US Pale Ale Malt 5.300 kg 70.8 %
UK Light Crystal 0.450 kg 6.0 %
US Rye Malt 0.400 kg 5.3 %
German Munich Malt 0.340 kg 4.5 %
UK Chocolate Malt (500 EBC) 0.300 kg 4.0 %
German Carafa Special II 0.300 kg 4.0 %
US Breiss Midnight Wheat 0.200 kg 2.7 %
UK Dark Crystal 0.200 kg 2.7 %

Single step mash - 65 c

I will likely be hopping up to 70 IBU from Simcoe, Chinook, Centennial, maybe citra but just thought some input would be useful on the grain bill first of all.

all input is appreciated

thanks!

Ditch the chocolate malt and dark crystal. Choose either Carafa or Midnight wheat and stick with it. The best Black IPAs IMHO are roughly 90% base malt (you can place the rye and munich in there if you like), 5% crystal malt, and 5% debittered black malt (i.e. carafa, midnight wheat, etc.) Your grist is too muddled if you ask me. To be honest, I think this is a problem with a lot of Black IPAs. Use Chinook to get your 70IBUs and then hopburst at the end of boil and dry hop with the rest of your hops, including Citra. Hope this helps!

+1 hoser,

I did a black IPA with
90% 2-row
5%`C120
3% Carafa Special II
2% Pale Choclate

I mashed the dark malts - the malt backbone was right for the IBUs but too bitter/roasty for my taste. If I made this again I would steep, not mash, the dark malts and add the liquid to the boil.

I have found it really doesn't matter if you steep or mash the roasted grains. I think a little roast flavor is ok, maybe even appropriate. If you are using Carafa, especially de-husked Carafa III, the roast characteris minimal. Just my $0.02. I know a lot of people prefer to add the dark malts to the mash at sparge, which is acceptable. I am lazy and just add it all at the same time .

I'd drop the Carafa Special II and up the Chocolate to 5%. Sure, it'll be and American Brown but it won't have that roasty character that doesn't go at all well with citrus hops. Just an opinion from of a guy that hasn't found a Black IPA he likes.

Tasty

Great feedback gentlemen,

I ended up choosing the midnight wheat over the carafa special II. Went with the following:


US Pale Ale Malt 5.500 kg 76.9 %
UK Light Crystal 0.450 kg 6.3 %
US Rye Malt 0.400 kg 5.6 %
US Breiss Midnight Wheat 0.350 kg 4.9 %
German Munich Malt 0.350 kg 4.9 %
UK Pale Chocolate Malt 0.100 kg 1.4 %

US Centennial 9.2 % 20 g 22.4 Bagged Pellet Hops First Wort Hopped
US Chinook 14.2 % 20 g 34.6 Bagged Pellet Hops 60 Min From End
US Centennial 9.2 % 20 g 4.9 Bagged Pellet Hops 10 Min From End
US Simcoe 12.2 % 40 g 11.1 Bagged Pellet Hops 5 Min From End
US Cascade 4.5 % 130 g 0.0 Bagged Whole Hops In Fermenter

Yeast - Denny's Favourite

Thanks for the input. Cant wait to try this one!