Choosing Hops to grow

[Homer]

A buddy of mine wants to grow some hops, just because he likes growing stuff, so I told him I would help choose which ones (for my own benefit of course ) I really like brewing IPA's, love the bitterness, and the aroma (DFH 60min is my staple beer). I called and got a list of rhizomes they have available, so if you guys could help me choose maybe 3 or 4 that would go good in an IPA, that would be awesome.

Centennial
Chinook
Fuggles
Glacier
Golding
Hallertauer
Horizon
Nugget
Tettnang
Willamette

I'm leaning towards: Centennial, Chinook, Glacier, and Willamette.

What would you choose?

I did some research in the growing forum, but I thought it would be better to ask the question here anyway.

 

[Figbash]

It depends on where you live.

Talk to someone in a local brewing club or at your LHBS. They can tell you what grows best in your area and you can adjust your list from there.

Tom

 

[Homer]

It depends on where you live.

Talk to someone in a local brewing club or at your LHBS. They can tell you what grows best in your area and you can adjust your list from there.

Tom

Yeah, sorry I should have posted that, my buddy lives in a suburb of Chicago.

I will be asking at my LHBS, but I wanted some other opinions from you guys.

 

[david_42]

You ain't really an IPA drinker, because if you were, your first choice for growing would be Cascades.

On the other hand, Cascades is a freaking weed and once it's in the garden, it stays in the garden.

100% Nuggett makes an amazing fresh hop IPA.

 

[McKBrew]

I think your four choices are perfect for IPA's. I'd try to see if you could get some Cascades too.

 

[davefleck]

I'm planting Willamette, Castade, and Columbus

 

[Homer]

You ain't really an IPA drinker, because if you were, your first choice for growing would be Cascades.

On the other hand, Cascades is a freaking weed and once it's in the garden, it stays in the garden.

I am an IPA drinker, and Cascade would have been my first choice, but unfortunately, it isn't available at my LHBS for some reason.

I will try and order some Cascades online

 

[SumnerH]

Fuggles and East Kent Goldings are the classic IPA hops. Your selections are good for an American-style IPA (of which DH60 is an example).

 

[Yankeehillbrewer]

I would plant Centennial, Columbus,Chinook, & Saaz. Saaz doesn't really fit the IPA bill, but I'd love to always have some around.

 

[Grinder12000]

Beware - once they take hold you will never get rid of them.

 

[flyangler18]

Beware - once they take hold you will never get rid of them.

And you say that like it is a bad thing.

 

[snazzy]

And you say that like it is a bad thing.

The first year they are all cute and then the second year they grow up and swallow your house.

 

[humann_brewing]

Grow everything you can, but if you have to limit yourself to 4 and are a IPA fan these have all been said, but here goes.

Centennial
Cascade
Magnum
Summit
Simcoe
Nugget
Galena
Amarillo

These will give you a nice variety for IPAs but you will just have to wait a couple of years before you can use them.

 

[SumnerH]

The first year they are all cute and then the second year they grow up and swallow your house.

Feed me, Seymour!

 

[Figbash]

I'm from the Detroit area and have had very good luck growing Nugget and Centennial. I also planted Magnum, but it isn't producing near the crop as the others. Nugget and Magnum would both be good candidates for an IPA.

Tom

 

[HSM]

You ain't really an IPA drinker, because if you were, your first choice for growing would be Cascades.

On the other hand, Cascades is a freaking weed and once it's in the garden, it stays in the garden.

100% Nuggett makes an amazing fresh hop IPA.

Word on that. How could Cascades be missing?

 

[SumnerH]

Word on that. How could Cascades be missing?

Nah, a real IPA fan would grow Fuggles and East Kent Goldings. The Cascades are for poser American IPA fans.

 

[Homer]

Word on that. How could Cascades be missing?

Guess they ran out of those very quickly at my LHBS

 

[Ryan099]

I personally think it really depends upon the place U reside. Try having some discussion with local clubs. Most of ur queries will be solved. Or else try getting some Cascades too.!

 

[HOP-HEAD]

My top 2.... though I have no idea how well they'd grow in Chicago.

Centennial
Tettnang

 

[mZnthebend]

Grow everything you can, but if you have to limit yourself to 4 and are a IPA fan these have all been said, but here goes.

Centennial
Cascade
Magnum
Summit
Simcoe
Nugget
Galena
Amarillo

These will give you a nice variety for IPAs but you will just have to wait a couple of years before you can use them.

I didn't think that Amarillo was available to the public, did this change? Is it available?

 

[usurpers26]

You are correct (unfortunately), they are not available.

I didn't think that Amarillo was available to the public, did this change? Is it available?

 

[Homer]

First of all, thanks for all the help! Here is what I purchased:

From LHBS:
1 Chinook
1 Golding
2 Fuggle
(wanted 2 of each, but they ran out)

From Freshops.com:
2 Centennial
2 Cascade

 

[SumnerH]

That's a great set of hops. If you add a couple continental/noble varieties (Saaz, Tettnanger, Hallertau) and Northern Brewer, you'd have almost everything you need. Maybe Magnum.