BIAB #2 - recipe advice

[big dave]

Howdy again crew,

Flushed with the success of the inaugural BIAB attempt, I have been playing about with recipes for number two.... It will be a Little Creatures sort of APA. Found a recipe on the AHB database credited to Argon, which I have tamed down a little, and played with on the BIABrewer Calculator. This is what I have come up with.

LCPA draft

Batch Size: 21.7 L into fermenter
Boil Size: 33.4 L
Estimated OG: 1.050
Estimated IBU: 33 IBU
Estimated Efficiency: 75%
Mash: 90 Minutes at 65 deg, no mash-out
Boil Time: 90 Minutes

4.0 kg Pale Malt - 72.7 %
1.0 kg Munich I - 18.2 %
0.3 kg Wheat Malt - 5.5 %
0.20 kg Caramalt - 3.6 %
12 g Galaxy [13.4%] (60 min) - 15.5 IBU
10 g Chinook [11.4 %] (20 min) – 6.7 IBU
20 g Cascade [5.9 %] (20 min) – 6.9 IBU
15 g Chinook [11.4 %] (5 min) – 3.3 IBU
20 g Cascade [5.9 %] (5 min) – 2.3 IBU
15 g Chinook [11.4 %] (dry hop to cube) – 0 IBU
20 g Cascade flowers [7.6 %] (dry hop to cube) – 0 IBU
Ferment with US-05 at 20 deg

Does it look reasonably sound?

Cheers

BD

[warra48]

Looks good to me.

Should make a very nice APA style beer. Not over the top, and balanced between the malts and hops.

[SimonG]

Hi Big Dave,

I did Argon's Little Fella's Pale Ale as my second AG recipe. I actually used his original recipe from the recipe DB but using chinook instead of East Kent Goldings and it was sensational, my best APA yet. I know it sounds like a lot of hops (my IBU was 46) but don't scale it back. After about 4-6 weeks in the bottle the hops had mellowed and it all blended beautifully and the bitterness was not overpowering for my taste. I think a number of other brewers on that thread were a little scared of brewing such a high IBU recipe but were very happy when they used the original recipe.

Cheers
Simon

[big dave]

Hey Simon

I am not really afraid of the IBU's (although I have to admit the 62 IBU and nearly 6% ABV sounded a bit much, given LCPA is around 35 IBU and 5.2%), it is more the cost at this point.... SWMBO keeps a stern eye on the cost of materials. I figure if I make this recipe, I can make two batches instead of one.

Anyway, I have the original recipe saved and it should get a look in a bit later. My stocks have taken a bit of a hammering in the hiatus moving from extract to BIAB, so I will knock up a couple more batches before I look to do anything fancy.

[drsmurto]

LCPA is no more than 35 IBU.

As Warra said, your recipe looks good, very good in my opinion.

A well balanced APA with the malt and hops in sync.

Very similar to my LCPA AG recipe which has been tweaked a few times but was what popped my AG cherry (for some reason everyone assumes i started off with a golden ale)

[SimonG]

Very similar to my LCPA AG recipe which has been tweaked a few times but was what popped my AG cherry (for some reason everyone assumes i started off with a golden ale)

Doc, maybe it's because you popped so many brewers' cherries (including mine) with your golden ale. I guess you're a bit of a brewing stud with your recipes

I've only got 5 notches on my AG bedhead and 2 of them have got your name next to them (your golden ale and landlord) and you never even bought me dinner.

Your willingness to share your knowledge and wonderful recipes is much appreciated.

Thanks
Simon

[drsmurto]

I'm not sure whether to be flattered or disturbed....

I don't have any secret recipes, i post them all. I have no intention of brewing professionally. Even if i won the $20m this weekend i wouldn't give up my work and start brewing so I've no reason to hide anything!

[SimonG]

I'm not sure whether to be flattered or disturbed....

Na mate, nothing weird going on, just saying thanks and attempting a little humour

[big dave]

Very similar to my LCPA AG recipe

Hey DS thanks for the appraisal. Just as a matter of interest, what was your LCPA recipe?

The goodies have arrived, and I am ready to roll. With pre-crushed grist the grainbill is locked in, but I have not completely settled on the hopping....

[drsmurto]

This is the one I have settled on after several batches. The hop schedule hasn't changed much since my kit days other than the magnum bittering addition.

3.70 kg Pale Malt, Traditional Ale (Joe White) (5.9 EBC) Grain 78.73 %
0.75 kg Munich I (Weyermann) (14.0 EBC) Grain 15.95 %
0.25 kg Crystal, Medium (Bairds) (170.0 EBC) Grain 5.32 %
9.00 gm Magnum [15.50 %] (60 min) Hops 17.5 IBU
15.00 gm Chinook [12.40 %] (Dry Hop 7 days) Hops -
10.00 gm Cascade [6.70 %] (15 min) Hops 4.2 IBU
10.00 gm Chinook [12.40 %] (15 min) Hops 7.7 IBU
15.00 gm Cascade [6.70 %] (5 min) Hops 2.5 IBU
10.00 gm Chinook [12.40 %] (5 min) Hops 3.1 IBU

20L
OG 1.052
IBU 35
EBC 20

Yeast changes depending on what american strain i have on hand at the time. I've used US05, WY056, WY1272 and WY1764 (Rogue Pacman).

The crystal changes also, caramunich, carabohemian, caramalt have been used but i have an excess of bairds medium crystal from a bulk buy......

Mashed at 65-66C for 90mins.

[big dave]

Thanks again DS

Those recipes are pretty close. I might have a go at yours next time. LCPA is, for mine, the pinnacle of brewing endeavour, and I like to have a clone of sorts in the fridge at almost all times....

Cheers