Apa Recipe Help

[jason]

Hi everyone.
Just need some feedback on my first APA I will be doing soon, the more feedback the better as this APA is going to have to be be good as I have a few friends waiting to try it. Not sure if the hop schedule will work, as i sort of made it up from looking at other peoples recipes. What improvement could be made?

Thanks
J


My APA

Batch Size: 18.93 L
Boil Size: 21.67 L Asst Brewer:
Boil Time: 60 min Equipment: My Equipment
Taste Rating(out of 50): 35.0 Brewhouse Efficiency: 73.0


Ingredients

Amount Item Type % or IBU
4.00 kg Amber Malt (Joe White) (45.3 EBC) Grain 84.2 %
0.50 kg Munich, Light (Joe White) (17.7 EBC) Grain 10.5 %
0.25 kg Crystal (Joe White) (141.8 EBC) Grain 5.3 %
15.00 gm Pride of Ringwood [9.00%] (60 min) Hops 16.5 IBU
10.00 gm Cascade [5.50%] (15 min) Hops 3.3 IBU
10.00 gm Amarillo Gold [8.50%] (15 min) Hops 5.2 IBU
15.00 gm Cascade [5.50%] (10 min) Hops 3.7 IBU
15.00 gm Amarillo Gold [8.50%] (10 min) Hops 5.6 IBU
15.00 gm Amarillo Gold [8.50%] (5 min) Hops 3.1 IBU
15.00 gm Cascade [5.50%] (5 min) Hops 2.0 IBU
20.00 gm Amarillo Gold [8.50%] (1 min) (Aroma Hop-Steep) Hops -
20.00 gm Cascade [5.50%] (1 min) (Aroma Hop-Steep) Hops -
Yeast- US56


Beer Profile

Est Original Gravity: 1.056 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.015
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 5.5 %
Bitterness: 39.4 IBU Calories: 90 cal/l
Est Color: 43.3 EBC Color: Color

 

[DJR]

Take the POR out and bitter with Amarillo or something more to style (Magnum, Tomahawk, Simcoe, Northern Brewer).

Other than that, looks good. Might be just a tad too much aroma/flavour hops depending on the style you're going for, which looks like an APA at the heavier end.

 

[Stuster]

I agree with DJR on the hop front. You'd be best to replace that amber malt with pale malt IMO. Definitely far too much of that, especially for a pale. :blink: With those changes, I'm sure it'll be nice. Just be careful of ferment temperature and sanitation.

 

[Ross]

Definately replace the amber with pale or pils...

Other than that, looks pretty good to me - i haven't tried por as a bittering hop in an APA, would normally use something pretty neutral like N Brewer, but reckon that might go all right...

cheers Ross

 

[neonmeate]

43 EBC is on the dark side ..... on the other hand this could be an interesting porter

 

[jason]

oops, i meant 4kg of pale malt not amber malt. It was good to see that you all picked that up
I am glad you are all were happy with my hop schedule, as i had the most trouble coming up with that (more like guessing). And i will replace the POR on your suggestions. I only thought of using the POR as i need to use it up.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

 

[Kai]

If you've got plenty of it then you may as well use it. With only 16 IBUs worth it won't make much of a difference.

Other than that, that's quite an impressive hop schedule. I'm assuming you want it that heavily hopped, as you could easily get away with half that amount of late additions and still have plenty of flavour.

 

[johnno]

I think you will be ok using the PoR for bittering.
Here is my recipe for the American Brown I made earlier this year.

Came out a treat. I did not know what to expect as it was the first time ever using PoR.

5.00 kg Powells Pilsner (Powells Malts) (3.0 EBC) Grain 72.5 %
1.00 kg Powells Munich (Powels Malts) (20.0 EBC) Grain 14.5 %
0.30 kg Amber Malt (Joe White) (45.3 EBC) Grain 4.3 %
0.25 kg Crystal (Joe White) (141.8 EBC) Grain 3.6 %
0.25 kg Powells Wheat (Powells Malts) (2.0 EBC) Grain 3.6 %
0.10 kg Chocolate Malt (Joe White) (750.6 EBC) Grain 1.4 %

28.00 gm Pride of Ringwood [9.00%] (60 min) Hops 28.5 IBU
28.00 gm Cascade [6.00%] (20 min) Hops 11.5 IBU
14.00 gm Cascade [6.00%] (5 min) Hops 1.9 IBU
14.00 gm Cascade [6.00%] (0 min) Hops -
28.30 gm Cascade [6.00%] (Dry Hop 7 days) Hops -


cheers
johnno

 

[jason]

If you've got plenty of it then you may as well use it. With only 16 IBUs worth it won't make much of a difference.

