HCCD as a base for an IPA

[Wings_Fan_In_KC]

I've got an HCCD that's expiring in Nov and I want to use it this weekend to brew up an IPA.

I have not run anything thru QBrew yet but I figure I'll add some CaraPils and Golden DME to add body and head retention.

For bittering hops, I'm thinking Cluster or N Brewer.

For aroma and flavor hops, I'm thinking Chinook/Cascade or both.

Sound like I'm pointed in the right direction?

Hat, Mashani, Swen and you other Uber Brewers who still dabble in extracts.....let me hear from ya!

Thanks!

[mashani]

It sounds like a good plan. HCCD was probably the best old Mr. Beer base to build just about anything light colored from. I'd consider the current Canadian to be that base in the new lineup too.

Only thing I might do is do it pretty much all as a hop burst, all my hops in the 30 minute boil window in the dme. Probably I'd use extra light DME and steep some crystal of my own choice instead of going with Golden, *IF* I was going to steep carapils anyways. If I was trying to shave off time and not steep at all I might use the Golden.

[Crazy Climber]

Sounds like a good plan. I've used Mr. Beer NWPA as an IPA base with much success, and the old WCPA, too. I've used HCCD as a base for some other brews, and as Mashani mentioned, it's a versatile base to work with.

The one change I'd suggest is to swap Chinook into the bittering charge and Cluster into the flavor charge. But that's entirely brewer's choice, as there's no right/wrong answer on that. I'm just thinking that Chinook would be a more effective hop for bitterness than Cluster.

Whatever you do, I am sure it will work out well. Get brewing!!

[Wings_Fan_In_KC]

I've used Chinook as a bittering hop.........but decided just now that I want to try it as a dry hop. I searched the interwebs and found that some people really like Chinook as a dry hop.

Ima gonna use Cluster as bittering hops and then use Centennial as flavor & aroma hops (maybe try a hop burst like Mashani suggested as I haven't done tha yet!!) with Chinook as dry hops.

It will be a good one to report back on once done. I've read that you get nice piney characteristics from beers dry hopped with Chinooks.

[Wings_Fan_In_KC]

Bottled this HCCD mod today that's going to be a mild IPA. Bottling sample was good. SWMBO liked it and really, in this hobby, that counts for a lot. I love almost all the beers I make but if SWMBO likes them....BONUS!

I used Cluster to bitter and then did Centennial at 22, 15 and 10 in the hop spider.

Dry hopped with .70 oz of Chinook 24 hours before bottling as a nod to The Hat.

I'll pop one at 3 weeks and give it a go.

[Wings_Fan_In_KC]

I cheated and tasted one of my pints of this HCCD Mod Sunday and it's got a nice bite to it with a lingering aftertaste.

In another week or two it will be great.

[BeerRust]

You are the hop man!

What would you suggest as a good starter recipe for an IPA? I do extract and steep grains.

[Wings_Fan_In_KC]

Honestly, I've not done any true IPA's other than taking the Diablo and hopping the heck out of it with late hops and dry hopping. The one I described below would be be called a pale ale rather than a true IPA.

You can't go wrong with C Hops or Amarillo in an IPA. Maybe one of the Uber Brewers can chime in here and give you some guidance.