Forgot to add flavor hops...can/should I dry hop?

[idbrewguy]

Hi all, I'm brewing a cream ale (via extract kit from AIH) and was supposed to add 1 oz. Willamette pellets to flavor with 15 minutes left in the boil. (The bittering hops were 1/2 oz. Cascade and went for an hour.) I forgot to add the flavor hops, and now as the wort cools to fermentation temp am wondering if I can just toss the hops into the bucket. Would I miss them in this style of beer? If I do add them to the bucket (which I've never tried) should I add the same 1 oz. I should have added to the boil? Thanks.

 

[marjen]

Sure that is called a dry hop. Might not give the exact same flavor due to being added at a different part of the process but will be a plus no matter what. Also won't add any bitterness, just aroma and flavor.

 

[flars]

I would wait until the fermentation is nearly finished and draw a sample for SG and just give it a taste. If it seems undrinkable without the flavor hops you could dry hop. Take the sample about day 10 after the fermentation start so you're not just tasting suspended yeast.

I think you will find that it will still be a good beer. It will even taste much better than the sample after a few weeks of bottle conditioning.