tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946271139323316000.post8938292448952786437..comments2013-11-09T12:33:41.471-08:00Comments on Kettle & Cellar: Barf's Imperial Red RyeRileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03920572488728151989noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946271139323316000.post-6181195030292939072013-06-06T09:16:22.031-07:002013-06-06T09:16:22.031-07:00Honestly I think it is pretty spot on.... like I s...Honestly I think it is pretty spot on.... like I said it is my favorite of yours yet, which is funny because I usually shy away from huge beers (the relatively low FG is probably a big contributor to my affinity for this one over typical "imperial" hoppy beers). I like the FG right where it is, an if anything I might drop the OG a few points just to keep the ABV closer to 10%-- I say this because while super high gravities can make for some really neat complexities in a BW, RIS, or Quad I feel like the ageing that helps develop these are (obviously) counter productive in a hoppy beer. All I need from a big Hop forward beer is the added "punch" so to say, which I feel comes pretty automatically any where over 1.085OG. <br /><br />The Color is AMAZING... and I couldn't really detect any of the chocolate wheat under all the hops/ booze/ rye, so no need to swap it out IMO.<br /><br />I do think mellowing the bitterness is a good idea. With all the booze and hop oils from late additions (not to mention that elusive pseudo-bitterness that Rye always brings to the party) I don't think it is in danger of coming across as cloyingly sweet (another argument for keeping the FG where it is, even if you do back off the IBUs a bit. <br /><br />Also, kina nit-picky, but I think some Centennials would do wonders for accentuating the "juiciness" and berry notes. Not my favorite hop, but it blends beautifully. Maybe switch it out for the Galaxy? Rileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03920572488728151989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4946271139323316000.post-81495014350099659472013-06-05T18:47:44.426-07:002013-06-05T18:47:44.426-07:00Glad I could pop your "classic cat pee" ...Glad I could pop your "classic cat pee" cherry. Come to think of it, I've been less than impressed with the Simcoe qualities in the hoppy beers I've brewed with 2012 Simcoe harvest hops... interesting observation. The over ripe tropical fruit is total mosaic, as it wasn't overly apparent until the mosaic keg hop. <br /><br />Anything you'd really change in version 2 of this? My thoughts were to up the FG just a couple points (Mash higher, up english crystal 1%) to cut down the astringency and add in a little chocolate rye to get the color, in place of the midnight wheat I used for this one and to use some isomerized extract (no mash hop) to cut down on the raw bitterness in the beer.barfdiggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09856658350356285434noreply@blogger.com