The Southron Batch #2 (APA) -- Brew Day

Most home brewers, when modifying an existing recipe to experiment with flavors, will only change one or two parts of the recipe at most to try to decipher small changes in the finished product.  I say fuck that.  Although I brew a decent amount, I'm more interested in at least attempting to create a great beer every time I brew.  I've started to embrace almost full recipe revamps if I believe it is warranted.

This time, although I don't feel its entirely warranted, I'm drastically changing around my recipe for my NZ hop-showcasing APA, The Southron.  The first batch was a much more full-bodied, almost amber colored beer that had a solid malt backbone to balance out the hop profile.  Sounds decent enough already, right?

The change that I've decided to make is to further showcase some of the NZ hops by toning down the body and malt profile a touch.  I'm borrowing some grain bill ideas from my recent clone of Tired Hands HopHands, mainly by adding a decent amount of flaked outs -- actually more flaked oats than I did in that beer.  I'm also incorporating some wheat malt for texture and head retention, along with 12 ounces of honey malt because honey malt is fucking delicious.

The actual brew day went fairly leisurely.  My pH came in as estimated at 5.3 and my efficiency clocked in around 70%.  I've really struggled with my efficiency consistency lately, but I'm chalking that up to the crush from my online HBS.  We are moving shortly, so I think a grain mill and 50lb sack of either 2-Row or MO is in order.

The Southron Batch #2 (APA)
5.5 gal batch - 90 minute boil
Est OG: 1.060
Est FG: 1.015
Est ABV: 6%
IBU:  53
SRM:  6

10lb 2-Row Pale Malt
2lb White Wheat Malt
2lb Flaked Oats
12oz Honey Malt

0.3oz Magnum @ FWH (15 IBU)
1.0oz Amarillo @ 5 min (5 IBU)
1.0oz Galaxy @ 5 min (8 IBU)
1.0oz Nelson Sauvin @ 5 min (7 IBU)
1.0oz Amarillo @ Steep 10 min (5 IBU)
1.0oz Galaxy @ Steep 10 min (8 IBU)
1.0oz Nelson Sauvin @ Steep 10 min (6 IBU)
2.0oz Amarillo @ Dry Hop 3 Days
1.0oz Galaxy @ Dry Hop 3 Days
1.0oz Nelson Sauvin @ Dry Hop 3 Days

1200ml starter of WY1968 London ESB Ale

Mash @ 148f for 75 minutes

6/22/2014 -- Brewed by myself.  Mash pH came in at 5.3.  Mash efficiency came in around 70%.  Boil proceeded as normal.  One packet of Aussie Galaxy hops seemed a little old/cheesy but threw them in anyways.  I might regret that.  Gathered 5.5 gallons of 1.061 wort.  Pitched yeast and one vial of Clarity Ferm.

7/6/2014 -- Added dry hops.  This packet of Galaxy seemed a little off as well.  Tsk tsk Label Peelers.

7/9/2014 -- Bottled.  Finished at 1.014.  Just a point lower than target.  Primed with 4.2oz corn sugar for 2.4 vol CO2.  Smelled and tasted great.  Nice citrus flavor with an assertive bitterness.

11/7/2014 -- And here are some tasting notes.