Anyone have a malt bill for single-hop test batches?

[MrSnacks]

I'm thinking about whipping up one-gallon test batches of single-hop IPAs just for my own comparative purposes. I'm not sure it'll end up being a true single-hop test, I might bitter with Magnum just to keep the focus on flavor and aroma.

Does anyone have a fairly clean malt bill that'll make hop comparisons easy? I was thinking 95% 2-row and 5% white wheat but I'm pretty open to suggestions.

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

Keep it very simple. Either all 2-row or 2-row with one crystal malt.

MC

 

[brettwasbtd]

I actual think the bittering charge of magnum (same amount and alpha) is a good reference point. I enjoy 85%:15% 2 row : Munich. Nice malt backbone

 

[grathan]

I find wheat to add scratchy salty murkiness. Might mask some delicate flavors. I 2nd the munich and perhaps a touch of crystal for some sweetness.
Here is what I use, but it's probably more complex than need be, but I like the flavor...
pale malt 75%
Victory 10%
Munich II 8.4%
c-20 3.6%
special Roast 1.8%
c-40 1.4%

works good with about 50-80 Ibus,

 

[Calichusetts]

Many of the best IPAs are far simpler than your grain bill. You don't have to get too tricky. Smash beers can taste great in their own right. I would strongly consider at least one time trying 95% Marris Otter/5% carapils or flaked wheat just to see how tasty a simple bill can be.

If you want caramels or sweetness, either raise your mash temp or take a quart of the first runnings and caramelize them in a saucepan. I do this regularly with MO/single hop beers and they appear far more complex than you would think. Try brown sugar for a sugar addition and you have a super clean and tasty beer that lets hops shine.

If you are using delicate hops like the ones from New Zealand...try 50% pilsner, 45% MO, 5% carapils or flaked wheat.

Trust me, I am in your boat. I tend to go really crazy with malt bills but I took a leap of faith this winter with my NZ hop project and I was very pleased with a simple, clean, light malt bill that really lets you get at the nuances of the hops.

 

[Adam_Selene]

For 19L:
Pilsner malt 12.5#
carapils/dextrine malt 0.4#
For 23L:
15#, then 0.5#

For 1 gallon:... 3.8L (aprox) too lazey to do the math. Newtral high atenuating ale yeast, of your choice.

Cheers.
--Adam Selene

 

[kingwood-kid]

You could try the Hill 56 Recipe https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f66/russian-river-row-2-hill-56-clone-369668/

or Pliny if you want something a little stronger http://www.bertusbrewery.com/2013/08/pliny-elder-clone-30.html

or all 2-row, since it's cheap and unobtrusive

or just brew a recipe that features a grain bill close to what you'd usually use, since it's arguably more instructive to see how the hops would taste in combination with everything else you normally do.