The question I set out to answer was whether the same flavors can be achieved piecemeal by adding individual hops to fill in the background flavors and then dry hop with fancy hops to lend varietal character. It is a practical consideration because hops like Citra and Galaxy are in short supply, and often cost four times the price of less-sexy varieties. If we can only get our hands on a couple boxes of Citra for Sapwood Cellars' first year, how do we maximize the amount of Citra-forward IPA brewed?The problem with blindly relying on the science regarding individual compounds is that you can miss the IPA through the hops. I selected Chinook (geraniol), Nugget (linalool), and Eureka (4-MSP). However, each contributes a variety of other aromatics, how would these come through?
Most of the bioconversion happens to terpenes extracted on the hot side, so how important is a mid-fermentation dose of dry hops? At the end of the combined boil I added Chinook, Nugget, and Eureka for the whirlpool. On day two, I dry hopped one fermentor with more Chinook and Nugget and the other with Citra and Galaxy. I then keg-hopped both with Citra/Galaxy in stainless steel hop filters (rather than the nylon knee-highs I'd been using). I hooked the two kegs up in the kegerator without paying attention to which beer was on which tap. I was able to identify them almost immediately with my first carbonated sample a week later. I thought that was enough to skip the triangle test and go straight to preference. I brought a growler of each to the DC Homebrewer’s August meeting. There were lots of strong opinions (I didn't tell the homebrewers what I was testing, but asked them to focus on the hop character). With 11 votes to 8, the beer with Citra and Galaxy as the first dry hop addition won, but not by as much as I would have guessed. Here are select comments that each elicited:
Cheaper Hops - Nugget/Chinook: West Coast, spicy, subtle, vegetal, fruitier, aromatic (several), "Galaxy/Mosaic," more bitter (several), minerally, crisper.
Cheater Hops - Citra/Galaxy: Piney, fruity, juicy, berry, fresh orange, hoppier, sweeter, restrained, rounder, more dry hop, more aromatic.
These results were of the beers after less than two weeks in the keg. While freshness is essential for NEIPA given their sensitivity to oxygen, a little extra time post-fermentation can be beneficial. I’ve gotten a few emails from brewers disappointed with the “juiciness” of their beer a few days after kegging. It often takes time for the yeast (which is coated in hop compounds) and lupulin to settle out and clear the way for those juicy flavors. In this case I also found the extraction of the keg hops took a couple weeks, with the Cheaper Hop half tasting more like Citra and Galaxy now a month after kegging.
I think this experiment contradicts the old adage that dry hopping only effects aroma. Flavor and aroma are inextricably linked. Dry hopping can even decrease IBUs, or it can add bitterness depending on how much iso-alpha is in the beer already. There are few simple rules in brewing!For my tastes too much maltiness distracts from the hops in NEIPAs. I don’t care for the full Maris Otter crackery flavor that some examples have. For this batch I started with a similar malt bill to my previous NEIPA, but subbed in Golden Promise for about 2/3 of the base malt. Golden Promise is softer than some of the other British base malts, and I thought it worked well here to increase the perception of maltiness without distracting.
Cheaper Hops
Smell – Nice mix of bright citrus juice (orange) and more classic Pacific-Northwest hop-bag resin. Has some of that bold Citra/Galaxy tropical, but it is a component rather than a feature. Toasty notes, nice depth addition from the Golden Promise.
Appearance – Maximum haze without muddiness. Slightly darker than some of my previous batches, which likely increases the appearance of haze. Nice head, but retention isn't remarkable.
Taste – Falls a little short of full-on NEIPA, lacking that wonderful saturated juicy hop flavor. Although the fullness of the hop character has increased while sitting on the keg hops. Pineapple, orange candy, and dank. Slightly sharp bitterness, a bit lupulin bite in the throat.
Mouthfeel – Smooth, but a little chalky in the finish.
Drinkability & Notes – A nice solid NEIPA with some character that might appeal to the cross-over West Coast drinker. Certainly nice to be able to get that good an IPA from 2/3 inexpensive hops, but it isn’t fooling anyone.
Cheater Hops
Smell – Similar notes of pineapple and orange, but without an undercurrent of resin. Not an especially amped nose compared recent batches with London III, lacking the oomph of my favorite NEIPAs. Perhaps the malt getting in the way?
Appearance – Identical.
Taste – It has that saturated fancy hop (4-MSP) flavor. Bright, fruity, really juicy. Nice toasty-malty note in the finish, lingering with just a touch of resin. Firm bitterness. The aftertaste is where I really get the Citra-Galaxy rounded tropical fruit compared to the Cheaper hops.
Mouthfeel – Seems slightly crisper, less chalky.
Drinkability & Notes – I’m a sucker for that full fruity flavor with a slight weirdness from the hops. Drinkable and wonderfully hoppy. The hot-side additions of less expensive hops really worked in this batch!
