It’s been more than a few months since our last batch – between travel to see family, travel for skiing, and travel for fun, there hasn’t been any time! So we’re easing back into it with a simple IPA.

Brewer’s Notes

This is another pretty basic clone recipe from the Szamatulski book Clone Beers. Since it’s been a while, I wanted something simple and this recipe, cloned from an old Catamount Brewery (VT) beer, fit the bill. The brew day went smoothly, and we held the mash +/- 5 deg. F. The wort had a very light malt flavor, with a nice mid-copper color. Tasting finishes fairly dry, with sharp hopping. Bitterness in the back of the mouth on the finish.

OG: 1.052 @ 76F, target 1.058
FG: 1.016 @ 69F, target 1.016

Fermenting Notes

Primary

Target Temperature range: 70F
Mild temperatures during primary fermentation helped keep it under control. However, we did get into a heat wave, and overcompensated with the chiller, causing fermentation temperatures to drop as low as 65F. This was corrected and we switched to heating mode, which stabilized the chamber.
Average: 69.97F
Standard Deviation: 2.10

post_road_1_primary

Secondary

Target Temperature: 70F

5/6/2014 – 1.016 Added .66oz Cascade for the dry-hop when racking to secondary. Very clean aroma, but contains some green apple. Very light flavor with good body. Some acetaldehyde flavors as well. Light amber color, slightly murky. Taste finished fairly clean, but we expect the flavors to become more full as the beer finishes on dry hop. Color is a bit dark for the goal.
Average: 69.88F
Standard Deviation: 0.10

post_road_1_secondary

5/15/2014 1.016 @ 69F – Racking to keg and carbonating. Color and specific gravity have not changed. Placing on CO2 at 16.5psi for 2.5 vols. Still some green apple flavor, but the dry hopping has added a much needed layer of complexity. Beer is still fairly one-dimensional, but I expect that with carbonation and being chilled, will change the character a bit.

Tasting Notes

6/1/2014 – The green apple has mostly dissipated, but not very happy with the way this one turned out.  Darker than I had wanted, and not as flavorful.  Have left in keg and will be taking to a party at the end of June.

7/21/2014 – We have been pulling off growlers, and I bottled what was left on 7/10.  The beer has done better with age, and if it was to be considered more of an English IPA style, ended up being pretty good.  I would be interested in trying this recipe again, but adding some oak chips in secondary for about 3 days for a bit more depth.

Recipe