IPA Recipe

[slayer71]

My IPA recipe I'll be puting down on Anzac day,

Thomas Coopers IPA
Thomas Coopers 1.5kg Amber Malt Extract
24gms Fuggles Hops
Safale Yeast

What do you think on this one ?

[Throsby]

I've never used fuggles. What characteristics do they impart?

Keep it simple, as my use of hops has not really gone beyond saaz, cascade, hallertau and cluster. And I'm yet to fully ascertain which are the best for which brew.

[tazman67]

Not bad Slayer.
But imho Id use Goldings, Fuggles I prefer in a darker Ale. eg. Stout or a Porter.
Id also add 200g of Dex, to get the alcohol up a bit.
Just my 2c worth.
Anyway..still is a tasty drop.
Cheers

[Wassa]

Not bad at all Slayer. I agree with Taz on the Dextrose and maybe go 12gm Goldings at 30 min, 12gm AKG at 15 min and 12gm Fuggles at flame out. Remember an IPA is supposed to be bitter.

Wassa

[slayer71]

I know Goldings was preferred for the recipe but the HBS only had Fuggles so I thought I'd give it a go, I mean there both listed for English Ales so hopefully it won't affect the aroma and bitterness too much or will it, would leaving the extra Dextrose out make much difference either ?

I did a boil of the kit & malt for about 15mins with 12g of Hops, while at the same time I put the other 12g of hops in some boiling water and let sit, after about 20 mins I added all to the fermenter making upto 23 ltrs, added the yeast after that the OG was about 1040 and it's happily bubbling away right now.

How long should I leave this bottled for before drinking ?

[drsmurto]

A few comments from the back row.....

OG 1.040 is too low for an IPA. An IPA is a bigger, hoppier english bitter so i'd be aiming for OG 1.055+. Its also quite bitter.

Fuggles is ok in an IPA, i generally only use Fuggles by itself in darker beers. In combo with EKG in paler beers is a classic. Add styrian goldings to the mix and its divine.

12g - I am guessing you are buying teabags? If so, get yourself acquainted with online retailers that will sell you 90/100g packs for a very reasonable price.

Which Safale yeast? S-05 (red packet - american) or S-04 (blue packet - english)?

My 2 c
DrSmurto

[slayer71]

It was S-O4 the blue packet, yes my hops was the 12g bag/Fuggles.

If it started at 1040OG and it's bubbling away will this affect it too much in the end - taste/aroma/alcohol ?

Hopefully it will pass muster as this is my 1st IPA.


Cheers for the help.

[drsmurto]

I would be dry hopping an IPA.....

If you can get another teabag add it to the fermenter when the airlock action has all but stopped and the FG is stable. Leave it for another week if possible (at least 3 days) and then bottle.

[slayer71]

I know what your saying it should be a very bitter beer so I should add some more hops, but if I was to leave as is and just bottle it will it still be alright, I probably don't know what a real IPA should taste like so hopefully if I bottle it as is will still be a nice drop.

Or should I as have been advised add the extra 12g Goldings hops after fermentation has finished I don't really drink alot of very bitter beers anyway so it probably wont matter to me how bitter it is ?

Thanks again for the advice.

[warra48]

It will still be a very nice beer, just not an IPA.
Nothing wrong though with an Extra Special Bitter (ESB) or a Best Bitter.

My brew in the fermenter at present is a Best Bitter. It started off as my attempt at a Mild, but my efficiency gave me too many points, so it was upgraded to a Best Bitter.

[slayer71]

Cheers again, I think I'll leave it as is and possibley next time I'll add more hops and dextrose.

I'll let you know what it turns out like.

[Trough Lolly]

...I probably don't know what a real IPA should taste like...

Living in Sydney, you can easily sort that problem out. Get yourself to a good bottle shop, not one that just sells Heineken or Stella as its "foreign beer" and ask for a couple of bottles of White Shield IPA. There are plenty of good English IPA's being imported into Australia and tasting a few will certainly help you calibrate your palate so you can brew closer to style next time. It's hard work all this research, but worth it at the end of the day!!

Cheers,
TL

[Kevnlis]

Also don't overlook the Aussie products, I believe Holgate do an IPA that is widely available, and quite a decent drop.

[Trough Lolly]

Indeed - does Grand Ridge do an IPA?

[Alt]

Hi guys, first time poster, long time beer drinker, looking to start up homebrewing my own IPA. Just doing some light research and thought I could add to this thread.

No, Grand Ridge doesn't do an IPA, I was actually thinking about contacting them to suggest it.

The Holgate Hopinator is a 7.0% Double IPA in the NW American style, it is one of the finest drops I've had the pleasure of drinking. Sadly it's a limited release seasonal summer beer and will be hard to find. My local craftbrew specialist is out of it and sick of me asking, their chocolate porter will be out soon. Jamiesons Brewery have Jamiesons Beast another 7.0% Double IPA that's available year round, that's also a NW American style and might be a bit intense for a first try for the style.

James Squire/Malt Shovel do traditional British IPA. Cases at Dan Murphys for $50. They also stock one from W.A Gage Roads IPA $13 sixer - $55 case. On the pricier side Mountain Goat brewery have a certified organic IPA that is absolutely divine. I've seen it as high as $27 a six pack though!

[drsmurto]

Steam Exchange do a gorgeous IPA as does Lobethal Bierhaus.

Bit hard to get outside of SA but they both sell online.

[slayer71]

Cheers for the recommendations, I may have to force myself to try some of these after I finish my batch .