Janet's Brown strikes again

[TastyMcD]

I just tried this beer out of the fermenter (after 7 days). It wasn't as bitter as I expected and I even undershot on the gravity (1.063). How much bitterness do mash hops actually contribute? I followed the hop bill to a T. The only thing I can think of is that I used leaf hops for the mash hopping. Not sure how that would matter though. It still tastes great! I'm just reacting to the comments about its bitterness. Also, the finishing gravity was right on (1.015). I can't wait to taste it with the dry hopping.

Those are great OG/FG numbers. My experience with fermenter samples is that the bitterness level has a lot to do with how much bitterness-holding yeast are in suspension. I've used both pellets and whole leaf for the mash hops and never noticed a big difference. This could have more to do with the prevailing "wisdom" that mash hopping adds little to the beer. Those same experts say that first wort hopping does. I mash hop this beer because that's the way I've always made it. If yours isn't as hoppy for some reason, then go with the flow and drink it early. Keep in mind that this is actually a balanced or almost malt forward beer. From what you're saying, I think after carbonation you're going to really like what you have.

Tasty

[brewerTristan]

I just tried this beer out of the fermenter (after 7 days). It wasn't as bitter as I expected and I even undershot on the gravity (1.063). How much bitterness do mash hops actually contribute? I followed the hop bill to a T. The only thing I can think of is that I used leaf hops for the mash hopping. Not sure how that would matter though. It still tastes great! I'm just reacting to the comments about its bitterness. Also, the finishing gravity was right on (1.015). I can't wait to taste it with the dry hopping.

Those are great OG/FG numbers. My experience with fermenter samples is that the bitterness level has a lot to do with how much bitterness-holding yeast are in suspension. I've used both pellets and whole leaf for the mash hops and never noticed a big difference. This could have more to do with the prevailing "wisdom" that mash hopping adds little to the beer. Those same experts say that first wort hopping does. I mash hop this beer because that's the way I've always made it. If yours isn't as hoppy for some reason, then go with the flow and drink it early. Keep in mind that this is actually a balanced or almost malt forward beer. From what you're saying, I think after carbonation you're going to really like what you have.

Tasty

Good news on the numbers. If you are right about fermenter samples, then I should expect the beer to be less bitter once kegged, no?, since less yeast will be in suspension. The beer is plenty hoppy, just not super bitter, which I actually like. I'm just trying to figure out how "close" mine is to the real deal. Maybe the bitterness (if any) contributed from mash hopping is ''smoother''. Who knows. You make a good point about carbonation. I'm sure that'll add some perceived bitterness bite.

[chelero]

I'm am getting set to brew this, and I have an IBU question:

I have scaled this down to a 5 gal batch with a 6 gal boil. Beersmith gives me 76 IBU (Rager), but the recipe in the book says 63. Is this going to be overkill, should I reduce the hop additions even more? here's my scaled recipe:

Janet's Brown Ale
American Brown Ale


Type: Extract
Date: 31/05/2010
Batch Size: 5.00 gal
Boil Size: 6.00 gal
Boil Time: 60 min Equipment: Brew Pot (6+gal) and Igloo/Gott Cooler (5 Gal)
Taste Rating(out of 50): 35.0 Brewhouse Efficiency: -
Taste Notes:

Ingredients

Amount Item Type % or IBU
2.64 kg Light Dry Extract (8.0 SRM) Dry Extract 63.81 %
0.38 kg Wheat Liquid Extract (8.0 SRM) Extract 9.06 %
0.47 kg Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 11.28 %
0.47 kg Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 11.28 %
0.19 kg Chocolate Malt (350.0 SRM) Grain 4.57 %
1.65 oz Northern Brewer [8.50 %] (60 min) Hops 62.2 IBU
2.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] (Dry Hop 7 days) Hops -
0.83 oz Northern Brewer [8.50 %] (15 min) Hops 8.3 IBU
1.24 oz Cascade [5.50 %] (10 min) Hops 6.1 IBU
1.25 oz Cascade [5.50 %] (0 min) Hops -
1 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs SafBrew Ale (DCL Yeast #S-33) Yeast-Ale



Beer Profile

Est Original Gravity: 1.059 SG
Measured Original Gravity: 1.010 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.015 SG Measured Final Gravity: 1.005 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 5.73 % Actual Alcohol by Vol: 0.65 %
Bitterness: 76.6 IBU Calories: 43 cal/pint
Est Color: 21.4 SRM Color:

Thank for yall's help. I love the recipes from this book, btw, I've brewed about 8 of them so far, and they've been awesome!

