Sharp as a Marble - Honestly Officer, I thought it was oregano..

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Honestly Officer, I thought it was oregano..

Brewsky

So, I’m getting prepped to make my Ithurtzwhen IPA – Ridiculously Hopped Imperial India Pale Ale tomorrow. This is my most ambitious brew yet – if I hit my marks it could be between 11 and 13% ABV (your standard Bud is about 5.5%)

Most 5 gallon brews use around 1 to 1.5 oz. of hops. This sucker uses 8.5!! So here I was this evening, sorting through 12 ounces of leafy green hops, measuring them out on a small digital scale and putting them into little plastic baggies so all I have to do tomorrow is open and dump. I realized that had a DEA agent busted in my house at that moment, I’d probably be in prison right about now.

You have to admit, they do look awfully like something else, don’t they?

posted @ 4/13/2006 9:46:00 PM

Comments

hotcuppatea says:

on 4/14/2006 1:28:00 AM

SaaM,
Why does the "standard Bud" only have about 5.5%? Do they stop the fermentation process, or is there not enough starch and sugar for the little yeasties to turn into ethanol? Does adding more hops give the yeast more raw material to turn into ethanol?
HCT

Robb Allen says:

on 4/14/2006 8:35:00 AM

HCT,

The wort (the term for unfermented beer) contains X amount of sugar for the yeast to eat. Once that is expended the yeast go dormant and fermentation stops. Any normal beer is between 4-6% ABV, I just chose Bud as a reference.

Hops have no sugars for the yeast to eat. They are used as a bittering agent, a preservative, and for aroma and flavor. Most commercial beers do not have a strong hop flavor because they don't want to offend sensitive palettes. However, when having such a high ABV brew, you need the hops to help balance the flavor out.

The reason my brew will be so much more potent is because I am giving the yeast a lot more to eat by using a lot more grain (i.e. more sugars)

Keith says:

on 4/14/2006 9:39:00 AM

They actually look like moldy cornflakes.

Comments have been closed on this topic.