Uncle John's IPA

This recipe is pretty easy, and results in a very drinkable brew.

Brewer:	Chris Evensen		Email:	ctevensen@homebrew.com
Beer:	Uncle John's IPA		Style:	India Pale Ale
Type:	Extract w/grain		Size:	5 gallons
Color:	21 HCU (~12 SRM)		Bitterness:	49 IBU
OG:	1.054		FG:	1.016
Alcohol:	4.9% v/v (3.9% w/w)
Water:	We have soft city water, so I add 1.5 tsps Water Crystals (Calcium and Magnesium Sulfates at beginning of boil. Treat your water accordingly.
Grain:	1 lb. American crystal 10L
Steep:	Put grains in a pot with 1 gallon cold water, raise temp to 160° and hold for 20 to 25 minutes. Strain into brewpot, and rinse grains with 1 gallon warm (110° to 120° or so)water, then top with the necessary amount of water for your boil.
Boil:	60 minutes	SG 1.077	3.5 gallons
	3.3 lb. Light malt extract 3 lb. Amber dry malt extract
	Add 1 tsp Irish Moss 15 minutes befor the end of the boil. I usually do a 3.5 gallon boil, but have recently acquired a 6.5 gallon brewpot, and will probably do 5 gallon boils from now on.
Hops:	1 oz. Bullion (or any high Alpha hop) (7.4% AA, 60 min.) 1 oz. Cascade (5.3% AA, 30 min.) .5 oz. Cascade (5.3% AA, 15 min.) 1 oz. Cascade (aroma)
Yeast:	I always use Wyeast 1056 (American Chico Ale) for this recipe. "Smack" and activate the pack 1 day prior to brew day for each month past the date stamped on package, although I've never had to wait more than 8 to 12 hours for mine to swell.
Log:	Ferment at 65-70° F for 5 to 7 days. You can rack to a secondary if you can't bottle or keg right away, but I usually don't. Prime with 3/4 cup corn sugar boiled in 1 pint water for five minutes, cool, and gently mix with beer in a bottling bucket. Bottle (or keg), wait, and enjoy!
Tasting:	I've tried this a week after bottling, and found it rather drinkable week of bottling (or as soon as beer has carbonated), if you can't wait 3-5 weeks. When it is that young, the flavors and aromas stand in sharp contrast-- tastes like you are biting into a Cascade Hop (and I mean that in a good way)! As it ages, the flavors blend and balance more. I could live off of this stuff.

Recipe posted 12/27/01.