11 replies to this topic

[Big Nake]

This is a classic and possibly overdone combination for a pale ale.  My wife and I were at a craft beer festival earlier this spring/summer and had a nice pale ale that we kept going back for.  I knew the brewer and asked him about the hops and he confirmed, Amarillo & Citra.  My wife said, "I could drink a lot of this".  Okay, so I set out to make this beer and I just took a sample from the keg with a cobra tap about 5 minutes ago.  Just like the beer at the fest only fresher and my own creation.  A nice APA for sure.

 

Amarillo & Citra APA

 

8 lbs Rahr Pale Ale malt

1 lb Munich 10L

6 ounces Crystal 60L

1 oz Mt. Hood pellets 5.9% for 60

1 oz Amarillo 8.2% for 5

1 oz Citra 13.2% for 5

1 oz Amarillo 8.2% for 2

1 oz Citra 13.2% for 2

Wyeast 1056 American Ale

 

OG: 1.052, FG: 1.013, IBU: 51, SRM: 7, ABV: 5.0%

 

I mashed for 60 mins at 151°.  The sample was outstanding.  Clean, crisp and everything I was hoping it would be.  Does my wife like hoppier beer than I do?  I guess so.  She actually goes all over the beer map but she seems to enjoy the grapefruity character of the Amarillo.  Really nice beer and I'll snap a shot of it when I can.  Cheers.

 

Ps. I could swear I posted this recipe but I couldn't find it.  If someone else sees it, LMK. 

Edited by KenLenard, 22 August 2013 - 03:31 PM.

[ncbeerbrewer]

Looks and sounds awesome Ken!! I brewed an APA a few years ago when Citra was new and just catching on.  Here is a look at my grain and hop bill.  Amarillos and Citras play so well together!  Great combination.  Enjoy!!

 

 

 

8 lb Row) US 2 Row(2.0 SRM) Grain 1 76.2 %

2 lbs Munich Malt (9.0 SRM) Grain 2 19.0 %

8.0 oz Amber Malt (22.0 SRM) Grain 3 4.8 %

0.50 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 4 21.6 IBUs

0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 5 4.8 IBUs

0.50 oz Citra [11.10 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 6 6.2 IBUs

0.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 7 2.6 IBUs

0.50 oz Citra [11.10 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 8 3.4 IBUs

1.00 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] - Boil 0.0 min Hop 9 0.0 IBUs

1.00 oz Citra [11.10 %] - Boil 0.0 min Hop 10 0.0 IBUs

1.0 pkg Pacman Yeast (Wyeast Laboratories #1764) [50.00 ml] Yeast 11 -

Beer Profile

Est Original Gravity: 1.055 SG Measured Original Gravity: 1.054 SG Est Final Gravity: 1.013 SG Measured Final Gravity: 1.012 SG Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 5.4 % Actual Alcohol by Vol: 5.5 % Bitterness: 38.7 IBUs Calories: 179.9 kcal/12oz

Edited by ncbeerbrewer, 22 August 2013 - 05:56 PM.

[al_bob]

Yeah, that sounds like a definite winning combo. Congrats.

[HVB]

I love Citra and Amarillo together. I would like to know if you think the Mt Hood brings anything to the final beer or if you just use it because you are a big Mt Hood fan?  If I was to do that recipe I would use Magnum at 60 just to get the bittering to where I want it.  Nothing wrong with how you did it just curious that is all.

[Big Nake]

I used the Mt. Hood for bittering because it's clean and I know it would do its job without getting in the way of the Amarillo & Citra.  It would be like using Magnum except I didn't have any Magnum.  My other choice was Northern Brewer since I have a bunch of it and its characteristics are similar.  I told my wife this keg was in the spare fridge last night and my guess is that it will be moved to the taps for some weekend drinking. 

[MtnBrewer]

This is a classic and possibly overdone

Heresy

[HVB]

I used the Mt. Hood for bittering because it's clean and I know it would do its job without getting in the way of the Amarillo & Citra.  It would be like using Magnum except I didn't have any Magnum.  My other choice was Northern Brewer since I have a bunch of it and its characteristics are similar.  I told my wife this keg was in the spare fridge last night and my guess is that it will be moved to the taps for some weekend drinking. 

 

Sounds good to me!

[BlKtRe]

Not a huge fan of Amarillo and Citra by themselves in the boil. Both need blended to bring out their best. Blended for flavor Id personally pass but late/hopback/dry I can get on board with. 

[Big Nake]

Not a huge fan of Amarillo and Citra by themselves in the boil. Both need blended to bring out their best. Blended for flavor Id personally pass but late/hopback/dry I can get on board with. 

I tried a Citra-only and while it was not without its charm, it wasn't one of my favorites.  I think I might like all-Amarillo or clean hop for bittering and then a bunch of late Amarillo but Citra-only and Galaxy-only left me a little unsatisfied.

[Big Nake]

This beer came out fantastic.  The Mt. Hoods were lost in the weeds with all of that Amarillo and Citra added in the last 5 minutes.  The beer is very smooth and doesn't seem to have a lot of bitterness but the Amarillo & Citra are outrageously good with all of that late flavor and aroma.  Here's a [not very good] shot...

 

[neddles]

Curiosity is killing me Ken. You made no mention. And since this is the hoppiest beer I have heard of you brewing, I have to know...What did you do with your Cl/SO4 ratio for this beer?

[Big Nake]

Curiosity is killing me Ken. You made no mention. And since this is the hoppiest beer I have heard of you brewing, I have to know...What did you do with your Cl/SO4 ratio for this beer?

I cut the water 25% with distilled and then added 1g of gypsum and 2g of CaCl.  My source water has a bit more SO4 than Cl so the balance was close but probably favored chloride slightly.  Honestly... I think I inadvertently made Moon Man.  I know MM is supposed to have 5 different hops including a NZ hop but this is close enough to Moon Man for me.  Cheers.