Just to clear things up for my next batch.

1.) When adding hops to the boil 60 minutes means your adding the hops for the entire boil, 30 means only 30 minutes into the boil etc etc..correct

Your understanding of the hopping schedule is correct. The progression is that the 10 minute addtion is for when there is 10 minutes left to end of boil.

2.) recommendation for what to use for my dry hoping method- mesh bag? It must be sterilized correct?

I personally place my dry hops within a sanitized muslin bag. I also use marbles to weigh down the dry hop bag. My method for sanitizing the bag and marbles is to boil them for a few minutes.

3.) I should be able to answer this one- blow-off tube for sure?

It kind of depends on the size of your fermenter. I ferment in a 7.9 gallon bucket and there is sufficient headspace that I personally do not need to use a blow-off tube. Since you are brewing an Imperial IPA (i.e., lots of fermentables) you should anticipate a very aggressive fermentation. It would be prudent to utilize a blow off hose unless you are confident that you have sufficient headspace. An alternative approach would be to ferment starting with an airlock but conscientiously monitor the ferment. If the ferment gets too wild you could then take out the airlock and replace it with a blow off tube.

Good luck with your Imperial IPA!

Cheers!

 

1. Correct 60 mins means you will be boiling the hops for the entire boil assuming your doing a 60 minute boil. While 30 would be for half the boil.

2. Dry hop in a muslin bag as you said. I used to sanatize them by doing a short boil or vodka soak but haven't in awhile and haven't had an infection yet.

3. You will be able to tell if you need a blowoff. It all depends on how rapid the fermentation is. With a big starter like that you just might.

 

Check it:
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/how-big-your-mash-tun-needs-123585/

 

Or check it

http://rackers.org/calcs.shtml/

 

columbus <3 one of my favs (ambiguous, centenial is one of my favs - columbus damn good too)

 

Looks good,

60min means 60min (no snarkiness intended). So if you're boiling for 60min then yes the entire time of the boil. If you're boiling for 90min then add them 30min into the boil. I think that's what you were asking right? You will get additional utilization with longer hop boils http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter5-5.html

Cascade is a good sub for Centennial. http://www.brew365.com/hop_substitution_chart.php

Good luck, looks like it will be a tasty brew.

 

Naugled is right, cascade is a sub, but one comment about the cascade - i dont think it has the spiciness that centennial has, and that columbus has.

 

I might suggest using the cascades (if that is waht you go with sub-wise) for the end of boil and dry hop additions as they have considerably less AA% than centennials and will probably lower the IBUs of the beer if used in place of the centennials at earlier boil additions.

 

Adding hops to the boil at 60 minutes means you're adding the hops for the entire boil (if your boil length is only 60 minutes). If it's 75 minutes, 90 minutes, etc. then no.

In the same regard, 30 does not necessarily always mean 30 minutes "into" the boil...A better way to think of it would be 30 minutes "left" in the boil.

Other than that, I personally think your underwhelming hop bill won't measure up to your malt bill for my tastes. You essentially have 2 lbs of cara- malts. Try using a little less of this as well as doubling your current amount of late hops (15-0-DH). Reduce the 60 minute addition amount to 1 oz. and nix the 30 minute addition altogether. Mashing more towards 147-150 F is what I would recommend as well as fermenting more toward 62-65 F. Again, that's my personal advice. Take it or leave it, just thought I'd throw that out there.

 

Might change your yeast too. I believe Stone's house strain is WL007 YMMV

And like other's have pointed out, the numbers are more a count down. 60 min to go, 30 min to go, etc. Most of those stone beers are a 90 min boil.

 

I remember a post about needing Centennial. AleLovinRuskie wrote this;

I've been frustrated lately by the lack of Centennial too, but the guy at my LHBS suggested an 80% Columbus/20% Cascade blend (by weight) as an almost identical substitute, and it's been working great.

The cached version of the thread - http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...read/4093604#4093796&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us