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Date: 04 Jun 2006 08:19:14
From: David M. Taylor
Subject: Re: An IPA by any other name...
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"Gerard Eberlein" <dormouse@charter.net > wrote in message
news:aNggg.5$0z.0@fe02.lga...
>I tweaked a kit of brewers best IPA cause it sounded weak in both ABV and
> hops. I was just wondering if what I added would change the category or if
> it still falls into IPA category.
>
> 6.6 lbs coopers plain light LME
> 3 lbs. laaglander extra light DME
> 1 lb crushed crystal malt 60l
> 8 oz. crushed victory
> 8 oz. crushed briess munich
> 2 oz. northern brewer hops 60 mins.
> 1 oz. columbus hops15 mins.
> 1 oz. cascade hops 5 mins.
> 2 packs Nottingham dry yeast
> 2 oz. cascade leaf hops in secondary for at least 2 weeks
>
> Steeped the grains for 35 mins at 150-153 F then added to a full wort boil
> of 6 gallons reduced to 5 gallons.
> OG 1.072
>
> I know the flavour is what counts but not sure if I'm still in the IPA
> category. I know it's trivial but just interested in knowing. Thanx in
> advance.
Definitely looks like an IPA to me. It might be worth mentioning that the
BU:GU ratio looks a little on the low side, at least, according to Daniels'
"Designing Great Beers". In other words, a little more bitterness might
have been nice to better balance the sweetness from the malt. Say, an extra
3/4 oz of Northern Brewer or Cascade at 60 minutes. And the dry hop
addition of 2 oz Cascade will be sure to knock your socks off, holy cow! So
I might trade some of the dry hops for bitterness instead. But of course,
that's all entirely up to you. Personally, I like more malt sweetness to
show up in an IPA so it's not just a hop bomb, and in this case, it might be
a real good thing that you offset the big Cascade aroma that you will be
getting from the dry hops with a good amount of caramel and victory malt and
more sweetness, less bitterness. So altogether, this beer looks pretty darn
good to me.
What I'm learning in my more recent experiences is that it's not paramount
to try to be within any certain style; rather, it is important to create
whatever tastes good to you. I recently made a Scotch ale that I thought
was excellent, but it only scored 21 out of 50 at the local competition. I
don't care what they say, I will make it again without much change in the
recipe, it is yummy stuff. On the other hand, I made a German pilsner that
I think tastes like absolute crap, and it got a 2nd place ribbon for light
lagers. So, to each his own. I recently became a BJCP judge, but now I'm
ending up with more questions than answers when it comes to my own brewing.
Ain't brewing grand?
--
Dave
"Just a drink, a little drink, and I'll be feeling GOOooOOooOOooD!" --
Genesis, 1973-ish
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