Hopping problem
 

I finally wasa ble to get my first brew day in yesterday and everything went really well. I did one thing that concerns me a little, though. I added the finishing hops when I was supposed to add the bittering hops. I added the bittering hops as soon as I discovered the problem (20 minutes into a 35 minute step. I extended the boil about 10 minutes and everything finished OK and it is happily bubbling away in the fermenter.

What kind of impact will this have? I'm expecting that I won't have a traditional English Pale Ale

Thanks - BH

Finishing hops is meant to add aromatic qualities to a beer without necessarily adding bitterness. After boiling for awhile, it adds bitterness, but not aromatics/flavor.

By adding your finishing hops early you will get a more bitter beer with less hops smell/flavor.

It should still be fine, more bitter than you were looking for, and less hop aroma/flavor.

Cool - Thanks! I guess it's a good thing I like bitter beers, then!

Bitters are just a Pale without much hop aroma. Sounds like what you've made.