Session IPA-first draft

[Beer-lord]

I've got a number of variations for the 4 or 5 session IPA's I'm going to be doing this summer. They will all have a different grain bill, different hops as well as different hop schedules and likely, all will have different yeast. It's a summer long experiment to get a quality IPA with lower ABV. I'll be using some hopstanding and splitting my dry hops into a 7 and 3 day schedule pretty much like I do with my regular IPA's. Some will have a much simpler grain bill as I want the hops to do the talking but I want to get a little bit different for the first one.Got some grain that's been piling up and asking to get let loose out the bag so that's why this bill is not as simple as I will normally do.
Here's what I have so far (gotta see which hops I want to use). I'll likely do a 60 minute then 15 and under with a 20 minute hopstand/mini-whrilpool.

Critique's????? This should be 5.3% and I may bring the 2 row down to an even 8 lbs to keep it to 5% since I usually overshoot my efficiency.

BeerSmith 2 Recipe Printout - http://www.beersmith.com
Recipe: Session IPA
Brewer:
Asst Brewer:
Style: American Amber Ale
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 6.74 gal
Post Boil Volume: 6.24 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 6.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 6.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.054 SG
Estimated Color: 8.3 SRM
Estimated IBU: 69.8 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 76.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 76.0 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
8 lbs 8.0 oz Pale Malt (2 Row) Bel (3.0 SRM) Grain 1 72.3 %
1 lbs 8.0 oz Vienna Malt (Briess) (3.5 SRM) Grain 2 12.8 %
1 lbs 4.0 oz Wheat - Red Malt (Briess) (2.3 SRM) Grain 3 10.6 %
8.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 80L (80.0 SRM) Grain 4 4.3 %

Mash Schedule: BIAB, Medium Body
Total Grain Weight: 11 lbs 12.0 oz
----------------------------
Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Saccharification Add 30.40 qt of water at 161.5 F 152.1 F 75 min
Mash Out Heat to 168.0 F over 7 min 168.0 F 10 min

[Kealia]

No black/roasted malts?!?!?

<<applause>>

[Inkleg]

Looks good, you could cut the 80 by half or leave it out. I know you said you wanted to use some stuff up.
I tend to over shoot on lower OG beers too. What I do is use the BeerSmith dilution tool. Add water to get it on target and get more beer in the process.

Oh, and ignore Ron. I'd throw one black grain in the mash just for him.

[BlackDuck]

I'm with Jeff on leaving the 80 out. Looks pretty good though.

[Beer-lord]

I actually have the 80 in there to mimic Stone Levitation Ale which I think has 75 and 120 or maybe 150 in it. I thought by keeping it to 5%, I wouldn't notice too much color or sweetness to make a great bit of difference.

And, how can you guys say it looks pretty good with no hops listed? Man, is it Friday or what?

[BlackDuck]

That makes sense Paul. I've got a session IPA waiting to brew also, can't wait to get to it.

We can say it looks good without seeing the hop schedule because we know you to well. We are sure that the hop schedule will be awesome.

[Beer-lord]

I've got 6 session recipes in process and none will be finalized until the day before I brew them.
And, Im hoping to put a big dent in my hop store as some will be 6 months old this summer. These brews will use about a pound each.

After tasting a few craft versions, I've found them lacking some flavor and not bring as balanced and I'm hoping to get some flavor as I try different things.

[BlackDuck]

Since we are talking Session IPA's here, and I'm not trying to hijack this so tell me to post it elsewhere if you want. You can do that you know, you are a moderator. Anyway, I've been drinking the Stone Go To and have noticed that they each seem to taste and smell a little different. It's really weird, they don't seem to be real far apart from each other, but just different. Like not very consistent between bottles. Have any of you other guys noticed this?

[Beer-lord]

I mentioned I wasn't very pleased with it though it was ok. I said that it and Founders were lacking flavor and were not balanced.
There's lots of others coming out in the market so I'll have to keep trying.

[RedBEERd]

No black/roasted malts?!?!?

<<applause>>

NICE! Well played, sir.

[Beer-lord]

No black/roasted malts?!?!?

<<applause>>

NICE! Well played, sir.

Brown noser!
We DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS!

[Kealia]

Since we are talking Session IPA's here, and I'm not trying to hijack this so tell me to post it elsewhere if you want. You can do that you know, you are a moderator. Anyway, I've been drinking the Stone Go To and have noticed that they each seem to taste and smell a little different. It's really weird, they don't seem to be real far apart from each other, but just different. Like not very consistent between bottles. Have any of you other guys noticed this?

I had three that were great. I'm picking up another sixer tomorrow so I will let you know in a few days.

[Beer-lord]

OK, here's my many months of thought about my future session beers (as I drink an awesome Hop Juice).....
I'm planning a series of session beers called, Disciples of Hop series. Each one will be a session IPA and be brewed pretty much the same way but will use a different variety of hops and yeast. I think I'll do 4.
Yea, I think way too much about hoppy beer. Put me in a rubber suit in a rubber room and spray hops in the air while I sleep. Oh wait, that's my bedroom.

[BlackDuck]

That sounds like a pretty cool plan Paul. Love the idea.

[Beer-lord]

Here's what I think I'll end up with next brew day (not yet decided when I can brew this):

BeerSmith 2 Recipe Printout - http://www.beersmith.com
Recipe: Summer Session IPA-Disciple of Hops Series
Brewer:
Asst Brewer:
Style: American Amber Ale
TYPE: All Grain
Taste: (30.0)

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 6.74 gal
Post Boil Volume: 6.24 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 6.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 6.00 gal
Estimated OG: 1.054 SG
Estimated Color: 8.3 SRM
Estimated IBU: 99.4 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 76.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 76.0 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
8 lbs 8.0 oz Pale Malt (2 Row) Bel (3.0 SRM) Grain 1 72.3 %
1 lbs 8.0 oz Vienna Malt (Briess) (3.5 SRM) Grain 2 12.8 %
1 lbs 4.0 oz Wheat - Red Malt (Briess) (2.3 SRM) Grain 3 10.6 %
8.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 80L (80.0 SRM) Grain 4 4.3 %
1.00 oz Summit [17.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 5 54.4 IBUs
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 20.0 min Hop 6 10.7 IBUs
1.00 oz Chinook [13.00 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 7 20.6 IBUs
0.50 oz Chinook [13.00 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 8 7.5 IBUs
0.50 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 9 1.8 IBUs
0.50 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] - Boil 5.0 Hop 10 4.5 IBUs
1.50 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] - Dry Hop Hop 11 0.0 IBUs
1.50 oz Summit [17.00 %] - Dry Hop 7.0 Days Hop 12 0.0 IBUs
2.00 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] - Dry Hop 3.0 Days Hop 13 0.0 IBUs
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Dry Hop 3.0 Days Hop 14 0.0 IBUs


Mash Schedule: BIAB, Medium Body
Total Grain Weight: 11 lbs 12.0 oz
----------------------------
Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Saccharification Add 30.40 qt of water at 161.5 F 152.1 F 75 min
Mash Out Heat to 168.0 F over 7 min