Modifying all grain IPA Kit

What kinds of beers do you like, if you don't like IPAs?

 

First, welcome to the addiction. Leaving the Columbus out will make it less bitter, but not less hoppy. Suggest "How to Brew" by Palmer to get the big picture...good luck.

 

Can you please provide more details on this kit. For example what are the hop amounts (weights) of each packet? What is the exact hopping schedule of this kit (i.e., how much hops at each addition and the timing of the additions).

The term of "hoppiness" can be ambiguous. Hops provides the qualities of bitterness and hop flavor/aroma. Are you looking to just lessen one of these qualities?

Cheers!

 

Then eliminating the Columbus hops which are boiled for 60 minutes will indeed lessen the bitterness of this kit beer.

You stated: “the Chinook Hops(about the same size packet) are divided into 5 portions,1st addition is 15 mins into the boil,2nd is at 30 minutes in, 3rd is at 45 mins in, 4th is at 55 mins in, and last addition is at 60 minutes, turning off the heat and adding the remaining Hops.”

The Chinook additions of “1st addition is 15 mins into the boil,2nd is at 30 minutes in..” may provide all of the bitterness you want but that is dependent on the amounts added then and what level of bitterness you are seeking in this beer. The other boil additions (45 mins and 55 mins) will also add a bit of bitterness but to a lesser extent due to the short(er) boiling durations.

Needless to say but none of us can answer that second part (what level of bitterness you are seeking in this beer) for you.

Perhaps your best bet here is to follow your gut instincts and just nix the Columbus addition?

Cheers!

 

Another option would be to just use less of the Columbus hops: for example just add 1/4 or 1/2 of the packet.

Cheers!

 

When you get home, post the ingredients of your kit and someone can run it through some brewing software to tell you how much of those hops your should add. Make sure to include the AA% of those hops. You'll probably want your IBUs around 10 or 15, judging by what you like to drink.

 

Harsh pill to swallow for ya: The beers you enjoy drinking will require a ton of time and equipment investment to brew. Lagers are tough to brew and take a fair amount of time to mature. They also require a bit more equipment, as you have to maintain cooler temperatures. All in all, more than you should invest in a gallon batch.
Your best bet is to use half the Columbus, toss the Chinook, brew it, be disappointed, and tell the person that gifted it to you that it was a great gift, but just more work than you are willing to put into a beer.

 

Surely he can brew a blonde ale that's drinkable, albeit probably boring, with the ingredients that he has.

 

Maybe, and maybe its the start of his homebrew journey. More likely, he cuts corners, is super lax with sanitation, and ends up with a shit beer.

 

Look on the box for IBU amount. Their probably 7 grams/1/4 oz or 3.5 gram packets so i'll guess boil 3.5 grams of columbus for 15 mins.

 

Someone pee in your Wheaties today?

Although I certainly understand what you're saying, I try to stay positive with stuff like this. Beer brewing is pretty forgiving and as long as you know what to expect, the outcome shouldn't be too terribly disappointing. I mean, he'll still have beer at the end of the whole thing, after all. Even if it's not PBR.

Easy to be jaded with beginner questions after you've been brewing for a long time. I'm jaded by nature, so I have to constantly remind myself how long it took me to find my ass with both hands.

 

Seriously, he took the time to go to a homebrew forum, to do a better job. Doesn't lead me to believe he's particularly lax.

I think you should just cut down on the hops (aim for 20 - 30ish IBU's) after we know what was included and make a serviceable blonde ale.

 

http://howtobrew.com/
also: https://www.amazon.com/How-Brew-Eve...06&sr=8-2&keywords=how+to+brew+by+john+palmer