Favorite Hop Combinations

[reddskinnfan]

Nugget, Simcoe, Tomahawk, Chinook, Willamette... Together, if used at the right times, they give a great Citrus/Piney/Apricot flavor!

 

[emacgee]

I really like Simcoe/Amarillo, Simcoe/Cascade, Simcoe/Centennial/Amarillo, and just did one using Simcoe/Amarillo/Cascade/Centennial/Sorachi Ace/Citra smells good in the primary.

 

[Clonefarmer]

Cascade and Amarillo.

 

[Yooper]

Are there certain hops combinations that are more appropriate/characteristic of certain styles. Would the above suggestions apply equally to a porter, an imperial stout, a pilsner, etc.?

Definitely! I mean, an ordinary stout or a porter shouldn't have hops flavor or aroma, so typically only bittering hops are used. In an English beer, a typical combo might be EKG/fuggles. In an American IPA, you may see any combination of American C-hops, or amarillo/simcoe, or other citrusy hops. To me, the word "pilsner" connotes saaz hops.

Of course, we're not required to do that, it's just what is in known styles. Some newer American styles are pushing the boundaries- like American brown ale. It's like an English brown, but with big American hops and aroma. So, really no rules.

The thing is, as a beer drinker I usually want a "style" to start with. So, if I'm drinking an APA for example, and it has German malt and German hops, that just seems kinda weird tasting. Still good, of course, but weird. That happened to me. I was making an American amber, but had to sub something I was out of. It came out tasting like a German ale. Which made sense in retrospect, since I subbed German malt and German hops! But it was a weird beer to me.

 

[Superkabuto]

Definitely! I mean, an ordinary stout or a porter shouldn't have hops flavor or aroma, so typically only bittering hops are used. In an English beer, a typical combo might be EKG/fuggles. In an American IPA, you may see any combination of American C-hops, or amarillo/simcoe, or other citrusy hops. To me, the word "pilsner" connotes saaz hops.

Thanks for this. For a noob, this is good to know. Is there a more comprehensive source which explains hops combinations and styles? To me, half the fun is experimenting with new things, but it's nice to have some kind of baseline to start with.

 

[Ryno]

I just did a Wheat and Rye beer that was dry hopped in the keg with citra and amarillo. Came out awesome. I used .75 Amarillo and .5 Citra

 

[MattHollingsworth]

For combinations, Challenger and EKG - luvverly.

Agreed. Been using this. And Challenger with Northdown.

I also like Cascade with EKGS, but I like the Cascade to be lower or it takes over too much. I did a couple of iterations of a Christmas Ale, something along the lines of Deschutes Jubelale, that used 15 grams of Cascade at 15 minutes and 30 grams of EKGS at KO and they were really tasty together.

 

[SumnerH]

Northern Brewer & Fuggles gives a wonderful spicy earthiness.

 

[cfonnes]

Calypso goes great as a bittering hop when used with noble hops as flavor, but it does not go well with the "C" hops.

 

[DankHead]

Bringing this thread back!!

Im thinking: Nugget @ 60, and Simcoe/Citra in the late additions. Anyone done this combo?

 

[Chuckus95]

Apollo is becoming one of my favorite hops. It at 60/30/10, along with Mosaic/Amarillo at 10 and DH with Mosaic/Amarillo/Simcoe is pure bliss in a IIPA.

 

[nate456789]

How are you hopping with this combo?
Fuggles for bittering only? Add any at 30 min left?
Then EKG for the rest?

Or do a mix of both through out?

 

[DLR1987]

How would simcoe, citra, Columbus, cascade, and chinook be? Not in that particular order.

 

[Petekiteworld]

Anything with late citra.

Apollo and summit are two great hops, not necessarily together.

Cascade pairs well with lots of hops.

 

[jack_a_roe]

centennial/amarillo/chinook i've only a couple times but it seems to be hitting the spot as of late.

 

[Quaker]

Sticklebract-Cascade-Motueka

After a NZ trip I had some Sticklebract which I used in 3 batches of a pale/amber ale as a 15 IBU 15 minute addition with 5 min, flameout and dry hops of Cascade and Motueka hops in various combos. The Cascade seems to disappear, but I think it is melding with the others. Worked nicely with some darker crystal malt which I adjusted a bit batch to batch. Favorite iteration was 7% each of Simpsons Naked Oats, Simpsons Dark Crystal, and Victory with Belgian Pils as the base.

Unfortunately I have enough Sticklebract for only 1 more batch then all gone, and I haven't seen it lately online here. Northern Brewer will be my substitute hop.

 

[rhys333]

Has anyone tried combining Hallertauer and Columbus? Call me crazy, but I'm thinking it might work in a saison.