Ace of Spades

[Beer-lord]

My friends who are leaving for Cali in 5-6 weeks asked me to do another Black IPA so they can take some with them. But, I don't want to brew the same one I just finished last week and have a Stout in the kegerator now. So, I got an email from NB that showed something that is similar to the Naked Darkness I did mid last year and liked. But this was a bit different so I'm squeezing time and waking up early tomorrow to get this done before my social life takes over in the early afternoon. Can't wait another week so it's tomorrow or never. Should be just above freezing when I start (I know, you northern guys have it REALLY cold).
BeerSmith 2 Recipe Printout - http://www.beersmith.com
Recipe: Ace of Spades
Brewer: Paul
Asst Brewer:
Style: American IPA
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 7.65 gal
Post Boil Volume: 6.45 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 6.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 6.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.072 SG
Estimated Color: 36.5 SRM
Estimated IBU: 67.5 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 76.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 78.5 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
13 lbs 10.3 oz Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 86.5 %
1 lbs 2.2 oz Caramunich III (Weyermann) (71.0 SRM) Grain 2 7.2 %
15.9 oz Midnight Wheat (550.0 SRM) Grain 3 6.3 %
0.60 oz Magnum [12.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 4 20.4 IBUs
1.20 oz Chinook [13.00 %] - Boil 20.0 min Hop 5 26.7 IBUs
0.60 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Boil 20.0 min Hop 6 10.3 IBUs
1.80 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 7 10.2 IBUs
1.2 pkg Safale American (DCL/Fermentis #US-05) Yeast 8 -
1.20 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Dry Hop 7.0 Days Hop 9 0.0 IBUs
1.20 oz Citra [12.00 %] - Dry Hop 7.0 Days Hop 10 0.0 IBUs


Mash Schedule: BIAB, Full Body
Total Grain Weight: 15 lbs 12.4 oz
----------------------------
Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Saccharification Add 35.22 qt of water at 163.5 F 154.0 F 60 min
Mash Out Add -0.01 qt of water and heat to 170.0 170.0 F 10 min

Sparge: If steeping, remove grains, and prepare to boil wort
Notes:
------

[BlackDuck]

Looks good. Good amount pale malt and just enough dark stuff to make it black. My only thought is the amount of hops compared to the amount of dark malt. I just wonder if it will be perceived as less than the 67 IBU's. To me, it seems like the dark malts can hide or lessen the bitterness effects of the hops.

EDIT....and with just a little over 1/2 ounce for the 60 minute bittering and the rest at 20 or under, it may turn out to be really flavorful and aromatic with just a touch of bitterness. But then again, this may be exactly what your after too.

[Beer-lord]

All the hops are in the mid to high alpha range and I may add a bit more dry hops. But, I am also thinking about doing it just as they have it to see how it turns out. They mention 'session' brew but any beer above 5.5 or 6 is NOT a session brew.

The deck is stacked with a whole lotta hops. Four of a kind, in fact – Magnum, Chinook, Centennial and Citra. And get ready for the bluff, because this session brew drinks lighter than it appears. You won’t find roasted coffee or bittersweet chocolate here, just smooth malty caramel with a touch of toast, and an intense hop presence with pine, citrus and fruity notes that stand no chance of getting lost in the shuffle. Play your cards right? There’s no way to play them wrong with this kit. Any way you brew it, you’ll be coming up aces.

My thoughts are that the Midnight Wheat (you remember that one) and the Caramunich III are not that flavorful, just dark so I don't think they'll add too much of a heavy flavor. At least that's what it appears to me.

I was planning on brewing next week and doing something I've already done but I just like to mess around too much.

[BlackDuck]

Makes sense Paul...I do remember the Midnight, but am not familiar with the Caramunich. I see where your coming from on this now. I think it should get you a pretty darn good Black. The flavor and aroma should be out of this world!!!!

[Inkleg]

Sounds good Paul, can't go wrong with those hops.
The Caramunich III will just add some toasty/sweet and some color to it. Haven't used Midnight Wheat yet, but did run across this on % usage. Hope it doesn't confuse more than help.

[Beer-lord]

Thanks, I've seen that link but have used it before and was pleaded with it. Still had some laying around.

Mash water is heating up and ready to go.

[Beer-lord]

And we're done! Started the mash water at 8:20 and finished everything by noon. Refractometer is again off from the hydrometer but it's 1.072 and my hydrometer is 1.075. But, I only had a bit more than 5.5 gallons and didn't feel like adding any water to it. Close is good enough and I trust a new refractomer vs. a 30 year old hydrometer even though both are calibrated.

Tasted good too!

[BlackDuck]

Very nice. Nailed the gravity number. Way to go.

[Inkleg]

Nice job Paul. Done well and done early. Now you have the rest of the weekend to enjoy.

[Beer-lord]

Nice job Paul. Done well and done early. Now you have the rest of the weekend to enjoy.

Yes, tonite it's beer and football. Tomorrow it's beer and football.
Do you see a link here anywhere?

[Inkleg]

Nice job Paul. Done well and done early. Now you have the rest of the weekend to enjoy.

Yes, tonite it's beer and football and watch the airlock. Tomorrow it's beer and football and watch the airlock.
Do you see a link here anywhere?

Fixed that for you.

[Beer-lord]

Well, I confess, after watching the games, I did come home and run to the fermenter to perv. I did get to see some action.

[Inkleg]

[Beer-lord]

Just kegged this tonite a few days early but after 8 days in a row of the same FG...1.024. I used NB's recipe which shows an OG of 1.068 and I had 1.075 (the refractometer was 1.072). Beersmith shows this with an OG of 1. 72 so that was close but it shows an FG of 1.017. I'm high again. Since I kegged and not bottled, I'm not worried about bottle bombs. The taste has absolutely no sweetness to it and is semi dry so it seems to be spent.
Actually, though I rarely can judge beers as I keg, the taste was nothing to brag about. More bitter than I would expect but Magnum and Chinook hops are mofo's so I do get a bite. Never having used Caramunich III, I'm not sure what I should taste. I did get a tiny bit of coffee like taste. We'll see what happens in a few weeks when it's ready. I'm thinking, like a porter/stout and some other darker beers, this will need some time before it improves. Heh, it's what I get for trying something with no idea what to expect. It may be awesome. Wait, I brewed it, it can only be average.

[BlackDuck]

I brewed this today. I used the Norhtern Brewer kit. But I had to make a couple of small changes to account for my system. Basically, I added 1.5 pounds of 2 row, and added 1/4 ounce of Magnum for the 60 minute hop because of the AA acids on the package were lower than the default for BeerSmith. Everything came out fine. Hit the OG number. 1.067, NB had it at 1.068. I call that a hit.

I read through some of the other posts on the recipe in other threads. There were some comments that the aroma was a little light. The recipe calls for 1 ounce each of Citra and Centennial for a 5 day dry hop. I've got an ounce of 7 C's that's been in the freezer for who knows how long. Never opened the package for some reason. In order to up the aroma on this, what do you all think about dropping that into the dry hop also?