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Homebrewing: Imperial AG recipes
Posted on 2/22/13 at 3:32 pm
Posted on 2/22/13 at 3:32 pm
I'm wondering about formulating Imperial type recipes like Russian Imperial Stouts or IIPAs. Like what's the typical brewery method for getting the gravity up high. I've done one IIPA that was a kit from northernbrewer and that recipe called for adding I think 2 lbs of corn sugar into the boil, but you also mashed with around 15 lbs of base malt, iirc. I've also seen recipes online for RIS that calls for something like 15 lbs of base malt for a standard 5 gal batch, but they didn't add any corn sugar. I also have done a belgian kit and I know that they use the candi sugar method. Can somebody direct me to some reading on how to figure out what I need or help explain which method to use at which time?
Also, DFH's 60 min, 90 min, and 120 min. What does the time refer to? I've assumed it refers to how long they boil. Thinking that maybe they use a lot of base malt and collect as much sugar as possible and boil a lot of liquid off for 2 hours to try and concentrate it to get a higher gravity. Is that right?
Also, DFH's 60 min, 90 min, and 120 min. What does the time refer to? I've assumed it refers to how long they boil. Thinking that maybe they use a lot of base malt and collect as much sugar as possible and boil a lot of liquid off for 2 hours to try and concentrate it to get a higher gravity. Is that right?
3
Posted on 2/22/13 at 4:11 pm to Josh Fenderman
For the last IIPA I made, I used 15 lbs of malt including 13 lbs of Pale Two Row. I did add 1/2lb of corn sugar. Corn sugar will add abv. to the beer but not really any body. So it will give the beer a slightly dry finish depending on how much you use. You can also use turbinado sugar in this manner. I generally add corn sugar to my IPAs because I like a slightly dry finish to accentuate the bitterness. Also, When you have such a high OG from using so much grain, you need to make a starter to get your yeast count up high.
The 60, 90, 120 is boil time and your description is basically correct. With DFH, they add hops every 7 minutes or so for the entire boil time.
The 60, 90, 120 is boil time and your description is basically correct. With DFH, they add hops every 7 minutes or so for the entire boil time.
Posted on 2/22/13 at 4:49 pm to Josh Fenderman
In addition to what Zappa said, your imperials will have large volumes of mash water, leaving less for a typical sparge. You will have to have to find a balance of getting enough water for an efficient sparge and length of boil time to make up for the extra water.
I'm simplifying a lot here and not taking in to account grain absorption and whatnot, but let's say you usually have 3 gallons for your mash and 4 gallons for your sparge. That gives us 7 in the boil kettle. After the 60 minute boil we are left with 5 gallons.
For an imperial beer, you will have a mash of 4.5 gallons and a sparge of 4.5 gallons. That gives you 9 gallons going in to the kettle. You will need a longer boil to get down to 5 gallons.
For my equipment set-up, 9 gallons would be too much. I have an 8 gallon kettle. I would either be forced to split the batch in two or I could cut it with some extract at the end.
I'm simplifying a lot here and not taking in to account grain absorption and whatnot, but let's say you usually have 3 gallons for your mash and 4 gallons for your sparge. That gives us 7 in the boil kettle. After the 60 minute boil we are left with 5 gallons.
For an imperial beer, you will have a mash of 4.5 gallons and a sparge of 4.5 gallons. That gives you 9 gallons going in to the kettle. You will need a longer boil to get down to 5 gallons.
For my equipment set-up, 9 gallons would be too much. I have an 8 gallon kettle. I would either be forced to split the batch in two or I could cut it with some extract at the end.
Posted on 2/22/13 at 4:51 pm to Josh Fenderman
quote:
I'm wondering about formulating Imperial type recipes like Russian Imperial Stouts or IIPAs. Like what's the typical brewery method for getting the gravity up high.
I brewed a bourbon barrel imperial stout kit from austin homebrew that had 17.25 lbs. of grains. It came out great. 2 packs of wyeast in a yeast starter i had active fermentation within 6 hours of brewing
ABV was 9.2%
This post was edited on 2/22/13 at 4:54 pm
Posted on 2/22/13 at 5:50 pm to BottomlandBrew
Bug
How many gallons of wort did you have pre-boil?
For your math on finding mash liquid and sparge liquid, are you just basically using charts and stuff like are in Papazian's Joy of Homebrewing?
That IIPA I did, I remember thinking that I had not sparged enough, but I cut it off when I got a volume of wort that I usually go with for a 5 gallon batch pre-boil. The OG ended up being right at what the kit instructions said.
The explanation on corn sugar not adding body helps to understand why that seems to be used for IIPAs.
quote:
I brewed a bourbon barrel imperial stout kit from austin homebrew that had 17.25 lbs. of grains.
How many gallons of wort did you have pre-boil?
quote:
BottomlandBrew
For your math on finding mash liquid and sparge liquid, are you just basically using charts and stuff like are in Papazian's Joy of Homebrewing?
That IIPA I did, I remember thinking that I had not sparged enough, but I cut it off when I got a volume of wort that I usually go with for a 5 gallon batch pre-boil. The OG ended up being right at what the kit instructions said.
The explanation on corn sugar not adding body helps to understand why that seems to be used for IIPAs.
This post was edited on 2/22/13 at 5:53 pm
Posted on 2/22/13 at 6:13 pm to Josh Fenderman
quote:
are you just basically using charts and stuff like are in Papazian's Joy of Homebrewing?
This is what I use.
Mash and Sparge calculator
Posted on 2/22/13 at 6:54 pm to BottomlandBrew
quote:
For my equipment set-up, 9 gallons would be too much. I have an 8 gallon kettle. I would either be forced to split the batch in two or I could cut it with some extract at the end.
I'm in the same situation with the 8 gallon kettle. I'm often putting 7.5 gallons in pre boil. Makes for a somewhat hairy boil.
Posted on 2/22/13 at 6:57 pm to s14suspense
Do you use Fermcaps? If not, you need to. Life changer.
Posted on 2/22/13 at 7:03 pm to BottomlandBrew
quote:
Posted by BottomlandBrew Do you use Fermcaps? If not, you need to. Life changer.
I don't.
I should though apparently.
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