Hop confusion

[rick_huggins]

So if I'm following a recipe that calls for x.x% bobek and my bobek is y.y% how do I go about sorting the right quantity out?

The other thing is; how much total bitterness should I be looking at for typical english pale ales/ IPAs?

The more I delve, the more I confuse myself, LOL

[Parva]

If you're only recently into AG (as I know you are) then I wouldn't worry about the AA content of hops. I'm over 20 brews in and have just followed recipes and used the quantities detailed and haven't corrected for AA content. I'll get around to it eventually but all of my beers have so far turned out fantastic and I feel that it's something that anyone new to brewing shouldn't worry about until they become competent with making beers and possibly trying to improve water quality before going down that road. I dare say there's a simple calculator for it kicking around if you were determined though.

[rick_huggins]

Thanks guys.

I've noticed on Beeralchemy that if I change the 15m and flame out hop quantities; this alters the final bitterness (IBU)

I thought bitterness was controlled by the 90m hops and the remainder were flavour/aroma additions

Just don't want to make an over bitter drink

[Parp]

Use the bitterness slider on BeerAlchemy.

(The 15min addition will contribute IBU's)

Put the original hops in as is (note the IBU for the recipe) then adjust the AA's on each of them to match the ones you have.

Now pull the slider to re-adjust to the desired IBU's. It'll adjust the weights of your hop additions.

Adjust any amount of flameout hops to the original amount as these wont alter your IBU's.

EDIT :-

Just a thought - If you have multiple hop types in the recipe and are only altering one AA value - the slider will probably alter the whole lot en masse.
In that case - enter the original recipe and note how many IBU's each of your additions contribute - then enter the new AA, then adjust the weight so the IBU's match the original.

[rick_huggins]

Use the bitterness slider on BeerAlchemy.

(The 15min addition will contribute IBU's)

Put the original hops in as is (note the IBU for the recipe) then adjust the AA's on each of them to match the ones you have.

Now pull the slider to re-adjust to the desired IBU's. It'll adjust the weights of your hop additions.

Adjust any amount of flameout hops to the original amount as these wont alter your IBU's.

EDIT :-

Just a thought - If you have multiple hop types in the recipe and are only altering one AA value - the slider will probably alter the whole lot en masse.
In that case - enter the original recipe and note how many IBU's each of your additions contribute - then enter the new AA, then adjust the weight so the IBU's match the original.

Nice one Parp, just what I was after

Cheers

[Parp]

If you're going to be buying/using a shedload of a particular type of hop, then it probably makes sense to change the AA's in the 'Ingredients' list, or make a new entry.

You can add them to your inventory as well and get the program to deduct the amounts you use in your batches.
Something I don't personally use.
It does however have the benefit of having a "Suggest a Recipe" feature which checks your recipe list against your inventory and tells you what you can make, or what you could make if you got an ingredient or two more.