try to get the trub to form the tightest cone I can get in the center of the kettle (don't go crazy though...). I want to make sure those hops oils are getting into solution.