CLEANEST Bittering Hops?

[tonyolympia]

I recently acquired some Columbus, Chinook, Amarillo and Simcoe. I planned to also get some Cascade and Wilamette, and use five of those hops in an amber ale that would emulate a commercial amber I really enjoy. (The Simcoe wouldn't be used, since the recipe didn't call for it.)

However, after listening to an old Basic Brewing podcast on hop varieties and scheduling, I'm rethinking this plan. On the show they talked about how the best way to get to know a hop is to use it as the flavor and aroma addition, and pair it with a very clean bittering hop--i.e., one that will impart bitterness but will not have a noticeable flavor or aroma.

What bittering hops do you find the cleanest? Which pair well with the "C-hops" and other flavorful American hops listed above, and would be a good choice to bitter a hoppy American ale?

Thanks for your input. I'd like to pick a solid, clean bittering hop, and then go through my current stock one by one, to get to know each variety better.

 

[Wakadaka]

magnum is a popular choice I think. Its got a high alpha acid percentage and apparently a very clean bittering

 

[wildwest450]

With those hops, magnum is a fine choice.


_

 

[samc]

SMASH, forget the different bittering hop and go all one hop with 2 row only or your choice of base malt.

 

[permo]

SMASH, forget the different bittering hop and go all one hop with 2 row only or your choice of base malt.

This is a great idea if you want to get to know a hop. Personally, I use American Style Wheat Ale as my hops testing grounds.

 

[Burgs]

+1 for magnum - seems to be what everyone has to say about that particular hop

 

[humann_brewing]

yep, that is what Magnum is known for and being a PI too.

 

[phenry]

I use Magnum and Warrior pretty exclusively now for bittering.

 

[Clifton]

http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter5-3.html

Says Columbus is a clean bittering hop.

 

[Wakadaka]

well another bonus to magnum is it is pretty cheap by the lb and it has a very high alpha acid, so a little goes a long way

 

[lumpher]

i like columbus and have it in my freezer always. right now i'm drinking an apa made with columbus as the bittering hops. fairly clean, but not as good as magnum

 

[Clifton]

I was just mentioning it because he already has the Columbus.

 

[lumpher]

I was just mentioning it because he already has the Columbus.

yes, it is, my friend. clean, and can enhance a good tasty citrusy hops, too. i won't put columbus down at all (or at least a beer made with it)

 

[tonyolympia]

yes, it is, my friend. clean, and can enhance a good tasty citrusy hops, too. i won't put columbus down at all (or at least a beer made with it)

Opinion seems divided on whether Columbus is clean. I have yet to brew with it, but I'm curious how it could be perceived as clean by some, and as "dank" of "funky" by so many others. I'm excited to try it and find out.

 

[1Mainebrew]

Perle is good too.

 

[user 70770]

I find Columbus to be very coarse and not clean at all. I like Magnum a lot and Perle is a lower alpha but very similar to Magnum. Either are great I'll go with whichever is fresher when I go for them.

 

[permo]

I think this question could be answered many, many ways. It depends on how you define "bittering hop". I think we all know that any hop can be used for bittering, so if I were to choose one based on the criteria of which hop can provide the cleanest bittering, I think a hop like East Kent Golding comes to mind.

However, if you are defining a "bittering hop" as a high alpha hop to efficiently bitter a large amount of beer with a small amount of hops, now we have a different animal. I have used most of the high alpha C hops for bittering, and I do think columbus works well in bigger beers, not so good in subtle lighter beers. All things considered, Magnum is my favorite in this regard. It's noble heritage I think helps lend to the smoothness.

 

[EllisTX]

Anybody have any experience with Warrior?

 

[LexusChris]

I've been using either Warrior or Nugget for bittering for a while now and I lIke them both.

I think most high-alpha hops will bitter well as a 60-min addition... most flavors & aromas will boil off in 60 minutes...


--LexusChris

p.s. like all the other suggestions too!

 

[kjjohns5]

I dislike Magnum for bittering. It's too harsh, like someone dumped an ash tray into my beer. I can taste a super high alpha acid hop in my beers instantly (the only exception has been a really malty high gravity beer, like an Imp Stout).

Chinook is by far my favorite bittering hop. It's in almost all of my beers. Perfect, middle of the road alpha with just the amount to get your coying bitterness, or balanced and clean finish.

 

[TheDutchman]

I've used both Magnum and Warrior for bittering in many styles of beers. I find both to be quite clean, but both do contribute a bit of flavor. I'd say Magnum is ever so slightly green/minty, whereas Warrior is a touch citrusy/herbal.

 

[badlee]

I have found that Cluster goes very very well indeed with Amarillo and Cascade!

 

[dirty_martini]

My bittering hop of choice is summit. I know people talk about onion and garlic, but I find that's only when they are used for FWH or overused in late hops or dry hopping. As a bittering hop, they are amazing. Clean, super high alpha so you don't need to use much (I often only use .25oz in many of my beers), and lend no distinct flavor characteristics from bittering additions. I use them in American, English, Belgian, and German styles. To me they work as nicely as warrioir or magnum with the bonus that they can be used as a flavor/aroma hop if used with some restraint.

 

[gtlaw10]

what about horizon?

 

[EROK]

yep, that is what Magnum is known for and being a PI too.

OMG..... Nice one !!

 

[Domes]

Galena is the best choice for a clean bittering hop in my opinion.

 

[mscott5205]

My bittering hop of choice is summit. I know people talk about onion and garlic, but I find that's only when they are used for FWH or overused in late hops or dry hopping. As a bittering hop, they are amazing. Clean, super high alpha so you don't need to use much (I often only use .25oz in many of my beers), and lend no distinct flavor characteristics from bittering additions. I use them in American, English, Belgian, and German styles. To me they work as nicely as warrioir or magnum with the bonus that they can be used as a flavor/aroma hop if used with some restraint.

I have never had onion or garlic issues with summit. I've used it with FWH and flavor and aroma. Have never dryhopped with it. Drinking a summit apa right now and it is tangerine all the way.

 

[scottland]

Warrior is my favorite bittering hop. Magnum is nice too. Anything high Alpha, low cohumulone is generally the way to go.

 

[pm5k00]

Id say 90% of what I brew is bittered with Nugget or Summit, but I've used columbus, chinook, warrior with great results too, but I find nugget and warrior to be the most clean.

 

[jbsg02]

Jamil and John Palmer did a show once and commented on how Magnum was a very underrated bittering hop.

 

[Yooper]

Jamil and John Palmer did a show once and commented on how Magnum was a very underrated bittering hop.

I buy magnum by the pound. It's perfect for every beer I make- from German lagers to American IPAs- for bittering.