gifty74
Well-Known Member
Hi all. I've been trying to nail down a good house IPA, and the past two batches I've gotten a very pronounced grapefruit flavor. Don't get me wrong, I like some hints of grapefruit but this is overpowering and the bitterness backbone feels like it's all grapefruit. This last batch it was Galaxy and Nugget for bittering (not known for grapefruit as far as I know), Galaxy, Nugget & Citra for flavor. Citra for aroma. Dry hopped with Citra, Simcoe & Cascade. Now, I've been reading a good bit, and it seems like the big grapefruit hops are amarillo, simcoe, centennial, chinook, columbus & cascade. I didn't use any of those for bittering. The prior IPA I brewed was also very grapefruit (almost too much for me to like it) and it was bittered with Nugget & simcoe. Probably got some of it from the simcoe on that one.
However, one of the only other commonalities between many of my prior IPAs that have had this grapefruit flavor & aftertaste has been the use of Cascade for dry hop. I know dry hops are supposed to be all aroma, but has anyone done any sampling to prove that it doesn't add anything to the beer as far as flavor? I'm starting to suspect that the cascade dry hops are adding this bold grapefruit flavor & after taste. Is this possible? Any other thoughts?
However, one of the only other commonalities between many of my prior IPAs that have had this grapefruit flavor & aftertaste has been the use of Cascade for dry hop. I know dry hops are supposed to be all aroma, but has anyone done any sampling to prove that it doesn't add anything to the beer as far as flavor? I'm starting to suspect that the cascade dry hops are adding this bold grapefruit flavor & after taste. Is this possible? Any other thoughts?