C3PA

December 12, 2006 brought my first recipe, an off-balance IPA/APA. I came up with the name C3PA due to the 3 hop varieties used (Chinook, Centennial, and Cascade). The PA is for the general pale ale distinction. The combination of everything, obviously an homage to the gay droid form the Star Wars series.

Inspired by Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale, the hop bill was adapted to a 14 gallon batch from a 5 gallon clone recipe I found online. IBU's were calculated at around 75. The grain bill was that of Brewmaster's Airman IPA, which also fit into the requirements of an IPA grain bill according to "Designing Great Beers".

The recipe is as follows:

1.7 Gallons Light Malt Extract
15oz Munich Malt Whole Grain
13.8oz Wheat Whole Grain
14.5oz Crystal Malt Whole Grain
89oz Pale Malt Whole Grain

The whole grains were crushed and then steeped at 150 degrees for ~50 minutes.
The Light Malt Extract was added and a 10 minute boil was required for protein break.

2.8oz Chinook hops were added.
30 minutes later, 0.7oz Chinook hops were added.
30 minutes later, 2.8oz Cascade and 0.2oz Centennial hops were added and the heat was shut off to the kettle.

The wort was cooled to below 80 degrees and transferred to the fermentation vessel, which was vigorously shaken to aerate. 1 package Wyeast Labs Rogue Pacman yeast was pitched.

Nearly a month later, the fermented beer was dry hopped with 5oz Cascade and 0.5oz Centennial hops. It was kegged/bottled 2 days later on 1/12/07.

I was very much delighted with the results. An off-balanced bitter/hoppy pale, light in color and body. Hop flavor was obviously dominant providing both citrus and pear flavors. Mouth feel was slightly acidic and harsh. This was a great drinker and in my mind, damn near perfect.