Need help with hop schedule for sessionable IPA

Point of order...Mr. Chairman.

"Sessionable IPA" is an oxymoron.

 

I've done a number of highly hopped APAs or session IPAs and I think the best results are basically a lot of late additions (hopburst) with a small bittering charge. You don't have a lot of malt to stand up to 80 IBUs so instead I would aim for a 1:1 BU:GU ratio or roughly 40 IBUs and then fake out your tongue with a lot of flavor/aroma vs bitter.

So, I don't like nelson, never used galaxy, but a lot of citra late would be delicious

 

I'm with wspsott, I don't think Nelson brings anything to this particular party. Galaxy sounds interesting from my quick Love of Hops check. No experience with it. I'd go late with that, maybe dry also.
How bitter do you really want it? Me I'd put 1 oz of Citra in at 60, but then I've been known to go over 100 IBUs.

 

I think Galaxy and Citra would play very nicely together. I agree with wspscott's, hopping suggestion.

 

20 all Nelson
FO WP 30+ mins 2oz each Citra & Galaxy
DH 2oz each Citra & Galaxy

That should get the bitterness around 40 and tons of flavor and aroma, and be uber tasty.

 

Use all your citra. Shrink the 60 minute addition to lower total IBUs (you're showing 66 IBUs there). double-plus the flameout addition, and keep the dry hop. You won't regret it.

 

To recall a point on the history of the IPA style as presented in Steele's book, lower gravity IPAs are nothing new.

 

Greene King IPA comes to mind, 3.6 ABV.

 

That was my very first English IPA, had it when I was studying in London, when I was 20. Liked it.

 

Go with something closer to @AlCaponeJunior suggestion. Maybe even skip the 60 min and add 4oz of Citra in the last 15 minutes. So, 1oz at 15, 5, 0 and dryhop

 

Where is @marquis when you need him?

 

FWH to target IBUs
Everything else at or after flameout.

 

I'm a big fan of Citra, but IMO using it only would be a bit much. My one attempt at late additions only (Evil Twin) was sub-par. I like the 1:1 ratio, but would try and add another layer of flavor. Not familiar with Galaxy, but the descriptions shows it similar to Amarillo & Simcoe (which play well with Citra). Consider splitting your FO/DH additions with either the Galaxy or beg-borrow-steal some Centennial/Simcoe/Amarillo. For me there is no such thing as too much hop aroma . . . I dh heavy and long (14 days).

 

sessionable IPA= Pale ale or bitter, IMHO

 

If it was APA strength in abv (or slightly higher) and stronger in aroma I'd just call it an XPA. What label would you prefer to stick on a beer that is lower than an APA in abv, yet higher than an APA in bitterness and aroma? Not defending the "Session IPA" term that is becoming more of an industry standard these days, just saying it is an arbitrary label put on a configuration of beer specifications that don't really have another arbitrary label.

 

To the OP: This batch will probably only require 6oz of hops at most IMHO. All three of your hop varieties are high in AA, so you can choose whichever one you want and bitter to roughly 60 ibu's with it. I'd devote say 1oz towards establishing the 60 ibu's, which means you'd probably (guesstimating) have to add around the 45 minute mark. Then add 2.5oz at flame out and 2.5 oz in the dry hop. In actuality, it would only take 5oz and you could do 1oz bittering, 2oz flame out, and 2oz dry hop but here are the 6oz configurations I'd recommend if you wanted to go over the top...

Variety and flavor wise, I'd probably do the following:

Citra driven (more catty and funky citrus)

1oz galaxy for bittering
1oz nelson + 1.5oz citra for flame out
2oz galaxy + 0.5oz citra for dry hop

or

Galaxy Driven (more fruit and wine like)

1oz galaxy for bittering
1oz galaxy + 1oz citra + 0.5oz nelson for flame out
2oz galaxy + 0.5oz nelson for dry hop

 

Uncle.

I get it.
Style guidelines are bullshit.

BJCP Min IPA ABVs
'Merican IPA - 5.5%
English IPA - 5%