Changes for Next Time – Clearly that early dry hop addition isn’t all about bio-conversion. I’ll be focusing my linalool and geraniol additions at the end of the boil and 4-SMP hops at that early dry hop.
Recipe
Batch Size: 5.50 gal
SRM: 3.8
IBU: 78.1
OG: 1.060
FG: 1.016
ABV: 5.8%
Final pH: 4.52
Brewhouse Efficiency: 68%
Boil Time: 60 mins
Fermentables
-----------------
37.6% - 5 lbs Simpsons Golden Promise
22.5% - 3 lbs Rahr 2-row Brewer's Malt
21.1% - 2.8 lbs Quaker Quick Oats
18.8% - 2.5 lbs Weyermann Carafoam
Mash
-------
Mash In - 60 min @ 154F
Hops
-------
1.00 oz Nugget (Pellets, 13.00% AA) @ 15 min
2.00 oz Chinook (Pellets, 13.00% AA) @ Whirlpool 30 min
2.00 oz Nugget (Pellets, 13.00% AA) @ Whirlpool 30 min
1.00 oz Eureka (Pellets, 18.00% AA) @ Whirlpool 30 min
Cheaper Hops Option:
3.00 oz Chinook (Pellets, 13.00% AA) @ Dry Hop Day 2
3.00 oz Nugget (Pellets, 13.00% AA) @ Dry Hop Day 2
Cheater Hops Option:
3.00 oz Galaxy (Pellets, 14.00% AA) @ Dry Hop Day 2
3.00 oz Citra (Pellets, 12.00% AA) @ Dry Hop Day 2
Both
1.50 oz Citra (Pellets, 12.00% AA) @ Keg Hop
1.50 oz Galaxy (Pellets, 14.00% AA) @ Keg Hop
Water
-------
5 g Calcium Chloride @ Mash
4 g Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) @ Mash
.5 tsp Lactic Acid @ Mash
Smell – Similar notes of pineapple and orange, but without an undercurrent of resin. Not an especially amped nose compared recent batches with London III, lacking the oomph of my favorite NEIPAs. Perhaps the malt getting in the way?
Appearance – Identical.
Taste – It has that saturated fancy hop (4-MSP) flavor. Bright, fruity, really juicy. Nice toasty-malty note in the finish, lingering with just a touch of resin. Firm bitterness. The aftertaste is where I really get the Citra-Galaxy rounded tropical fruit compared to the Cheaper hops.
Mouthfeel – Seems slightly crisper, less chalky.
Drinkability & Notes – I’m a sucker for that full fruity flavor with a slight weirdness from the hops. Drinkable and wonderfully hoppy. The hot-side additions of less expensive hops really worked in this batch!
Changes for Next Time – Clearly that early dry hop addition isn’t all about bio-conversion. I’ll be focusing my linalool and geraniol additions at the end of the boil and 4-SMP hops at that early dry hop.
RecipeBatch Size: 5.50 gal
SRM: 3.8
IBU: 78.1
OG: 1.060
FG: 1.016
ABV: 5.8%
Final pH: 4.52
Brewhouse Efficiency: 68%
Boil Time: 60 mins
Fermentables
-----------------
37.6% - 5 lbs Simpsons Golden Promise
22.5% - 3 lbs Rahr 2-row Brewer's Malt
21.1% - 2.8 lbs Quaker Quick Oats
18.8% - 2.5 lbs Weyermann Carafoam
Mash
-------
Mash In - 60 min @ 154F
Hops
-------
1.00 oz Nugget (Pellets, 13.00% AA) @ 15 min
2.00 oz Chinook (Pellets, 13.00% AA) @ Whirlpool 30 min
2.00 oz Nugget (Pellets, 13.00% AA) @ Whirlpool 30 min
1.00 oz Eureka (Pellets, 18.00% AA) @ Whirlpool 30 min
Cheaper Hops Option:
3.00 oz Chinook (Pellets, 13.00% AA) @ Dry Hop Day 2
3.00 oz Nugget (Pellets, 13.00% AA) @ Dry Hop Day 2
Cheater Hops Option:
3.00 oz Galaxy (Pellets, 14.00% AA) @ Dry Hop Day 2
3.00 oz Citra (Pellets, 12.00% AA) @ Dry Hop Day 2
Both
1.50 oz Citra (Pellets, 12.00% AA) @ Keg Hop
1.50 oz Galaxy (Pellets, 14.00% AA) @ Keg Hop
Water
-------
5 g Calcium Chloride @ Mash
4 g Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) @ Mash
.5 tsp Lactic Acid @ Mash
Calcium
|
Chloride
|
Sulfate
|
Sodium
|
Magnesium
|
Carbonate
|
90
|
90
|
90
|
10
|
5
|
45
|
Yeast
-------
SafAle S-04 English Ale
Notes
-------
Scaled to be brewed as either half of the batch.
