Experimental IPA, Need a little help

I originally wanted to create a Belgian IPA that was a very approachable.  A “Gateway IPA”. My original Mosaic, Citra combo I think will work better with a tradition IPA yeast instead of trying to make it a Belgian. This is my second attempt at a Belgian IPA. I’m looking to create an IPA with some tropical fruit/berry flavors from my hops and a slight mint taste from Perle. I think with the white wine flavors from Nelson this could be really good. What are your thoughts?

Malt/Grains:
2lbs Pilsner Malt
1lb Cara-Crystal
1lb Munich 2
.5 lb Flaked Oats
6lbs Light DME

Boil:
60 Minutes – .5oz Nelson
20 Minute - .5oz Perle
5 Minute 1 oz Pacific Gem, 1 Motueka
Dry Hop 1 oz Motueka, 1 oz pacific gem , .5oz Nelson

Yeast:
WL550

Anyone?

Looks to be fine. Is that really 0.1 oz. Pacific Gem?

It’s fine but why the cara-crystal?

and +1 to Jeff’s questions RE: .1 ounce PG?

Sorry for the typo I meant 1oz of Pacific Gem.  I’m basing the malt profile on Mikkeller’s Nelson Sauvignon.  I think the additional hops could provide a great balanced flavor.

one thing to keep in mind when converting an all grain to partial mash is that the extract will likely have some crystal malt in it already. just a thought and certainly not something that will compromise the quality of your brew.

+1 to what Mort said.

550 is a very versitle Belgian yeast, so it is a great choice.

Mort would you recommend substituting the crystal with anything else?  Or changing in any other way?

That depends, what were you thinking the crystal would bring? you don’t specify what color level the crystal is. If it’s just carapils I would leave it out and bump your DME or pils malt. If it was a higher color crystal (30-40) I’d just add more munich.

I was thinking at first of using a  Caracrystal Wheat Malt 55L.  However, I was going for more of a sangria quality to this. White wine, tropical fruits and a hint of mint.  So I think a 20 L may be best.  What are your thoughts?

in that case I would skip it altogether and just bump the pils. I get a slight grape like sweetness from pils malt anyway that should help highlight the white wine thing a bit.

Malt/Grains:
3lbs Pilsner Malt
1lb Munich 2
.5 lb Flaked Oats
6lbs Light DME

Boil:
60 Minutes – .5oz Nelson
20 Minute - .5oz Perle
5 Minute 1 oz Pacific Gem, 1 Motueka
Dry Hop 1 oz Motueka, 1 oz pacific gem , .5oz Nelson

Yeast:
WL550

Mort, thank you so much for your help.  Would you recommend any other changes?

I would brew it and see what you think. it will be a lot easier to tweak towards your goal if you can taste while you’re doing it.

Thank you sir.  Hopefully, I’ll be brewing both my Belgian IPA’s this week.  I’ll keep the board updated.

cool! looking forward to hearing how they turn out.

Come back and discuss the results.

Will do!

It was much harder than I thought to find Pacific Gem, but I did find some German Hull Melon hops.  This substitution should provide for some interesting flavors.

2oz - http://www.yakimavalleyhops.com/mobile/Product.aspx?ProductCode=HOPSNZPacificJGem3

8oz - http://www.yakimavalleyhops.com/mobile/Product.aspx?ProductCode=HOPSNZPacificJGem2

1lb - http://www.yakimavalleyhops.com/mobile/Product.aspx?ProductCode=HOPSNZPacificJGem1

Three years and 12+ lbs later, very happy with YVH

Big +1.  YVH has made a lot of $$ from me too. Great hop site.

EDIT -  Not sure how many lbs for me from there, but my wife would agree it’s a substantial number.    :wink: