My recent Tropical Dream IPA was a big hit, so I wanted to try another recipe in a different vein. This time around, I aimed for a combo of Citra+Mosaic+Sabro, to get a very citrusy, berry-forward blend of hop qualities. I tilted the malt towards the base malt end, with just a touch of crystal 40 to add a some depth and body.

I built this up as a bigger IPA, aiming for around 6.5 to 7.0% abv. It’s almost into double IPA territory (but not quite). It is a deceptively drinkable beer!

Sabrasaic IPA

• 7.5 lb. 2-row pale malt (Rahr)
• 6 lb. 7 oz. Golden Promise Malt (Simpsons)
• 8 oz. caramel 40L (Briess)
• 1 oz. Sabro hop pellets (14.2% alpha), 60 minute boil
• 1 tsp. BruTanB, 10 minute boil
• 1 Whirlfloc tablet, 5 minute boil
• 1 oz. Citra hop pellets (13.4% alpha), 15 minute whirlpool
• 1 oz. Mosaic hop pellets (12.2% alpha), 15 minute whirlpool
• 2 pkg. BRY-97 ale yeast (Lallemand)
• 1 oz. Citra hop pellets (13.4% alpha), dry hop in keg
• 1 oz. Mosaic hop pellets (12.2% alpha), dry hop in keg
• 1 oz. Sabro hop pellets (14.2% alpha), dry hop in keg

Target Parameters

• 1.065 o.g., 1.012 f.g., 7.1% abv, 64 IBU, 7 SRM
• Full volume mash at 149° for 60 minutes and 10 minute mash-out at 168°
• Claremont tap water with Campden tablet, adjusted with salts to hit 137 ppm Ca, 28 ppm Mg, 84 ppm Na, 156 ppm SO4, 120 ppm Cl.

Procedure

• I mashed in with 6.25 gallons of water at 157°, to hit a mash temperature of 149°. I adjusted the pH with 88% lactic acid, and then held the mash (with recirculation) at 149° for 60 minutes. Then, I raised the mash temperature to 168° for 10 minutes, and finally pulled the grains.
• My mash efficiency was pretty awful — a gravity of 1.048 with 6.1 gallons, for only 56%! I have no idea why; I suspect I might have had the “buttons” on the removable bottom for the mash basket upside-down, impeding flow during recirculation. But that’s just a guess. In any case, I added a pound of extra light DME to bring up the gravity.
• I brought the wort to a boil, adding 2 g of gypsum and 6 g of epsom salts to hit my water target parameters. I added hops and finings per the recipe.
• After a 60 minute boil, I turned off the heat and cooled slightly before the 15 minute whirlpool. Then, I chilled the wort the rest of the way.
• I brewed this beer on 4 February 2023, and cooled it overnight after the transfer. I pitched the yeast on 5 February 2023, using three packs because they were on the expired side. I maintained the fermenter at 66°.
• Fermentation was very vigorous, coming out the top of the fermenter!
• I kegged the beer on 25 February 2023, adding the dry hops to the keg at that point. Final gravity was 1.010, for 6.8% abv.

Tasting

• Appearance
  • Very clear, gold beer, with persistent white head. It pours beautifully! The head creates gorgeous lacing as it settles in the glass.
• Aroma
  • Very delicious hop aroma! Tangerine, honeydew melon, and mango are all prominent, and incredibly delicious. Clean fermentation profile, and not much for malt character. This is all hops!
• Flavor
  • Just like with the aroma, hops are at the forefront. It starts with some prominent mandarin orange / tangerine, and then I get cantaloupe and a bit of blueberry. The bitterness is assertive yet smooth, and is right where it should be for an American West Coast IPA.
• Mouthfeel
  • Medium-light body, moderate carbonation; smooth and very slightly dry finish.
• Would I Brew This Again?
  • It took a little bit of time in the keg, but this has turned into one of the best American IPAs I have ever brewed. The hop combination is killer! I’ve been on a good roll lately with my IPA hop combos, especially in the tropical/fruity world. Interestingly, the Sabro hops swamped out the Citra and Mosaic, and after a few weeks, things have fallen into happy (or is that hoppy?) balance.
• Overall
  • 10/10