Brewed 8/6/17 with Collin
Mash pH initially 5.55 pre-acid. Acid brought it down to 5.26. Around 5.4 if it had been cooled.
Whirlpool hops added right at flame-out.
Used ice to get it down to 70F. 5 gallons into each fermentor. Shook to aerate and pitched S-04 directly. Left at 64F to ferment.
Up to ~68F internal by 24 hours.
After two days down to 1.024 (60% AA) added 3 oz Nugget/Chinook to FV1, and 3 oz each Galaxy/Citra to FV2. Fermentation slowing down. Increased ambient temperature to 68F.
8/16/17 Kegged both. ~4 gallons of FV1, 4.5 of FV2. Quad-flushed. 1.5 oz each of Citra and Galaxy in the new screens, weighted with marbles.
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How did you like the stainless hop filter for the keg? Did you tie or weigh it down or just drop it into the keg?
ReplyDeleteThey seemed fine, no complaints so far. I weighed them down with marbles, no tie-off. Not looking forward to cleaning (with the knee-highs I tie the marbles off separately from the hops so I don't have to separate the two). I might eventually go with a solid weight with these.
ReplyDeleteWhat are your thoughts on short 30 minute boils when using hop extract?
ReplyDeleteMy beers always turn out darker than I prefer, perhaps due to longer boiling times.
When using hop extract, all of the hard work has been done already right? Shortening the boil should work.
For my NEIPAs thus far, it is a hop shot @ the beginning of the boil then no kettle hops until flameout.
Your thoughts?
Timely post! This is exactly in line with what I'm hoping to brew in a week and a half. On your whirlpool hops, do you typically add whirlpool hops at flameout or do you do a partial chill before adding the whirlpool hops?
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to see the use of S-04 because I'm a cheap lover of dry yeasts (I recently used Nottingham for a NEIPA with decent results). I'm curious if you'd use it again or if you think the other more commonly used NEIPA yeasts are better?
ReplyDeleteCheers!
I only partially chill if I'm looking to reduce the IBU contribution. I note the temperature if I do (just kegged a saison that had Chinook and Nugget at 180F for whirlpool followed by Nelson in the fermentor and keg).
ReplyDeleteThis isn't the first time I've used S-04 for a NEIPA. I don't think it "pops" quite as much as 1318, but we're hoping to try some blends and timed-pitches with it to achieve a bit for yeast-hop interaction. On a small-commercial scale dry yeast is so much easier that we're going to try our best to use it!
nice post, however i don't think bioconversion is the apropriate term here. it is rather xenobiotic metabolism of yeast cells, than conversion of organic materials into usable products or energy sources by biological processes or agents, such as certain microorganisms.
ReplyDeletesince, we do not purify the metabolites of the hop compounds from the yeast cells or the medium and use it for industrial or pharmacological purposes, i would call it biotransformation. simple xenobiotic metabolism of yeast cells.
just my two cents
Most of the bioconversion happens to terpenes extracted on the hot side
ReplyDeleteSorry if I missed it, but is there a resource for this? I have been curious for a while on the difference and resulting benefits/caveats between hot and cold applications
Didn't realize "bioconversion" had such a specific meaning, noted.
ReplyDeleteThe growth phase comment was based on this sentence from the first study linked: "Geraniol showed a drastic decrease during the growth phase and a part of geraniol was converted to beta-citronellol by yeast."
Oops, I was referring to terpene extraction. It is more efficient at a certain temperature?
ReplyDeleteHot is almost always more efficient for any sort of extraction, but at the risk of volatilization. Likely differs by terpene. Not something I'm aware of a good source for.
ReplyDeleteI noticed you've been using almost 20% CaraFoam in your last two NEIPA recipes, and I was wondering if you could elaborate a little on why. Do you feel it aids in achieving a silky body more than wheat malt or flaked wheat? Do you add it for improved head retention? NEIPA grain bills have been fascinating me recently...keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteIt was left over from my 2.3% NEIPA, I get more into the why in that post. I'll be using some chit malt for my next batch, should be a similar effect.
ReplyDeleteWill you be at the Dankness Dojo when it opens up? I have a Homebrew I would like you to try with yeasts native to Los Angeles.
ReplyDeleteI'll be in San Diego for a BYO Bootcamp in February. Certainly stopping by Modern Times down there, but probably won't make it up to LA.
ReplyDeleteHi Mike,
ReplyDeleteThanks for another informative post. Great stuff.
