Wet Hopping an ESB.

Posted on by Alex Schwartz

This was not a good year for my hops. They started out strong, but there were a few dry stretches, and I didn’t trim them nearly as well as I should have so I’m not ending up with many hops on the bines. The Cascade did really well, but both the Nugget and Centennial sort of crapped out on me. However it looks like I should have more than enough hops to stuff in to a Hop Rocket to try and do some nice wet hopping via that.

Since I’m on a bit of a session kick I decided to do something a little different, a little experimental. I’m going to wet hop an ESB recipe that I use. Yes, American Cascade hops in an English ESB! Shock and horror, I know! But really that’s what homebrewing (and for that matter, craft beer in America) is all about. Doing something a little bit odd and a little bit unexpected. The recipe I’m going to use is pretty straight forward, and I think the aroma of fresh Cascade hops will place nicely with the biscuity malts, slight caramel, and a bit of esters from the English yeast.

Without further adieu, here is the recipe:

Recipe Specifications
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Boil Size: 7.77 gal
Post Boil Volume: 7.02 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 6.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 5.50 gal
Estimated OG: 1.052 SG
Estimated Color: 10.9 SRM
Estimated IBU: 38.6 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 70.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 78.7 %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
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Amt Name Type # %/IBU
11 lbs Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) Grain 1 93.6 %
12.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt -120L (120.0 SRM) Grain 2 6.4 %
1.75 oz First Gold [7.50 %] – Boil 60.0 min Hop 3 38.6 IBUs
3.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] – Hop Rocket 15.0 min Hop 4 0.0 IBUs
1.0 pkg English Ale (White Labs #WLP002) [35.49 Yeast 5 –

The mash is conducted at 152F for 60 minutes. I’ll ferment it for 2 weeks at 67F. Since they are wet hops and you want to get the best of that aroma, package and serve right away.

I’m currently planning on the brewday taking place Wednesday night. I haven’t attempted a later brew in awhile, so I figured I’d give it a try. Between wanting to homebrew more so that I can perfect a few recipes, and brewing at Rogues Harbor on the weekends I need to find the time to squeeze more of the homebrewing in.

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