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IPA
I'm a fairly new brewer, and I'm looking to make an IPA. Something with quite a bit of hops. Is it better to just dump all the hops in at the beginning of the boil or is it better to space them out and boil for a little bit longer? If anybody has an other tips on making an IPA, I'd appreciate 'em. Thanks
Hi Drood, welcom aboard.
So you're a "hop-head", great. Take a look a the recipator.com site and take a glance at the recipes out there for IPAs. You'll see the traditional 60 min boils, 30 mins, 15 mins and at heat off...all using large amounts of hops (compared to other styles). In IPAs it's not uncommon to add a muslin bag of hops in to your kettle as your wort is coming out of your tun...folks also dry hop in their secondary carboy for added effect, too.
I think with an IPA you can't go wrong, or overboard.... 
I love hops myself!!! they are typically added as above at three to four times in the brewing process. Hops added at the start of the boil are typically for bittering flavors second addition at about 30 min (?bittering and aroma) the last before knock out is typically 5-15min prior to finish of the boil for aroma. The aromatic hop oils when boiling can boil off quickly this is why they added at the end of the boil. Additionally, you can dry hop which is the addition of additional hops prior to secondary fermentation to give extra aroma. In my book the more hops the better.
cheers
Got another question, when going through the forums, people referenced using regular 5 gallon plastic food grade tubs. If I used this as a secondary fermenter, would I need an airlock? I haven't used a secondary fermenter yet and would rather not blow anything up.
I'm not familar with tubs...I suspect you're refering to plastic buckets? If not, I'll have to find out what a tub is...either way, YES, you'll need to have an airlock on a secondary fermenter...or an air tub with a bucket of sanitized water...something to allow release of the expelled gases.
Even while in the secondary your chemistry continues and alot of gas is put off. Sometimes as violent as in a primary (or at least close) and often very slowly...like when at 35 F on a lager....
Cheers
Now you have me saying it....tub....I meant an air "tube". 
Another note on secondary fermenter, I realize people have differing Ideas but you may want to invest in a 5 gall glass secondary as the plastic is porous and if left for long periods of time theoretically one could get oxidation of the beer.
Yes, I did mean a bucket. I was looking at picking up a glass carboy as well but haven't done much research into it. Is there any place online that has a good price for them?
Two thoughts here...
1. for Drood, unless you don't have a local brew store, going online for a glass carboy is going to be expensive for shipping....almost gauranteed to cost more in the aggregate than what one would at a local retailer....check your local classifieds...I live in Utah where you'd think there'd never be anything used for sale, but I find adds all the time.
Thought 2 for everyone: I purchased a PET (plastic) 5 gallon carboy and learned the hard way to NOT clean it with your carboy brush....the only effective way is to use "oxyclean" and hot water and let it sit for an hour and then rinse out thoroughly....just thought I might be able to help someone save their carboy someday.
'Preciate the advice, I'll check into those and will let you know how the batch turns out.
I haven't had any problems using five gal buckets as secondarys.
I clean them with a little diluted bleach and a soft rag, rinse with a one step cleaner or vodka, no problems.
Marv,
I agree, buckets work great, but don't you feel cheated when you don't get to actually SEE your beer fermenting?
I'd love to watch my beer ferment, but I'm just plain wary of glass carboys. I hurt my back (don't EVER try lifting 50 lbs of grain over a chair) and find the handles on the buckets quite comfortable for lifting the brew on to the table for racking. Even with the carboy handles I've seen online, it doesn't look stable enough for me. I could always ask for hubby's help, but I'm too proud Last thing I want to do is end up in physical therapy from lifting beer... it was bad enough having to explain that chicken feed landed me in the doc's office!
I would like to be able to watch the fermentation, the plastic was cheaper, provides protection from light.
I now have two primaries, two secondaries and a bottling bucket, all plastic, for under $40.
Glass carboys are $35 for just the one. I'll get one some day, but for now the plastic is doing just fine.
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