Style Guide Question – condition impact on IBUs

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by InVinoVeritas, Apr 21, 2015.

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  1. InVinoVeritas

    InVinoVeritas Initiate (0) Apr 16, 2012 Wisconsin

    So I just kegged a Wee Heavy, 21 weeks after brew day. Style guideline goes up to 35 IBU if I remember correctly. Regardless of number, is the style guide written for IBU when tasting? I would assume it is, as that is the constant since not all beers condition the same length. If so, how are you guys adjusting? I’ve read somewhere bitterness decreases ballpark 50% in a year. Would my math as a guess work as the following for my Wee Heavy:

    32 IBU (original) – [32 IBU * (21 weeks / 52 weeks) * 50%] = 25.5 IBS (as tasted)
     
    #1 InVinoVeritas, Apr 21, 2015
  2. jamescain

    jamescain Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2009 Texas

    For a homebrewer and competition its all done by taste. Most homebrewers have no way to measure IBUs and at a competition they have no idea what your beer is at unless you listed it some how. The style guidelines use IBUs as a way to show you where it should be when formulating your recipe and to give you an idea of what the bitterness level should be.
     
    #2 jamescain, Apr 21, 2015
    MrOH and InVinoVeritas like this.
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