Wayward Imperial IPA

There have been some pretty bitter IPA's brewed here last year. Since the Columbus IPA, I've been thinking about brewing another IPA like it, just a bit more intense. As the first wort to drain from the main Parti-Gyle mash, it entered the kettle at a pre-boil SG of 1.071. Since the gravity typically rises about 10 points after an hour boil, I was happy to see the OG going to be near what I was hoping for.

If you've ever tried Lagunitas Hop Stoopid, and ended up loving it, then we have something in common. I love that beer! It's gonna take some time to get to that point in my imperialistic pale ale brewing adventures, but I hope this is in the ballpark.

I love the look of a very pale, crystal clear IPA/IIPA. It's a deceiving look. Very pale, yet very intense in flavor! I imagine pilsener malt, very light crystal (10L), with a touch of aromatic malt, make up the grain bill for these brews. But I was already set on using my organic pale ale malt and some medium-light crystals.

As for hops, its got about 88 IBUs of hop bitterness spread throughout a one hour boil. Centennial is doing most of the work here, but I've tossed in a special blend of both Chinook and Columbus for interest and intensity. The "blend" in the formula is 1/3 Centennial, 1/3 Chinook & 1/3 Columbus. I haven't decided yet how much dry hops to use, but I think it'll be around 1.5 ounces of the special blend.

Going into the fermenter, it tasted like fermented beer. Solid bitterness, sweet flavor and a ton of hop flavor and aroma. Within an hour the wort was beginning to bubble, with some heavy hoppiness coming through. I hope it turns out wayward, in the right direction, as it pours into the glass.

Wayward Imperial IPA

Grain Bill...See 1st Parti-Gyle

Hops
.80 oz. Centennial, 9.1%, pellet, 60min
.80 oz. Centennial, 9.1%, pellet, 30min
1.0 oz. Centennial, 9.1%, pellet, 20min
.40 oz. Centennial, 9.1%, pellet, 10min
.60 oz. C - Blend, 11%, pellet, 10min
1.2 oz. C - Blend, 11%, pellet, 5min
1.2 oz. C - Blend, 11%, pellet, KO
1.5+oz. C - Blend, 11%, pellet, Dry

Yeast
Wyeast 1056: American Ale yeast cake

Brew Day Stats

Brewed: May Day 2009
Racked: 5/15/09
Bottle & Keg: 5/22/09

H2O/Grain Ratio: 1.25 qt/lb
Sacch. Rest Temp/Time: 151°F/60min

Pre-Boil Vol: 5.5gal
Pre-Boil SG: 1.071
Boil Time: 60min
Post-Boil Vol: 4.5

OG: 1.081
IBU: 88
Color/SRM: golden/7
Ferment Temp: 68°F

FG: 1.014
ABW: 7%
ABV: 8.8%

Read about the Small Beer part of this big batch here.