Blending Hops in an IPA.

[Cloud Surfer]

I’ve got a Red IPA that I’m looking at changing the hops in the recipe.

My choices are - Galaxy, Eclipse, Citra and Mosaic. I’ve won all these in comps and have so much I need to start getting rid of them. So I’m not worried about how much we use. I usually whirlpool and dry hop at the end of fermentation and again in keg.

Anyone care to offer a blending suggestion? The style guideline lists stone fruit, tropical fruit, citrus, resin, pine, berry and melon aroma/flavour. I expect these four hops to provide tons of that. Would we use all 4? I’m not sure if that will produce a muddled profile or a blend of deliciousness.

 

[day_trippr]

Citra, Mosaic and Eclipse should play really well together. I'm a bit leery of Galaxy lately as it's been a polyphenol bomb...

Cheers!

 

[RCope]

I agree, if I use Galaxy, it's as a "multiplier" with like 1 , or even 1/2 oz in the dry hop. For a red IPA, I would add an ounce of something (usually Warrior or Magnum) at the top of the boil, then an ounce of Citra and Mosaic late in the boil to get your desired ibu's. Then 1 or 2 oz of Citra, Mosaic, and Eclipse in the whirlpool with a temp less than 170. I usually WP for 20 minutes. For the dry hop, I'd go with 2:1:1 Citra, Mosaic, Eclipse. If you are desperate to use Galaxy, add an ounce in the dry hop...

If you don't have any classic bittering hops, I've had great results with adding your banger hops (Citra and Mosaic) at 20 or 15 minutes to get the ibus you desire and still add some flavor/aroma. Simcoe particularly works well in that situation. Cheers! Rick

 

[madscientist451]

Citra, Mosaic and Eclipse should play really well together. I'm a bit leery of Galaxy lately as it's been a polyphenol bomb...

Cheers!

I’ve got a “Session “ NEIPA in the fermenter now, and used galaxy in the mix of late addition and dry hops. So what is the downside of a “polyphenol bomb”?

 

[worlddivides]

Galaxy is one of my favorite hops and the only negative experiences I've had with it are that on rare occasions (possibly due to a subpar harvest?) the vibrant tropical fruit flavors I associate with it and love the most about it can be a bit muted and restrained.

It's my understanding that polyphenols are astringent, but I've never really gotten that from Galaxy. Maybe I haven't used a large enough amount of them in a single batch or maybe I just haven't used the harvests where those polyphenols were especially present?

 

[day_trippr]

Correct, hop polyphenols contribute to the astringent "burn" in the back of the throat, and at least a couple of years of Galaxy (iirc 2017-2019) were so harsh they carried a tough reputation for that. I actually had been brewing a Galaxy-forward hazy dipa for a few years prior but stopped brewing it when my last batch exhibited that character flaw, and I know I wasn't the only one...

Cheers!

 

[BongoYodeler]

@Cloud Surfer I've never brewed a red ipa, but just a few days ago I started putting a recipe together to brew one in the near future. My initial thought is to hop with a bit of Magnum at 60 for some baseline bitterness. Then a 20 minute addition of Cascade and Amarillo, the same two hops in a steep/whirlpool, and again in the DH. I like both Amarillo and Cascade, and I think they'll be good together in a red ipa. I know that's not really answering your question based on the hops you currently have, but just another option should you decide to go a different way.

 

[fluketamer]

im about to try:

1 oz of citra at 10
1 oz mosaic at 5
2 oz of citra and 1 oz mosaic at FO

then dry hop with an ounce each of citra/mosaic/galaxy.

my citra/ mosaic/ amarillo came out good so i am hoping this one will also.

 

[Cloud Surfer]

@Cloud Surfer I've never brewed a red ipa, but just a few days ago I started putting a recipe together to brew one in the near future. My initial thought is to hop with a bit of Magnum at 60 for some baseline bitterness. Then a 20 minute addition of Cascade and Amarillo, the same two hops in a steep/whirlpool, and again in the DH. I like both Amarillo and Cascade, and I think they'll be good together in a red ipa. I know that's not really answering your question based on the hops you currently have, but just another option should you decide to go a different way.

Amarillo and Cascade I’ve used in a IIPA before. This Red IPA has won a few comps with Simcoe, Citra, Chinook and Columbus used at various stages through the brew. It’s a nice beer with that combination. Just looking to change things around for a bit of variety. Not sure if I’ll throw any Galaxy in it now. Though I still have over 1kg of it here so I have to do something with it.

 

[worlddivides]

Correct, hop polyphenols contribute to the astringent "burn" in the back of the throat, and at least a couple of years of Galaxy (iirc 2017-2019) were so harsh they carried a tough reputation for that. I actually had been brewing a Galaxy-forward hazy dipa for a few years prior but stopped brewing it when my last batch exhibited that character flaw, and I know I wasn't the only one...

Cheers!

Yeah, I know you're not the only one. I've heard this from quite a few people online. I actually used Galaxy a lot in 2017 and 2018, both in IPAs and pale ales, but it's possible that the Galaxy I was using was from the 2016 harvest, and that might explain why I didn't experience it. I took a break from brewing around 2019 or so.

 

[hooper]

A few years back I brewed with Galaxy and the beer had a soap flavor. Maybe it's the cilantro effect but my GF said the same thing. Then we were drinking a NEIPA at a brewpub and tasted soap and sure enough the pub listed galaxy as an ingredient. Threw the hops out.

 

[day_trippr]

To be clear, I've brewed with some prototypically good Galaxy in the past, and I have no doubt there's still good Galaxy to be had. I just don't have the confidence to simply drop in on YVH for more and hope it's good. If I see consistently good ratings for this crop year I'll jump back in again as I do miss that neipa I used to brew with them...

Cheers!

 

[Kickass]

I had an all mosaic red ipa on tap recently and loved it. I don’t brew or drink much ipa so I like the simple approach to the style.

 

[G_robertus]

I would try a hop tea with the Galaxy before deciding if and how much you'd use. I've had decent lots and horrible lots as well recently. I had a commercial beer yesterday that was made with bad Galaxy that was undrinkable.

Citra, Mosaic, Galaxy works well if the lots are good. Else I would drop Galaxy as that also always works well. I'm not familiar with Eclipse. You could add any other citrus-forward hop with that blend if you want to add another.

 

[Cloud Surfer]

Poor Galaxy is copping a flogging. I might leave it out this time around and try a Citra/Mosaic/Eclipse blend.

 

[day_trippr]

fwiw, my recommendation of Citra, Mosaic and Eclipse was based on this Beer Maverick hop comparison tool. They seem quite compatible with each other

Yes, Galaxy would be at least as good a fit - if it's good

Cheers!

 

[Cloud Surfer]

That is very cool.

 

[sibelman]

I too gave up on Galaxy because of off flavors. I'm big on Mosaic for IPA/DIPA dry hopping, and eager to hear how your blend turns out, @Cloud Surfer

 

[Willy]

In the past I have enjoyed using galaxy - but I have only used Australian galaxy, nothing domestic.

Magnum is a good swap if you are concerned about adding galaxy. Mosaic and centennial taste great together.