Dry Hop question. Type, quantity, and length?

[Charlemagne]

I am a big fan of Founder's Red RyePa and brewed my own RyePa a couple weeks ago. I have never dry hopped before and am looking for some advice. I have a large supply of cascade, centennial and amarillo leaf hops at my disposal. Any suggestions of what hop or combination of hops I should use? How much? How long?

Thanks

 

[samc]

Personal preference for sure. I'd do a minimum of 1 ounce and more if you like the in your face aroma. FR uses Amarillo for the dry hop according to the website. Put an ounce in for a week and then taste it. If you feel it needs more or something else add one of the other hops or more Amarillo for another week.

 

[bmick]

Just keep in mind that leaf hops are like sponges, they soak up a decent amount of beer. However less, better beer is better than more, worse beer.

 

[asterix404]

I like dry hopping with between 1 and 2 ounces of each aroma hop I used in the boil. That is how I made a decent long trail head clone and I wasn't even going for that.

 

[Brewitt]

+1 to the sponge comment. The IPA I'm drinking has two oz each of Amarillo and Simcoe in 5gal (a wonderful combination). I think it soaked up close to a gal of brew. Then again, the less better beer is better than more worse beer comment also gets a +1. This brew tastes and smells wonderful.

 

[Brewitt]

An associated question: What do people think of using pellets for dry hopping? It was all I could get of the hop I want for my next brew. Upside is the reduced volume. However, I'm wondering about off flavors. Probably a controversial question.

 

[hopsalot]

a 5 gallon batch, I would use 1-2 oz of cascade

 

[asterix404]

Actually I used pellets, I have never used whole hops. There is no off flavor at least none that I could pick up, it's really quite nice.

 

[Brewitt]

Great, I really want to try Sorachi Ace and I can't find any whole hops. I've only used whole hops to dry hop. That is for a hoppy wheat. My Black IPA is getting 4 oz total of whole Amarillo, Cascade and Centenial. I'm thinking of putting them in a bag so I can squeeze them as I pull them out of the carboy. Might get me another half gal of brew.

 

[Charlemagne]

Would 1 oz of each (3 oz total) be too much? I was going to dry hop in a bag, so I can try to squeeze some of the soaked up beer out.

 

[david_42]

Many breweries use pellets at all stages.

I'm all for dry hopping in stages. I'd say an ounce of Amarillo for a week. If that doesn't do the trick hit it with some cascades.

 

[Brewitt]

Would 1 oz of each (3 oz total) be too much?

I used 4 oz in each of my last two IPAs. Great hop aroma and taste. But they are both "big" beers.

 

[dcp27]

Would 1 oz of each (3 oz total) be too much? .

nope, sounds perfect to me. IIRC, Red's rye uses 3oz of amarillo

 

[scottland]

Pellets vs Leaf: I've used both, they both work well. Pellets seem to absorb less beer, but it's easier to siphon under leaf hops. I typically use pellet these days.

Type: Obviously you want an aroma hop. You also want an aroma hop that will play nicely with the ones you boiled with. Most people use ones they've boiled with. I'm a big fan of using more than one variety, i'll typically use 2-3 different hops to dry hop my APAs, IPAs, and IIPAs

Amount and time: For 5 gallon batches I like to use:

Blonde Ales, and Bitters: 0.5oz for 4-7days
American Pale Ales: 1-1.5oz for 5-7 days
American IPAs: 2-4oz for 7-14 days
Imperial IPAs: 3-6oz for 7-21 days

I amounts above vary on the recipe I'm making, and how much hop aroma I want. Whenever I dry hop for longer than 7 days, I'll split the dry hop into two or three additions. I like the idea of introducing fresh hops every additional week.