[huskey-no.2]

This could have more to do with the prevailing "wisdom" that mash hopping adds little to the beer. Those same experts say that first wort hopping does. I mash hop this beer because that's the way I've always made it.

I've always wondered how the mash hop flavour stays. Shouldn't boiling do in all of the flavour, or are the mash hops soley for the bittering?

[TastyMcD]

I'm am getting set to brew this, and I have an IBU question:

I have scaled this down to a 5 gal batch with a 6 gal boil. Beersmith gives me 76 IBU (Rager), but the recipe in the book says 63. Is this going to be overkill, should I reduce the hop additions even more? here's my scaled recipe:

Janet's Brown Ale
American Brown Ale


Type: Extract
Date: 31/05/2010
Batch Size: 5.00 gal
Boil Size: 6.00 gal
Boil Time: 60 min Equipment: Brew Pot (6+gal) and Igloo/Gott Cooler (5 Gal)
Taste Rating(out of 50): 35.0 Brewhouse Efficiency: -
Taste Notes:

Ingredients

Amount Item Type % or IBU
2.64 kg Light Dry Extract (8.0 SRM) Dry Extract 63.81 %
0.38 kg Wheat Liquid Extract (8.0 SRM) Extract 9.06 %
0.47 kg Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 11.28 %
0.47 kg Caramel/Crystal Malt - 40L (40.0 SRM) Grain 11.28 %
0.19 kg Chocolate Malt (350.0 SRM) Grain 4.57 %
1.65 oz Northern Brewer [8.50 %] (60 min) Hops 62.2 IBU
2.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] (Dry Hop 7 days) Hops -
0.83 oz Northern Brewer [8.50 %] (15 min) Hops 8.3 IBU
1.24 oz Cascade [5.50 %] (10 min) Hops 6.1 IBU
1.25 oz Cascade [5.50 %] (0 min) Hops -
1 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs SafBrew Ale (DCL Yeast #S-33) Yeast-Ale



Beer Profile

Est Original Gravity: 1.059 SG
Measured Original Gravity: 1.010 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.015 SG Measured Final Gravity: 1.005 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 5.73 % Actual Alcohol by Vol: 0.65 %
Bitterness: 76.6 IBU Calories: 43 cal/pint
Est Color: 21.4 SRM Color:

Thank for yall's help. I love the recipes from this book, btw, I've brewed about 8 of them so far, and they've been awesome!

I love what you've done with the recipe. I expect you're not going to get the higher finishing gravity since you're extract. If you're going with a 1.059 SG, I'd back the IBUs down to more like 50-55. Maybe 1 ounce of Northern Brewer at 60 minutes.

Tasty

[chelero]

Sweetness! I will do just that. Thanks, Tasty!

[dstar26t]

I've mash hopped many times, inlcuding Tasty's JBA, APA and many other IPAs. When taking pH measurements, I taste the sample and can definitely taste the mash hops so they are contributing something.

Nate

[chelero]

as I was starting the brew, I realized the AA% on the hops are different than the recipe (cascade was 6.1% and the northern brewer is 10.3%!) So, I backed the 15 min northern brewer addition down to .25 oz. that put my IBUs, according to beersmith, at about 56. Hopefully it will still be awesome. I had already started the boil and had already added the 1 oz of northern brewer. looking at beersmith it looked like that 15min addition had the most influence on the IBUs, whereas those last two are more for aroma. I'm sure it will be great, and I'll be a little more prepared next time I brew it!