My first attempt using the Hop Rocket as an infuser, not too happy with the flavors and I’m wondering if they’re normal or if I messed something up.
I brewed a typical IPA with “above normal” IBU. 1.061 O.G. IBU Calculated to 78. 9.75# Pale, .75# C40, .25# light Munich, .50# Corn Sugar for 60 minutes. Hop Schedule was 1.00 oz. Chinook at 60 minutes, 1.00 oz. Centennial and .50 oz. Chinook at 20 minutes, 2.0 oz. Centennial and .50 oz. Chinook at 0 minutes. Dry hopped for 7 days with 2.0 oz. Centennial and .50 oz. Chinook. The F.G. was 1.010 after two weeks using WLP001. I added an ounce each of Leaf Chinook and Centennial to the Hop Rocket and tapped the keg. Water profile was typical of what I’ve used in the past with good results.
The first half glass or so had quite a bit of sputtering and foam so I dumped it. The first full drinkable glass was delicious, nice citrus, bright flavor and aroma. The flavors went downhill from there pretty quick, grassy, vegetal, dank, harsh, and raw. I wasn’t sure if it was just too much Chinook or what so after a few days I replaced the Chinook/Centennial combo in the Rocket with a single oz. of Centennial. Initial flavor was better, still not as bright as I remember the first glass, but better. It does seem that the harshness, grassiness etc. is starting to show up a bit after a couple days. So I hooked up a picnic tap directly to the keg to take the Rocket out of the loop, first glass better but still residual “off flavor” to it.
I’ve not brewed with this hop schedule before and I’m wondering if these flavors can be attributed to the hop combination, or if they are typical due to the use of the Hop Rocket as an infuser, or if I maybe oxidized the beer or something. I did not purge the Hop Rocket with CO2 prior to connecting as the instructions said it’s “not necessary”. Suggestions/Comments?
