"Cit" Tronic IPA & Tasting Session

Citra was the cool hop before we even knew hops could be this cool.  Rising to fame in late 2008/09.  Bringing flavors most beer drinkers didn't know were possible.  That's what inspired this recipe.  Citra Blast was first brewed back in early 2013 (based on Kern River's Citra IPA), followed by a couple more re-brews tweaking this or that.  Until it was changed into "Cit"tronic IPA.  This beer is a beer designed for IPA lovers for what it isn't.  No big punches of dankness, pine or resinous hops.  Only tropical, mango flavors of citra.

For those of you keeping count, this was brewed 5 (starting with Citra Blast) times over the last 2 years, with this one headed in a slightly different direction vs the others.  The use of a hop back or a "Randel", if you wanted to use its trade name.  (I went into detail about using a Blichmann Hopback a couple years back and decided it was more show than go.  So I built a Customized Randel the way I thought it would work best and it does) 

Now what to fill the Randel with?  Pairing Citra hops with citrus seemed best.  Focusing in on Grapefruit zest and some pulp.  No rind.  Using the zest of 2 grapefruit and the fruit of one.  Peeling as much of the white rind as I could off.  Chunked it up with a knife and filled the Randel once the beer was carbonated.


Aroma: Grapefruit zest, maybe a little soapy.. from the zest?  Starts off on the sweeter side (grapefruit) then goes into a tart grapefruit zesty ending. I can't explain how big the grapefruit notes are coming off this beer.

Appearance:  Hazy, no clearing agents used in boil or keg.  (It also is going thru a hopback) Big foamy head which fades quickly.  Leaving solid lacing rings down the glass as you quaff it down.

Building my Randell

Tangerines and Grapefruit for the testing

The idea of the Randell the Animal came out of Sam Calagione head, the mastermind behind DogFish Head Brewery.  The concept was beautifully simple.  Stuff a chamber full of hops, fruit or bacon (oh damn, I did write bacon) on the liquid side of the keg via tap the line.  This will pack the beer with flavors before hitting your awaiting pint glass.  Now I have to interject a little here about Russian Rivers famous tagline, "No Randell Required" Printed on shirts, pint glasses and bottle labels, a direct stab at Sam's Randell the Animal creation.  Basically stating that Russian River can create beers so floral, that hop back isn't needed.  The best part of this ongoing debate is the fact that Russian River bought Dogfish Head's old brewhouse before the Randell conceptualized.  Whether you actually need a Randell is still up for debate, which is not what this point is about.  I'll just say you can't make a bad beer good no mater what you do to it.

A couple of years ago I bought a Blichmann HopRocket,  (You can read my thoughts here) I really wanted to love the product but I just couldn't recommend it as a Randell.  Mostly due to the sub par design Blichmann did while trying to make the HopRocket a jack of all trades.  (Torpedo and Randell) Disconnecting the device is a mess to say the least.  Once it was hooked, up I loved the concept and flavor additions this gave to almost any beer.  Having the Blichmann as a multipurpose vessel wasn't cutting it, I wanted to create a Randell that I could have available at all times to plug and play on my draft system for under 20 bucks. 

I'm going to reuse my water filter housing and some other parts I have around the brewhouse.  I only ordered one part online.  Taking my used (or new) standard house water filter that some Home Brew shops sell as beer filters.