Help with single-hop 1-gallon batches...

[sheepcat]

Fratres,

I got my hands on three varieties of unusual (South African) hops, and I'm looking to brew up three single-hop IPAs to get to know their qualities a little better. I'm going to be soaking enough specialty grain for all three batches and using extract, to be certain to get an identical sweet wort, but using a different hop for all of the additions and dry hopping. The problem is that some have considerably more AA than others, 18.2%, 14.2% and 13.4%.

In your experience, doing something like this, would it be better to to target a single finished IBU (say 70) and target the additions around this? My concern with this is that I'd use considerably more of the lower AA hops. If instead I use a set amount (equivalent to 4 oz in a 5 gallon batch) I'd end up with one beer being considerably more bitter than the others.

What's the best way to get to know a hop? Any input is welcome. Gratia tuo!

 

[doomy86]

I would only worry about IBU for the bittering addition (60min) maybe use a different hop there.

To get to know a hop i only use 0 min, whirlpool and dry hop additions.

 

[morbster]

I agree. Use the same amount of nugget or something for your boil hops. Then single hop for everything after and don't worry about the AA% at that point. Use equal weights.

 

[RM-MN]

Much of the flavor character of the hop will be lost in the boil so use a neutral flavor bittering hop like Nugget or Warrior and then use your other varieties for flavor/aroma additions so you find out their character.

 

[dmtaylor]

You should adjust the bittering addition for alpha acid, but not the late additions. For each batch, target your 70 IBUs (or whatever you like) with bittering, then use 3/4 oz at flameout, and 3/4 oz dry hop. With only a flameout addition and dry hop at the end, this way the IBUs should be pretty close to identical for better comparison purposes. Don't do a hop stand for longer than a minute or two, just chill immediately, as a hop stand / whirlpool addition without chilling would add a lot of IBUs.