Troubleshooting IPA - Grainy flavor

@Drel Have you done any NEIPA batches that do not use Simcoe or Mosaic? The forum members are probably sick of me saying this but I have issues with Simcoe. I get a sharp medicinal/rubbery smell and taste from it. I think I get a similar sensation with Mosaic.

I had a pound of Simcoe that I used in a few NEIPA batches. All those batches came out pretty harsh. I just did a Congress St. clone with Columbus and Galaxy and I do not get any of the descriptors written above. I'm not saying this is your issue. Just an idea off of my experience. Maybe buy some all-Simcoe and all-Mosaic IPAs and see if you recognize any of those flavors?

 

Have you used Citra and/or El Dorado for brewing your 'NEIPA' beers? If so, what do you think of those hops?

Cheers!

 

Hi @JackHorzempa , I've used Citra a lot and I've always liked it. I have not used El Dorado and I frankly have little interest. I've had many commercial examples that focus on El Dorado and I felt they were just ok. Because of that, it's been a while since I've had a beer with El Dorado so descriptors are failing me. Like many, I feel like Citra is a "cheater's" hop. I just like any beer that has a healthy amount of Citra in it.

Why do you mention these two? Do they have similarities to Simcoe (or Mosaic)?

Interesting note - I have about 6-8oz of Mosaic in my freezer that I will be using for my next NEIPA (very similar to Melcher St.) I will be bittering with about 1oz of Columbus.

 

Both Citra and El Dorado are 'popular' hops for the production of the so called 'NE' style IPA.

Cheers!

 

Have you been following the El Dorado hop thread?

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/el-dorado-hops.562674/#post-5915253

Cheers!

 

Hey @JackHorzempa thanks for that and thank you for the link to the El Dorado thread. I have been following it. Good timing!

 

A grainy IPA seems kind of off flavor. I've brewed an Irish red ale that came out with a grainy flavor using wlpw004 but I think that's because of the kind of British yeast strain used and maybe the yeast and other proteins were not dropped as hoped.

the type iPas I like have a clean flavor either dry or with a good malty backbone to support the hops, but thats a malt sweet taste, not grainy.what yeast strain did you use? Also did you try to filter it or it some type of clarifying agent?