IPA Extract help

[WishboneBrewery]

Hops tend to look crushed when you buy them, they are Whole.

DSM is £2.95 (but £7 postage) @ www.brewgenie.co.uk Might be good if you want to buy a load of it.

@ www.thebrewmart.com its £2.99 + £4.50 delivery

Indian / Asian supermarkets / shops are good places for cheap large Pans and stock pots

[OldSpeckledBadger]

In Brew Engine all the hops are listed as whole; does that matter when I have crushed? Also is there a general rule about the amount of yeast to use?

Whole hops tend to be crushed up a bit.. The distinction is really between whole and pellet I think. For yeast S-04 or Nottingham would be fine. Quite a few people seem to prefer Nottingham in pale ales due to its neutral flavour. It's all down to personal tastes/preferences though. Either will make nice beer

[badgerdan]

But how much yeast per fermentables do i use, just so I know for future brews so I use the right amount.

I've curruntely got Muntons Premium Gold yeast, what's that like compaired to those mentioned?

[OldSpeckledBadger]

But how much yeast per fermentables do i use, just so I know for future brews so I use the right amount.

I put the whole packet in even on my short brew lengths of about 3 gallons. It doesn't hurt if you over-pitch.

I've curruntely got Muntons Premium Gold yeast, what's that like compaired to those mentioned?

I think it's Nottingham but hopefully someone else can either confirm or correct that.

[Chase24]

Pitching more or less yeast can have an impact on the flavour - apparently as the yeast multiplies it produces compounds that produce fruity aromas, which are desirable in an ale but apparently not in a lager. And a strong beer needs more yeast cells as well, for similar reasons I think. From what I can see there are fewer risks in over-pitching yeast than in under-pitching so unless you are planning to make a very strong ale it seems your Muntons yeast should be OK.

Its worth checking the date though - if you can. If there's a chance that the yeast is very old then its worth getting another sachet as well, to be sure.

[OldSpeckledBadger]

apparently as the yeast multiplies

From what I've read, dried yeast doesn't multiply.

[badgerdan]

As I've found out my stockpot is actually 10.5ltr to the brim; what's the most amount of liquid i can brew after the boiling stage? IE what you said before about taking into account hop utilization by brewing only part of the extract.

[OldSpeckledBadger]

You'll probably be able to boil about 8 litres. I've done a couple of 23 litre brew based on an 8 litre part-boil.

[badgerdan]

Just trying to get my head around Beer Engine and put the following recipe in there. The only thing I changed was the Alpha of my hops (which then brought it down to 54 EBU ) but here it says to add 25gms of Goldings just before I switch off the boil but how long would you guys do it? In Beer Engine I just put it down as being boiled for 5 mins otherwise nothing changed with the EBU. Also would you take those last lot of Goldings out when taken off the boil or leave them in while it cools?

I'll try and work out how to scale down the brew but I guess I just use equal percentages of each of the hops and make sure the EBU doesn't change?

Code: Select all

Ingredients
4.5 kg of Brupaks Premium Grade Malt Extract
80 gms Challenger Hops
50 gms of Goldings Hops
Brewing Yeast
Method
Dissolve the ME in a brewing bucket in hot water, add to boiler and bring volume to 5 gallons (23 litres).
Bring to the boil and add 80 gms of Challenger Hops and boil for 1 hour.
15 minutes before the finish of the boil add 25 gms of Goldings and remaining 25 gms just before switching off the boil.
Cool wort and pitch yeast.
Rack after 5 days into a closed fermenter. After a further two weeks, fine and bottle or barrel in the usual way.
Characteristics
OG 1060
FG 1011
Bitterness 54 EBU

[WishboneBrewery]

Throw the 25g in as you turn off the boiler and leave them in.
You're not going to be able to calculate the bittering from those hops in BeerEngine.
They are for flavour and Aroma more so than bittering though they will add something to the bittering.

[badgerdan]

In beer engine, when I type in a 9 liter brew length it then says on the right Total Liquor = 12.9ltr

Do I then have to start boiling with 12.9 liters of water (with all the hops in) to end up with 9 liters when it's finished? It doesn't change when I add time to the hop length so was confused as It'd loose more water the longer I boil for and also does BE take into account the extra water at start of the boil for the whole hop utilization?

During the boil can I just keep topping it up to 9 ltr with boiling water from the kettle every time it drops a bit?

I was thinking of boiling 9 liters of water with half the extract but all the hops for an 18 liter brew and then once finished boiling just put the rest of the extract in and top it up in the FV with cold water to then bring the temp down? Is this right or is that all too easy for a good extract brew with only a 10.5 ltr pot?

I have found a 21ltr pot now but just need to convince the GF as we just don't have that much space or money; any tips?

[OldSpeckledBadger]

Be careful about using the default volumes given by BE. My advice is to do a test boil to establish your evaporation losses, add that amount to your initial volume and forget loss to hops ATM.

[badgerdan]

I now have all my ingredients delivered so ready for my first extract brew but am wondering if you guys can check over my adjusted recipe?

It started out as the Clive of India IPA but as I want to start my first brew off only being around 4.5% and not as bitter I've reduced the amount of hops and extract used. Is this now too bitter with the amount of extract or could this be a good starting point for a beginner?

Here's what I've got:

18 ltr brew
2kgs Light (is this pale?) dry extract
200gms household sugar (to bump up the abv a little)
39gms Challenger (6.5 alpha) boiled for 60 mins
12gms Goldings (4.5 alpha) boiled for 25 mins
Irish moss last 15 mins (how much do I use?)
12gms Goldings (4.5 alpha) chucked in after boil (how long do I leave it in for)

Beer engine was used and it says it's:
ABV: 4.5%
Colour: 11 EBC
OG: 1.043
FG: 1.008
Bitterness EBU: 38

I also have some Crystal malt I can put in if anyone things it'll be better? But also It doesn't mention anywhere if it's a 60L or something. Is this important to know?

I only have a 10.5 ltr pot atm so will need to cut the boil in half. Can I just keep the same amount of hops but only boil half the extract and half the water (with the full amount of hops) then just top the FV up to 18 after with the rest of the extract?

Thanks in advance