New Brunswick Craft Brewers Association

Brewing => Technique => Topic started by: DandyMason on December 09, 2011, 01:29:46 PM

Title: Citrus Flavours
Post by: DandyMason on December 09, 2011, 01:29:46 PM
Okay so I just kegged an IPA on wednesday. I used SO5 and I dry hopped the IPA for 9 days after 9 days in the primary. I tried it today... Its pretty damn cloudy which Im not too worried about... but it also has some big time citrus flavours, almost reminds me of a rickards white. I dryhopped with cascade, so is this why its so damn citrusy? Im assuming it will become more bitter eventuallly? hopefully..

A while ago I had tasted fairly similar citrus flavours in a pale ale I had done... but it eventually went away after a few days. I had used cascade, but at 60 mins, and SO4.

Anyways... Just confused with these initial off flavours. Anything to do with carbonation? I was hoping to have my IPA drinkable tonight, but if its anything like that pale ale I did, it needed a couple days to sit in the keg before tasting like it should.
Title: Re: Citrus Flavours
Post by: Richard on December 09, 2011, 01:45:24 PM
Recipe link?
Title: Re: Citrus Flavours
Post by: DandyMason on December 09, 2011, 01:51:55 PM
Didnt post it...

IPA

8 lbs 2 row
4 lbs Maris Otter
1 lb Vienna
0.5 lb Crystal 60

1.32 qt/ lb Mash at 150.5
Assume .15 gal/ lb Absorption (Absorb 2.03 gallons)

Sparge at 168

1 oz Northern Brewer at 60
1 oz Simcoe at 60
0.5 oz Cascade at 30
0.5 oz Cascade at 15
0.5 oz Simcoe at 1
1 oz Cascade dry hopped for 9 days after 9 days in Primary

SO5 Yeast
Title: Re: Citrus Flavours
Post by: Jake on December 09, 2011, 01:55:54 PM
Yea I'd think that if you dry hopped with cascade, this is probably what is contributing to the citrus. Cascades main characteristic is citrusy in my experience. Dry hopping will really add to the aroma, therefore the flavour, but little to no bitter. The dry-hop may be overpowering the rest right now and may take a couple days/weeks to settle down. But yea, it would be helpful to see the hop schedule as well to see what your IBU's are around.
Title: Re: Citrus Flavours
Post by: Jake on December 09, 2011, 01:57:15 PM
Alright just saw the recipe. what does northern brewer have for an AA%? never used it before ... assuming the simcoe is above 10%?
Title: Re: Citrus Flavours
Post by: DandyMason on December 09, 2011, 01:57:48 PM
Thats what Im figuring, the cascade is overpowering the other hops for now...
Title: Re: Citrus Flavours
Post by: DandyMason on December 09, 2011, 02:01:35 PM
I dont recall what my northern brewer and simcoe were... In brewmate they have Northern Brewer at 9.6 and Simcoe at 12.2. I am expecting a really hoppy beer for sure..
Title: Re: Citrus Flavours
Post by: Richard on December 09, 2011, 02:08:22 PM
NB is about 9, and the simcoe we got last time was 9.6.

The cascade for all your flavour/aroma is what's causing the citrus... however if it's also "not bitter" then something may be amiss there - are you using a bag or something to contain the hops in the boil?

You can carb whilst you clarify - just do the carbonation at 0 or -1C and things should work nicely.
Title: Re: Citrus Flavours
Post by: DandyMason on December 09, 2011, 02:11:24 PM
Yeah I use hop bags.. I carb at like 3 degrees. It definitely seems to help clear it too.
Title: Re: Citrus Flavours
Post by: Kyle on December 09, 2011, 02:27:39 PM
that should be pretty good bitterness-wise, how hard is your boil? If its not a real rolling one, that could account for poor isomerization meaning the bittering would not happen as efficiently as it should. Also, speaking of efficiency, you might consider using more water in the grist ratio and then boiling it down. Using whirlfloc in the boil would help immensely with the clarity.
Title: Re: Citrus Flavours
Post by: Richard on December 09, 2011, 02:32:41 PM
I've had bad hop utilisation when using hop bags if they're not huge and wrapped around the mouth of the boil kettle... that and what Kyle said.
Title: Re: Citrus Flavours
Post by: DandyMason on December 09, 2011, 02:53:51 PM
Yeah im definitely in need of some whirlfloc tablets..

This batch was done on my stove, so maybe that has something to do with it... Ive gone propane now, and always have pretty intense boils.

Im hoping the bitterness will come. I definitely wouldnt consider this an IPA at this point hahah... Im thinking it will come along though.
Title: Re: Citrus Flavours
Post by: Jake on December 09, 2011, 03:53:45 PM
Consider it what you will. Just keep in mind, Keiths is considered an IPA by many BMC douchebags
Title: Re: Citrus Flavours
Post by: DandyMason on December 09, 2011, 05:23:15 PM
hahahah vallid point jake
Title: Re: Citrus Flavours
Post by: JohnQ on December 09, 2011, 05:59:25 PM
A wise arse, er... wise man once told me...
when in doubt...add more hops.
Who was that masked man?

JQ
Title: Re: Citrus Flavours
Post by: Richard on December 09, 2011, 06:02:31 PM
Ha.