I posted about this before but I cannot find it. Undoubtedly as part of another thread. Hopefully this new thread is of sufficient interest:
This is my report on the hop experiment that two friends and I performed. In early February, 10 Gallons of wort was prepared and split into four 2.5 gallon batches. Below is the grain bill for each 2.5 gallons. Mashed at 152 for 1 hr and then boiled for an hour with the hop additions for each batch shown below. Boils were performed quite differently due to pot and burner options leading to different volumes but we stuck with the hop additions as calculated for 2.5 gallons. Target ABV was 7.1% and target IBU was 75. All beers were pitched 1 liter of starter prepared with yeast rescued from Ballast Point Sculpin IPA which should be close or identical to WLP001 Beers were fermented for about 10 days and then dry hopped in a secondary for 5 days. Beers were bottle conditioned to 2 volumes CO2.
US 2-Row Malt 6.00 lb 82.8 % 4.0 In Mash/Steeped
US Caramel 20L Malt 0.50 lb 6.9 % 3.7 In Mash/Steeped
US Carapils Malt 0.50 lb 6.9 % 0.2 In Mash/Steeped
US Aromatic Malt 0.25 lb 3.4 % 1.8 In Mash/Steeped
All four beers were about the same color (about 7 SRM), medium carbonation and a bright white head. All tasted quite malty but dry, there was significant variation in alcohol and IBU due to the variable volume as a result of the boiling conditions. Nevertheless the taste of the base beer was quite similar.
The taste of the hops was quite a surprise to us. The following are the hop bills and comments on the taste of the final beer.
Amarillo Single Hop IPA 7.1% 94 IBU
US Amarillo 5.0 % 2.25 oz 61.8 Bagged Whole Hops 60 Min From End
US Amarillo 5.0 % 1.00 oz 12.3 Bagged Whole Hops 15 Min From End
US Amarillo 5.0 % 1.00 oz 1.1 Bagged Whole Hops 1 Min From End
US Amarillo 5.0 % 2.00 oz 0.0 Bagged Whole Hops Dry-Hopped
Hop profile: surprisingly flat hop profile, moderately bitter taste but weak aroma, a bit spicy and relatively strong grapefruit flavor but dissipates quickly.
Centennial Single Hop IPA 7.3% 103 IBU
US Centennial 8.5 % 1.00 oz 46.7 Bagged Whole Hops 60 Min From End
US Centennial 8.5 % 1.00 oz 23.2 Bagged Whole Hops 15 Min From End
US Centennial 8.5 % 1.00 oz 1.8 Bagged Whole Hops1 Min From End
US Centennial 8.5 % 2.00 oz 0.0 Loose Whole Hops Dry-Hopped
Hop profile: surprisingly fruity and complex. Tropical fruit nose with very little citrus character. Strong grapefruit flavor followed by a distinct lemon flavor. Bracing bitterness (for me, a bit too bracing) before lemon.
Simcoe 6.8% 97 IBU
US Simcoe 13.0 % 0.75 oz 53.0 Bagged Whole Hops 60 Min From End
US Simcoe 13.0 % 0.50 oz 17.5 Bagged Whole Hops 15 Min From End
US Simcoe 13.0 % 1.00 oz 2.7 Bagged Whole Hops 1 Min From End
US Simcoe 13.0 % 2.00 oz 0.0 Bagged Whole Hops Dry-Hopped
Hop profile: Big citrus and piney aroma. Medium bitterness, spicy grapefruit finish.
Citra Single Hop IPA 7.8% 75 IBU
US Citra 11.1 % 1.00 oz 54.9 Bagged Whole Hops 60 Min From End
US Citra 11.1 % 0.50 oz 13.6 Bagged Whole Hops 15 Min From End
US Citra 11.1 % 1.00 oz 2.4 Bagged Whole Hops 1 Min From End
US Citra 11.1 % 2.00 oz 0.0 Bagged Whole Hops Dry-Hopped
Hop profile: very fruity profile with relatively little bitterness. Tropical fruit and citrus. Relatively little spiciness.
March 13th tasting: Overall, our favorites were the Centennial and the Simcoe with a split between which was best. The biggest surprises were the lack of bitterness in the Citra, the lack of aroma and relatively boring flavor of the Amarillo and the complexity of the Centennial. My personal conclusion was that the Centennial had a fantastic flavor profile but the that bitterness was a bit too sharp.
March 14th: Tasted Amarillo hopped brew without the others to compare to, I found it a solid beer but still seemed to lack complexity and aroma.
Here are my personal conclusions: Although both hops make a great single hop IPA, I think a brew with Simcoe as a bittering hop and Centennial for flavor and aroma would be spectacular (probably my next IPA). Citra is probably best for late additions and not great for bittering. Amarillo was a surprising disappointment. Maybe its flavor profile means its a great flavor hop to be used with a good bittering hop and a good aroma hop. How about a Columbus bittering, Amarillo flavor, Citra aroma IPA? I will see how all this develops over time.
