Fuggles and Kent Goldings

[Wilson]

I am about to brew my first "self-styled" beer. I have 7lbs of pale extract, White Labs British ale yeast, 2oz each of Kent Goldings (8.4%AA) and Fuggles (5.0%AA), and 0.5oz of Hallertau (5.0%AA). I am just trying to go for a smooth session beer. I am thinking I will put in all the Fuggles @ 60 minutes, and the Kent Goldings at various times after that, probably 30 and 10 minutes. Seeing as how I dont know much about the flavor profiles of these hops, I was wondering what peoples thoughts were on this? Should I go with the Kent Goldings first? Should I even add the Hallertau? This will also be my inaugural run with the Tap-a-draft, cant wait!

[Wilson]

Forgot, I also have 2lbs of crystal 20L for specialty grains.

[Stodbrew]

Wow, I've never seen Goldings that high in alpha acids. For the fuggles, at boil, you won't really get any flavor at all. Personally, I love golding hops. Check out www.hopunion.com for profiles of pretty much any hop you want. I would add the Hallertau, just to give the beer a little more complexity.

[Beerconnoisseur]

If you want a session beer, you will want to cut back the crystal malt, probably to about a pound, and if you are using pellet hops, definitely cut the total back to no more than 2 oz. Use one addition East Kent Goldings (for bittering) at 60 minutes, and the second (East Kent Goldings or Fuggles for aroma) at 1 minute.

Using Promash, I calculate that with the previous recipe, you will have a beer of about 100 IBUs... For reference, Promash lists India Pale Ales at 60 IBU, maximum. You probably want no more than 40 IBU for a English Bitter, so if you want to emphasize the malt, you could even add your bittering hops at 50-55 minutes, instead of 60.

Hope this helps. :)

[Wilson]

100IBU's. wow. I had no idea, I was just modifiying a recipe I had seen in a book. Thanks for the help.

[Wilson]

Stodbrew - you were right. I called the homebrew store I got it from, and they said they mis-labled it. The K. Goldings was supposed to be 5.6%AA. So anyway, I added 2oz @ 60 min, then the Fuggles @ later additions for mo' flava! Thanks.

[Beerconnoisseur]

Here's an update, from what I read in a recent issue of All About Beer (Vol24, No. 6):

The maximum IBU level in a beer is somewhat dependent on [sic] composition of the beer. A higher alcohol, higher gravity beer can have more IBUs than a beer at five percent alcohol. A five percent beer will max out at...about 80 IBUs.

Just so you know... ;)

[Wilson]

Thanks! I've made a folder on my comp. to place little tips like this in. Its already quite full of website addresses and the like. Hopefully I wont have to make a "I screwed up, so this is what not to do" folder! ;)

[Stumptown]

Originally posted by Beerconnoisseur

Using Promash, I calculate that with the previous recipe, you will have a beer of about 100 IBUs... For reference, Promash lists India Pale Ales at 60 IBU, maximum. You probably want no more than 40 IBU for a English Bitter, so if you want to emphasize the malt, you could even add your bittering hops at 50-55 minutes, instead of 60.


But doesn't the famous Sister Star of the Sun have like 156 IBU's? 100 is nothing! :D

[Beerconnoisseur]

156 IBUs for a 'smooth session beer'? I suppose if you really hate your esophagus, it would be OK. ;)