10 replies to this topic

[johnpreuss]

I was thinking about making a English IPA. I'm not real sure where to go on this though, I would like to try to stay with the inventory I have on hand though. Here's what I have:Hops:Northdown 9.6% AATarget 8.6%AANorthern Brewer 9.0%AAUS golding 4.5%AAWilliamette 4.8%AAGrain:Pale Ale MaltBiscuitCrystal 120Crystal 80Crystal 60 Carastan 35MunichViennaWheatCarafoamYeast I was thinking 1968 because that's what I have on hand.I know Target and Northdown hops are primarily bittering hops but I have read that one is good for aroma and on for flavor so might that be a possibility?? I'm putting this out to the board, give me some help.

[MtnBrewer]

You first need to go buy some different ingredients. You need some English malt (e.g., Maris Otter) and I'd also recommend some better aroma hops. Target will do in a bind but you would do much better with EKG, WGV, First Gold, Challenger or even Styrian Goldings or Fuggle. Next figure out how dry you want it, that will impact your choice of yeast which will in turn affect the specialty grains in your grist. If you want to go with a less attenuative yeast, then you'll probably want to use less crystal malt unless you prefer for it to finish sweet. You can also add some sugar adjuncts like Lyle's syrup, turbinado or demerara sugar. I think 1028 is a pretty good yeast for IPAs. It finishes a little drier than most and that will allow you to use some medium crystal for flavor. 1968 is great too but you need to rouse it at the end of fermentation so that it finishes. Probably want to ferment in the mid-60s. Some biscuit or amber is also good for a toasty note. So your grist should be some sort of British pale malt as a base, about 10% med. crystal, 10% biscuit, amber, munich, etc. and optionally 10-20% sugar. Aim for an OG around 1.065 - 1.070.Target or Northdown should be good for bittering shoot for 50-60 IBUs. Late addition hops should be something floral and mild. EKG is ideal if you can find them. If not, look at some of the varieties I mentioned above. Even some floral noble hops like Hallertauer would be ok. Definitely consider dry hopping with an ounce or two. A good fresh hop aroma is important but shouldn't be overpowering.

[zymot]

+1 What Mtn said. The highlights? Maris Otter and use lots of it. (throw in a little biscuit and a dash of cyrstal, you go a grai bill)Target for bittering and lots of them. 2 ounce at 60 min is a good place to start. (It will seem like too much, but it isn't)English hops for flavor and aroma additions. EKG - you cannot go wrong.1968 yeast? My silence will be my contribution on that topic..You could make a great IPA with the inventory you show. It just won't be an English IPA. So which way do you want your beer to go, inventory driven or style driven?

[johnpreuss]

Ok ok ok, I get it. English IPA requirements >> Lots of MO, Fuggles and EKG.Lets go a different route here then... I would like to brew an American IPA with the above mentioned hops and malt and Pacman yeast. Oh hell throw in Cents and Cascades to the list as well. What would be a nice way to go about that?

[johnpreuss]

Oh yeah, lets keep this thing around 60 IBU.

[MtnBrewer]

It would help a lot to know something about this beer other than it's an AIPA. Is it dry or sweet? Clean or estery? Malty? Toasty? Raisiny? Caramelly? In-your-face hoppy or mellow? Give us something to go on.

[drewseslu]

Depending on how hoppy you decide the make it, and exactly what kind of Pale Ale malt you have on hand, the MO may or may not be worth it.I think you could make a fine IPA with what you have on hand. Northdown is also commonly used as a finishing hop. I would probably bitter with Target, add Willamette for flavor, then finish with ND and US Goldings.A little Biscuit and Carastan 35 will get you on your way, with wheat and the C80 or 120 being optional.Regarding the Maris Otter issue, if you decide to get it, it will work great, I, however, like Golden Promise better, also Halcyon and Optic are also great varieties.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Depending on how hoppy you decide the make it, and exactly what kind of Pale Ale malt you have on hand, the MO may or may not be worth it. I think you could make a fine IPA with what you have on hand. Northdown is also commonly used as a finishing hop. I would probably bitter with Target, add Willamette for flavor, then finish with ND and US Goldings. A little Biscuit and Carastan 35 will get you on your way, with wheat and the C80 or 120 being optional. Regarding the Maris Otter issue, if you decide to get it, it will work great, I, however, like Golden Promise better, also Halcyon and Optic are also great varieties.

What is Halcyon like in comparison to GP and MO? I like GP and MO but I could see myself starting to use GP where I was previously using MO - seems like a good idea to move through my inventory a little faster.

[MtnBrewer]

I haven't tried Halcyon but I've brewed with Baird MO, Fawcett Optic, Simpsons GP and Weyermann pale malt. They are all comparable. Of the British ones, I liked GP the best because it was a little more malty than MO but I like Weyermann better than all of them.

[johnpreuss]

Depending on how hoppy you decide the make it, and exactly what kind of Pale Ale malt you have on hand, the MO may or may not be worth it. I think you could make a fine IPA with what you have on hand. Northdown is also commonly used as a finishing hop. I would probably bitter with Target, add Willamette for flavor, then finish with ND and US Goldings. A little Biscuit and Carastan 35 will get you on your way, with wheat and the C80 or 120 being optional. Regarding the Maris Otter issue, if you decide to get it, it will work great, I, however, like Golden Promise better, also Halcyon and Optic are also great varieties.

Thanks drewsesl! This was the kind of advice I was looking for. THe pale malt is from Canadian Malting company. I'd probably put it on the same line and briess or rahr. I realize it's not going to get me the toasty breadiness that the British Pale Malts will but it's okay with me.

[earthtone]

EKG Consistently I find myself enjoying a beer that is either strictly EKG or in the case of even some american style IPAs a bit of EKG in the mix just does it for me. If your going english and you want a nice aroma hop that's the go to fo sho.