This is my report on the hop experiment that two friends and I performed. In early February, 10 Gallons of wort was prepared and split into four 2.5 gallon batches. Below is the grain bill for each 2.5 gallons. Mashed at 152 for 1 hr and then boiled for an hour with the hop additions for each batch shown below. Boils were performed quite differently due to pot and burner options leading to different volumes but we stuck with the hop additions as calculated for 2.5 gallons. Target ABV was 7.1% and target IBU was 75. All beers were pitched 1 liter of starter prepared with yeast rescued from Ballast Point Sculpin IPA which should be close or identical to WLP001 Beers were fermented for about 10 days and then dry hopped in a secondary for 5 days. Beers were bottle conditioned to 2 volumes CO2.
US 2-Row Malt 6.00 lb 82.8 % 4.0 In Mash/Steeped
US Caramel 20L Malt 0.50 lb 6.9 % 3.7 In Mash/Steeped
US Carapils Malt 0.50 lb 6.9 % 0.2 In Mash/Steeped
US Aromatic Malt 0.25 lb 3.4 % 1.8 In Mash/Steeped
All four beers were about the same color (about 7 SRM), medium carbonation and a bright white head. All tasted quite malty but dry, there was significant variation in alcohol and IBU due to the variable volume as a result of the boiling conditions. Nevertheless the taste of the base beer was quite similar.
The taste of the hops was quite a surprise to us. The following are the hop bills and comments on the taste of the final beer.
Amarillo Single Hop IPA 7.1% 94 IBU
US Amarillo 5.0 % 2.25 oz 61.8 Bagged Whole Hops 60 Min From End
US Amarillo 5.0 % 1.00 oz 12.3 Bagged Whole Hops 15 Min From End
US Amarillo 5.0 % 1.00 oz 1.1 Bagged Whole Hops 1 Min From End
US Amarillo 5.0 % 2.00 oz 0.0 Bagged Whole Hops Dry-Hopped
Hop profile: surprisingly flat hop profile, moderately bitter taste but weak aroma, a bit spicy and relatively strong grapefruit flavor but dissipates quickly.
Centennial Single Hop IPA 7.3% 103 IBU
US Centennial 8.5 % 1.00 oz 46.7 Bagged Whole Hops 60 Min From End
US Centennial 8.5 % 1.00 oz 23.2 Bagged Whole Hops 15 Min From End
US Centennial 8.5 % 1.00 oz 1.8 Bagged Whole Hops1 Min From End
US Centennial 8.5 % 2.00 oz 0.0 Loose Whole Hops Dry-Hopped
Hop profile: surprisingly fruity and complex. Tropical fruit nose with very little citrus character. Strong grapefruit flavor followed by a distinct lemon flavor. Bracing bitterness (for me, a bit too bracing) before lemon.
Simcoe 6.8% 97 IBU
US Simcoe 13.0 % 0.75 oz 53.0 Bagged Whole Hops 60 Min From End
US Simcoe 13.0 % 0.50 oz 17.5 Bagged Whole Hops 15 Min From End
US Simcoe 13.0 % 1.00 oz 2.7 Bagged Whole Hops 1 Min From End
US Simcoe 13.0 % 2.00 oz 0.0 Bagged Whole Hops Dry-Hopped
Hop profile: Big citrus and piney aroma. Medium bitterness, spicy grapefruit finish.
Citra Single Hop IPA 7.8% 75 IBU
US Citra 11.1 % 1.00 oz 54.9 Bagged Whole Hops 60 Min From End
US Citra 11.1 % 0.50 oz 13.6 Bagged Whole Hops 15 Min From End
US Citra 11.1 % 1.00 oz 2.4 Bagged Whole Hops 1 Min From End
US Citra 11.1 % 2.00 oz 0.0 Bagged Whole Hops Dry-Hopped
Hop profile: very fruity profile with relatively little bitterness. Tropical fruit and citrus. Relatively little spiciness.
March 13th tasting: Overall, our favorites were the Centennial and the Simcoe with a split between which was best. The biggest surprises were the lack of bitterness in the Citra, the lack of aroma and relatively boring flavor of the Amarillo and the complexity of the Centennial. My personal conclusion was that the Centennial had a fantastic flavor profile but the that bitterness was a bit too sharp.
March 14th: Tasted Amarillo hopped brew without the others to compare to, I found it a solid beer but still seemed to lack complexity and aroma.
Here are my personal conclusions: Although both hops make a great single hop IPA, I think a brew with Simcoe as a bittering hop and Centennial for flavor and aroma would be spectacular (probably my next IPA). Citra is probably best for late additions and not great for bittering. Amarillo was a surprising disappointment. Maybe its flavor profile means its a great flavor hop to be used with a good bittering hop and a good aroma hop. How about a Columbus bittering, Amarillo flavor, Citra aroma IPA? I will see how all this develops over time.