I know we talk a lot on here about SMASH recipes, with our favorite single hop varieties, I'm really interested in folk's favorite pairs now.
I usually have an IPA constantly on tap, they're either one single hop, (usually Centennial) or Cascade or lately Citra, or they're an uber complicated with 5 or more different hops in multiple combos.
As I was about to pick up the stuff to brew another IPA I got thinking how for these beers my hop palate has been very very narrow lately. I tend to stick with West Coast Big "C," and little else. I use a broad variety of hops in every other beer I brew... But with my precious IPA, I tend to play it safe.
I've totally ignored an entire range of new (or at least within the last few years) hops that upon reading about them sound amazing.
I was just reading about Nelson Sauvin hops and how they pair nicely with just about any hop out there, and bring out certain qualities in whatever the companion hop is. Michael Tonsmeire raves about the combination of Amarillo and Nelson... I'm actually considering doing that next.
I've also read that Nelson Sauvin and Sorachi Ace is supposed to be a great combination as well, two hops I've never used before.
I'd say 99% of my IPAs use this grainbill...It's eschatz's pretty dead on Two Hearted Ale Clone.
10 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 76.92 %
2 lbs Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM) Grain 15.38 %
8.0 oz Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 3.85 %
8.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 3.85 %
Original Gravity: 1.055
IBU: 52.6 (Many of my iterations of this base recipe fall between 48 and 58 depending on the hops used, and hopping schedule- but on average most of them hit around 54-56IBUS)
I do first wort hop these beers as well as dryhop (and sometimes now I use whole leaf hops in my Randall that I built last summer.)
So my question/challenge for you is to tell me your favorite 2 hop combos (and what about them do you like) and how would you hop the above gainbill. The hops can be new varieties or old favorite or a combination of both.
Thanks!
I usually have an IPA constantly on tap, they're either one single hop, (usually Centennial) or Cascade or lately Citra, or they're an uber complicated with 5 or more different hops in multiple combos.
As I was about to pick up the stuff to brew another IPA I got thinking how for these beers my hop palate has been very very narrow lately. I tend to stick with West Coast Big "C," and little else. I use a broad variety of hops in every other beer I brew... But with my precious IPA, I tend to play it safe.
I've totally ignored an entire range of new (or at least within the last few years) hops that upon reading about them sound amazing.
I was just reading about Nelson Sauvin hops and how they pair nicely with just about any hop out there, and bring out certain qualities in whatever the companion hop is. Michael Tonsmeire raves about the combination of Amarillo and Nelson... I'm actually considering doing that next.
I've also read that Nelson Sauvin and Sorachi Ace is supposed to be a great combination as well, two hops I've never used before.
I'd say 99% of my IPAs use this grainbill...It's eschatz's pretty dead on Two Hearted Ale Clone.
10 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 76.92 %
2 lbs Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM) Grain 15.38 %
8.0 oz Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 3.85 %
8.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 20L (20.0 SRM) Grain 3.85 %
Original Gravity: 1.055
IBU: 52.6 (Many of my iterations of this base recipe fall between 48 and 58 depending on the hops used, and hopping schedule- but on average most of them hit around 54-56IBUS)
I do first wort hop these beers as well as dryhop (and sometimes now I use whole leaf hops in my Randall that I built last summer.)
So my question/challenge for you is to tell me your favorite 2 hop combos (and what about them do you like) and how would you hop the above gainbill. The hops can be new varieties or old favorite or a combination of both.
Thanks!