Do you perform a closed transfer into the keg for your hoppy beers? I started doing this for all my hoppy beers, but I'm starting to wonder if it is really worth the extra effort (and huge risk). I usually ferment about 4 gallons in a 5 gallon glass carboy. To transfer, I use a 2 hole racking cane starter with the racking cane on one hole and CO2 line attached to the other. I slowly raise the pressure on the regulator dial until it starts flowing out the racking cane into a purged corny keg (down the dip tube) with the pressure relief valve open to equalize the pressure.
With these excessively dry hopped IPA's I am always scared shitless the racking cane/ball valve will clog and the carboy will explode. This happened once, the clogging not the explosion, but I just ended up cutting the gas off and used my auto syphon rather than attempt to get the clog out. While I am extremely careful when doing this, I think I'm just going to forget about it and transfer the safer and less time consuming method of using an auto syphon and transferring it into a purged keg through the keg lid. The closed transfer sounds cool and all but there's still oxygen pickup when it's all said and done.
I don't usually do closed transfers (although I've got the fittings for my SS Brewbuckets), with a well-purged keg and careful racking I haven't had issues. No IPA has been ruined by being too careful about oxidation though!
ReplyDeleteYeah,I tend to overthink things sometimes. Since I usually only yield around 3-3.5 gallons of beer in the keg, they always kick within 3 weeks of transferring, so the beers are always consumed before major oxidation would even occur under "normal" circumstances and practices.
DeleteThis is one of those situations where as a homebrewer you can get by with a less than ideal process knowing it will be consumed quickly whereas in a commercial setting you have to know that people may be consuming it 2+ months after packaging.
Thanks for the input. Hope the brewery build out goes well!
Hello Mike I'm so happy that you have shared to us some of your beer recipes. One of these days I will try to make one of your recipes.
ReplyDeleteGetting really close on the lease and location announcement. Hopefully a week or two!
ReplyDeleteHello Mike,
ReplyDeletedo you always throw your minerals to the mash or do you split them between mash and sparge water? Thanks alot!
I do a small sparge (10-15% of my total water) so it is easier to simply add the minerals all to the mash.
ReplyDeleteVery curious if you track the permanence of the haze in your NEIPA's and what is actually creating them..? SO4 is known for its high flocc traits, but with dry hopping during ferment, everything changes it seems. Does the bio-transformation create a new non-yeast based haze, that persists after yeast settles, and can any yeast strain do it? Maybe the dry hop volume is relevant here. Trillium talks about yeast not being part of the haze, so maybe yeast strain is not that important for haze creation other than to bio-transform... and dry hop quantity & grain bill are key. Assuming you figure it all out, what happens if a brewery wants to distribute their NEIPA? Is there a way to create a longer lasting haze in the can.... what a challenge!
ReplyDeleteI view the haze as a byproduct of the process, not a goal in and of itself. I don't think there should be a large amount of suspended yeast, although judging from the sludge in cans from other breweries not everyone feels the same. Chloride reduces flocculation, which partly explains the issue. The haze is usually a combination of malt-hop compounds. It may be that by passing the saturation point hop compounds become visible. I don't think the strain is especially relevant to the appearance, but it is to the flavor.
ReplyDeleteHaze shouldn't be a goal I agree... but try releasing a crystal clear NEIPA ;) One other thing I have noticed, that is particular to NEIPA brewing, is that the yeast seems to over-attenuate (compared to its 'usual' behaviour) and keeps on ticking for a good week or more - the same way a saison strain will take forever to finish. Totally different from the yeast's behaviour when not subjected to dry hopping during ferment. Have noticed across 4 or more different English strains. Must be something to do with hop interaction that perhaps keeps it suspended, or does something on a molecular level that is beyond me.... wonder if others have noticed this.
ReplyDeleteSure, but with enough hops and protein clear beer is a rarity (although it has happened to me once or twice). I'd rather a juicy, soft, and clear IPA to a West Coast IPA that is hazed with an addition of flour to the boil!
ReplyDeleteThat actually isn't an issue unique to NEIPAs, there was a presentation and discussion about the phenomenon at CBC earlier this year and Vinnie from Russian River and a few others chimed in to confirm that they see it happen too.
I may be playing the blonde card here, but what is Quad flushed? Looks like a fantastic brew.
ReplyDeleteIs the the kettle covered or uncovered for the whirlpool?
ReplyDeleteQuad flushed is just flushed with CO2 four times.
ReplyDeleteUncovered for the whirlpool. Shouldn't be an issue to cover it after an adequate boil because there isn't much SMM remaining to be converted to DMS.
have you ever tried Bissell Brothers Substance? It’s pretty much all cheap hops and an amazing NEIPA. No idea how they do it.
ReplyDeleteI have tried that (and a few others). Word on the street is American Ale II...
ReplyDeleteHmm... You know, I have a batch on now with Chinook in it and it also has a chalky finish.
ReplyDelete