Other than that, that's quite an impressive hop schedule. I'm assuming you want it that heavily hopped, as you could easily get away with half that amount of late additions and still have plenty of flavour.

Some of you mentioned my hop shedule for the APA will be heavy. As im not very knowledgable of hops, do you think the final product will taste funny/strange as im not sure what a heavy hop beer tastes like? When i was formulating this recipe i wasnt aware that it would become heavily hopped which is the reason why i thought of getting some feedback from all of you via AHB. What hops would you reduce to make it not so hoppy (im still going to use the POR for bittering). I have trouble determining how much hops to add and at what time to add it. I know that the longer you keep the hops in the boil will increase bitterness, but as for flavour and aroma all i know is the later you put the hops in such as at 5min - 0min at the end of the boil, will impart hop flavour and aroma. Or do you get this only from experience. Furthermore, is there much difference to the final product of adding the hops at 15min compared with hops added at 10min or hops added at 5min compared with hops added at 1min? Couldnt i just add alot of hops at 15min and then at 1min to reduce the number of hop additions? But how much do you add at the end of the boil to impart that hops flavour and aroma. Is there an equation that you could use to get consistancy with regards to hop flavour and aroma between brews?

Thanks
J

 

[Voosher]

If you've got plenty of it then you may as well use it. With only 16 IBUs worth it won't make much of a difference.

Other than that, that's quite an impressive hop schedule. I'm assuming you want it that heavily hopped, as you could easily get away with half that amount of late additions and still have plenty of flavour.

Some of you mentioned my hop shedule for the APA will be heavy. As im not very knowledgable of hops, do you think the final product will taste funny/strange as im not sure what a heavy hop beer tastes like? When i was formulating this recipe i wasnt aware that it would become heavily hopped which is the reason why i thought of getting some feedback from all of you via AHB. What hops would you reduce to make it not so hoppy (im still going to use the POR for bittering). I have trouble determining how much hops to add and at what time to add it. I know that the longer you keep the hops in the boil will increase bitterness, but as for flavour and aroma all i know is the later you put the hops in such as at 5min - 0min at the end of the boil, will impart hop flavour and aroma. Or do you get this only from experience. Furthermore, is there much difference to the final product of adding the hops at 15min compared with hops added at 10min or hops added at 5min compared with hops added at 1min? Couldnt i just add alot of hops at 15min and then at 1min to reduce the number of hop additions? But how much do you add at the end of the boil to impart that hops flavour and aroma. Is there an equation that you could use to get consistancy with regards to hop flavour and aroma between brews?

Thanks
J

As a rough guide I use 1g/litre of flavour (say a 10m boil) and 1g/litre aroma (0-1m boil) for standard hopping above the required bitterness.
2g/l gives fairly significant hopping, 3g/l is strong hopping. Anything above that is fine but it tends to be solidly in the 'hophead' zone.
You've got 120g total of late hops for a 19l brew roughly about 50/50 flavour and aroma so you're into the strong hopping zone.
If you're unsure about hop flavours you could easily cut those numbers by a third to a half and still come out with a flavoursome brew.
It's quite malty for an APA so you're not going to rob yourself too much of flavour with less hops.
My opinions only. As I am fond of saying, "Ask two brewers the same question and you'll get three different answers." (Paraphrasing Mr. Churchill)

 

[Stuster]

Jason, if you haven't drunk any very hoppy beers, I'd go and buy some Little Creatures to see if you like this style of beer before embarking on this. If you like that, then why not try brewing something a little more restrained than the recipe you have planned for this first time. Keeping it simple, you could still use the PoR, add 15g of Amarillo and Cascade at 15, and 15g of each at Flame Out (0). This will give you something with some hops, but you don't risk ending up with a brew that is far too hoppy for you. You can taste it after a week and if you want some more hoppiness you can dry hop with 10g of each.

