Holiday IPA: Help Me Use My Hops!

[snow16]

I’m planning on brewing something similar to Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale in the coming weeks. I want to use ingredients that I have on hand, and nothing more. It doesn’t matter to me how close it tastes to the original, it’s just an example of the style that I’m aiming for. This is a flexible brew.

I’m keeping the malt bill simple. Something like this:

5 gallons, BIAB
-9.5lbs Weyermann Pale Ale Malt
-Anywhere from 8-12 oz. Simpson’s Dark Crystal Malt (70-80L)
-perhaps an oz. or two of something darker to really accentuate that reddish hue (I have 2 oz. of Cara Aroma and some roasted barley on hand)

This should give me an O.G. of around 1.065. I’ll be fermenting with either S-05 or Notty.

You’re more than welcome to make suggestions for the malt bill, but where I really want your help is with the hop schedule. I brew a lot, but I don’t brew a lot of hoppy beers. In my freezer I have 4 ounces of each of the following: Cascade, Centennial and Simcoe. I’m happy to use all of it, but certainly don’t have to. However I use it, I want to make the most of it. If it turns into more of a hop bomb than Celebration – so be it.

How would you use those hops if you were brewing this? (Just keep in mind that I’m not buying anything new for this brew)

Thanks in advance and happy brewing!

Snow

 

[atom]

use all the hops!

1 oz centennial (60)
1 oz centennial (10)
1 oz cascade (10)
2 oz simcoe (30 min whirlpool)
1 oz centennial (30 min whirlpool)
2 oz cascade (30 min whirlpool)
2 oz simcoe (5 day dryhop)
1 oz centennial (5 day dryhop)
1 oz cascade (5 day dryhop)

 

[douglasbarbin]

I would bitter (or FWH) with enough Simcoe to get to 30-40 IBU, then split the rest between a big whirlpool and dry hop.

 

[permo]

I would bitter (or FWH) with enough Simcoe to get to 30-40 IBU, then split the rest between a big whirlpool and dry hop.

+1. IMO you get your biggest bang for the buck out of the whirlpool/steep additions. Tons of flavor and aroma.

 

[m00ps]

I would second the hop schedule @atom gave. Thats about how I hop my IPAs to a T but with less hopstand hops I normally chuck in. It will give a great hop aroma and flavor akin to most commercial brews without the bite at the end from bitterness.

I would limit the crystal as much as you can though. I dont like putting any in my IPAs but if you want a reddish holiday hue use some of the roasted barley and some sugar to help dry it out

 

[douglasbarbin]

I would second the hop schedule @atom gave. Thats about how I hop my IPAs to a T but with less hopstand hops I normally chuck in. It will give a great hop aroma and flavor akin to most commercial brews without the bite at the end from bitterness.

I would limit the crystal as much as you can though. I dont like putting any in my IPAs but if you want a reddish holiday hue use some of the roasted barley and some sugar to help dry it out

I like Simcoe for bittering instead of Centennial. I find that it gives a smoother bitterness and also more "bang for the buck" due to the higher alpha acid content. But as long as you are getting around half of your IBUs or more from a whirlpool/hopstand, you really can't go wrong.

I would also second limiting the crystal malt or removing it entirely. I've never had an IPA where I said, "Gee...I wish this had more crystal malt in it." But I have had plenty of IPAs that could have used less.

 

[atom]

I like Simcoe for bittering instead of Centennial. I find that it gives a smoother bitterness and also more "bang for the buck" due to the higher alpha acid content. But as long as you are getting around half of your IBUs or more from a whirlpool/hopstand, you really can't go wrong.

I would also second limiting the crystal malt or removing it entirely. I've never had an IPA where I said, "Gee...I wish this had more crystal malt in it." But I have had plenty of IPAs that could have used less.

yeah...any of those hops could work for bittering, i just tend to use cheaper/more common for those additions.

 

[snow16]

All of your feedback is much appreciated. I've never experimented with 'late hopping' techniques and am keen to give it a try. I'm sure that either the Simcoe or Centennial would be great at 60, but I think I'll go with Centennial just because I want to save as much of that piney Simcoe goodness as I can for late additions.

As for the malt bill, I sort of anticipated the advice to lay off the crystal. I'm usually a very judicious user of crystal malt in all of my beers, and I was really surprised to see how much goes into most of the Celebration clones that I saw online. Sierra Nevada definitely make it work somehow, but seeing as my hop bill/schedule is now veering more towards 'hop explosion' I think that I will cut down on the crystal. I'll cold steep some roasted barley and get the reddish hue I'm looking for that way instead.

Looking forward to brewing this soon - thanks again for all of your input!