Earthy hops...

[Lee-Ryan]

I'm doing an IPA with some smoked malt. Kinda going for a "smoked IPA" taste. Thinking of using just chinook and simcoe and possibly EKG. I want the smoke to be able to come through so I'm not gonna dry hop like I do with all my ipa's. Any thoughts?

 

[ghpeel]

Fuggles are the hop that comes to mind for "earthy". They might blend well with the smoke. However, all the smoked beers I've enjoyed before had very low hop character. I would assume a delicate, flowery hop like EKG is gonna get totally covered up by the smoke. Chinook and Simcoe have that "resiny" thing going on and I'd bet they'd be tasty in a smoked beer. Good luck and let us know how it works!