There's no real equation to use for how much flavour and aroma hops to add. The science of aromas and flavours are fairly complex it seems. How much of flavour and aroma you want depends on the style and on your taste buds as well, so that's where the art/craft side of it comes in. With experience you'll know what you like and can tweak recipes to try to get the taste you are looking for.

 

[Jye]

Hey Jason,

What you nearly have is a Hopburst style APA. If you like your hoppy beer I would drop the POR and add another 10g of carscade and amarillo at 20 and 25min. If youre after a lot of aroma maybe use half or all of the 1min addition for dry hopping.

What ever you go with that is a good looking APA :chug:

 

[jason]

Jason, if you haven't drunk any very hoppy beers, I'd go and buy some Little Creatures to see if you like this style of beer before embarking on this. If you like that, then why not try brewing something a little more restrained than the recipe you have planned for this first time. Keeping it simple, you could still use the PoR, add 15g of Amarillo and Cascade at 15, and 15g of each at Flame Out (0). This will give you something with some hops, but you don't risk ending up with a brew that is far too hoppy for you. You can taste it after a week and if you want some more hoppiness you can dry hop with 10g of each.

There's no real equation to use for how much flavour and aroma hops to add. The science of aromas and flavours are fairly complex it seems. How much of flavour and aroma you want depends on the style and on your taste buds as well, so that's where the art/craft side of it comes in. With experience you'll know what you like and can tweak recipes to try to get the taste you are looking for.

oh well, im just going to have to buy a sixpack of little creatures pale ale, strictly for testing purposes.

 

[Fingerlickin_B]

Thought I'd just chime in on someone else's thread rather than starting my own

I posted this in The Gallery for someone to have a squiz at, but thought I'd ask everyone else too...what about this recipe?

PZ.

 

[DJR]

I'd be using the Chinook for bittering instead of POR, drop the chocolate malt unless you really like roasty style APA's (i don't), use Munich instead to adjust the colour and add a nice maltiness. Caramunich if you can get it is very good in APA's at about 10-15% of the bill. Might as well boil for 75-90mins too to add a bit more colour.

Other than that, looks like a nice drop. US56 yeast i'm assuming of course.

 

[Kai]

Looks good to me, finger lickin'.

It might come out with a dominant grapefruit flavour, but that might be to your fancy. It certainly won't be bad.

 

[Fingerlickin_B]

DJR, for various reasons I'm stuck with that grain bill, but I could loose the choc. Not so sure there, as I think it might help, what with using mostly Pilsener malt and all, guess we'll just see :huh:

Kai, yeah I like the perceived grapefruit in JS Golden Ale...hopefully this will be even more "grapefruity" :chug:

Oh, I was just at the freezer and it turns out to be "UK Pale Chocolate", so I'm pretty sure I'll be leaving it in now.

PZ.

 

[Voosher]

And just to add a little more confusion for you...
You'll definitely get more grapefruit out of your recipe than JS Golden Ale so no worries there.
However, much as I love Chinook I find it's bittering quite harsh and prefer to use something like Northern Brewer to provide 'base' bitterness.
I would have thought POR at a 60m boil would be better than subbing that with Chinook. NB would be better again.

 

[Fingerlickin_B]

And just to add a little more confusion for you...
You'll definitely get more grapefruit out of your recipe than JS Golden Ale so no worries there.
However, much as I love Chinook I find it's bittering quite harsh and prefer to use something like Northern Brewer to provide 'base' bitterness.
I would have thought POR at a 60m boil would be better than subbing that with Chinook. NB would be better again.

No confusion Voosher, I take those comments as "if you don't have NB, use POR"

Or are you suggesting that I use something else for the 30 min boil too?

PZ.

 

[Voosher]

No confusion Voosher, I take those comments as "if you don't have NB, use POR"

Or are you suggesting that I use something else for the 30 min boil too?

PZ.

I reckon the 15 & 30m additions are pretty much spot on. About 1g/l (total) at that sort of time is where I reckon it's best.
You'll certainly get a good feel for Chinook flavour and can adjust it as appropriate next time.
Trust me. Chinook is very much personal taste.