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Oakenbranch IPA


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Batch Size (gallons)6
Efficiency74%
Recipe typeAll Grain
Style14A. English IPA
Original Gravity1.075
Final Gravity1.017
ABV7.61% (basic)   /   7.65% (advanced)       [what's this?]
IBU38.6
Color13.3 SRM
Boil Time60 min

YeastWhite Labs WLP022 (Essex Ale Yeast)

Fermentables
NameAmtPctSRM
Pale Malt, Maris Otter13 lbs78.8%3
Munich Malt1 lb6.1%9
Rye Malt 12 oz4.5%4.7
Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L 12 oz4.5%60
Caramel/Crystal Malt - 90L 12 oz4.5%90
Barley, Flaked 4 oz1.5%1.7

Hops
NameAmtTimeAlphaIBU
Challenger (First Wort)1.5 oz607.5%21.3
Challenger (Boil).6 oz157.5%3.8
Fuggles (Boil).54 oz154.5%3.4
Goldings, East Kent (Boil).54 oz155%3.6
Goldings, East Kent (Steep/whirlpool).54 oz205%2.2
Fuggles (Steep/whirlpool).54 oz204.5%2.1
Challenger (Steep/whirlpool).54 oz207.5%2.1
Goldings, East Kent (Dry Hop)1 oz55%0
Fuggles (Dry Hop)1 oz54.5%0
Challenger (Dry Hop)1 oz57.5%0
Challenger (Dry Hop).3 oz37.5%0
Fuggles (Dry Hop).8 oz34.5%0
Goldings, East Kent (Dry Hop).8 oz35%0

DirectionsMash @ 150 degrees for 60 minutes.  Note that this recipe calls for hops in first wort, at the end of the boil, at flameout, and for dry hopping.

Fermentation
notes
Ferment @ 66 degrees F.   Leave in primary until time to bottle (for me, I did a three week primary).  One round of dry hops @ 5 days until bottling, then another round @ 3 days until bottling.  Cold crash and bottle.

Tasting
notes
To be quite honest, this beer was everything I was hoping for.  Beer is malty with a spicy character, and has enough bitterness to balance, with some subtle caramel notes.  Big hop flavor is evident, but plays well with the malt.

This beer technically has too much hop aroma to truly fit into the English IPA style, but to me, this is simply the beauty of homebrewing - if I want to push the limits, there is no reason to not do so!  Nose is spicy hops with reserved malt sweetness.

CreditsThis beer is my own creation, though I do need to thank Greg Ellis (and his Citra DIPA) for finally opening my eyes as to how an IPA could give strong hop flavor and aroma without me having to fear for the melting of my tooth enamel due to the insane bitterness that seems so prevalent among brewers. 

I decided that a beer featuring spicy hops would be really nice.  Some input from /r/homebrewing got me onto the idea of using the rye malt, and helped me pick specific hop varieties. 

I had planned to use less crystal malt, but Austin Homebrew shipped in four ounce increments, and I hated to throw anything away... so I ended up just using it.

As for the name - I was having a really tough time coming up with a fantasy themed name for an IPA. On brew day, my three younger boys were helping me as they always do. They had just added the first wort hops, and my hands were full, when the three year old picked up a stick.

I called out for him to stop, but it was too late - a split second later, my wort had a nice, lichen covered six inch stick floating in it.

I fished it out and carried on - after all, the stick was added preboil - but from this, the name "Oakenbranch IPA" was born. Not only does it fit nicely, but the implied nod to Tolkien's Thorin Oakenshield is too good to pass up.




Recipe Reviews

Type: Drank this Beer

Love the label. Tolkien would be proud.

Poured into a pint glass with an inch of white foam. The foam fades to a quarter inch over a few minutes.

Dark for an IPA. Looks more like a Brown Ale.

The nose is interesting. Sweet, caramel notes with a hint of cinnamon. Most different and enticing.

On the palate, malty with spicy character and hint of licorice on the finish.

This is nothing like anything I've tasted. You might want to reconsider putting the recipe on your blog. This is something a commercial brewery would be smart to pick up and brew. Nobody does something like this, but, they should.

Way to think outside the box! Well done, sir!


posted by vinpaysdoc on 9/3/2014


This all grain English IPA homebrew recipe was submitted by homebrewdad.