Hop suggestions for a common, club brew?

[Malric]

I help run a burgeoning brew club composed primarily of extract kit brewers. In an effort to help understand grain diversity, we're setting up a common brew. (Everyone brews separately and brings the result to the next meeting) Right now, I'm thinking about 9LB 2row, up to 2LB additional base malt and 1LB adjunct. The 3 pounds will be of the brewers choice.

The issue is finding a common hop schedule that will allow some flexibility in the malt bill.

Initial thought:
1oz Willamette 60min
1oz Cascade 15min
.5oz Cascade 5min

Any thoughts?

 

[frettfreak]

I am fairly new to brewing, but IMO, its really going to depend on what the 3 lbs of other malt used is. Those 3 lbs cold be used to change it from a porter to a IPA really so the hops could need to be changed dramatically. Willamette and cascade are fairly versatile from what i have seen though so maybe it will be ok. Again, i think its ultimately going to depend on what those 3 lbs are used for.

 

[Malric]

Doh, forgot to add why I put base malt in for the optional grain. I'm expecting the kit brewers to want an extract option, so the base malt is there for a BIAB partial mash.

Having said that, yes, I expect that this idea will generate quite a range of styles. I'm trying to keep the hop schedule somewhat neutral to allow people to get creative with the grain.

 

[Jayhem]

The most basic, standard hob schedule is one, 60 min addition for bittering and 1 flavor/aroma addition in the last 15 minutes. Cascade is somewhat on the citrusy side so I would probaby choice a more neutral hop for this. Williamette might work ok. Can't go wrong with US Tettnang either. Magnum is my favorite bittering hop because it's usually cheap and neutral flavor when used as a bittering hop.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/101/hops

 

[Malric]

I agree, Cascade may be over powering. I have enough Magnum in the freezer that I could donate it and cover the entire club. Any thoughts on this?

9LB 2Row
Up to 2LB base malt
Up to 1LB adjunct

.5oz Magnum 60min
.5oz Willamette 15min
.5oz Willamette 5min

 

[RedShirt]

Looks great - please report your results and recipes if possible!

 

[frettfreak]

Interested to see what comes out of this experiment. Keep us updated! :rockin:

 

[the_bird]

An ounce and a half of Cascade shouldn't overpower anything. I was going to suggest that you use Cascade; it's well-liked, easy to find, versatile, not too harsh. You could even use that as a 60-minute addition and make it a single-hop beer, make it even easier for people to brew.

 

[RonPopeil]

you said this is about learning grains so simplify the hop schedule. no 15 and 5 minute additions. just 60 and 20.

your grain bill will most likely be pegged around 1.050 so limit the IBU to ~20. software says .75oz of cascade at 60 and 20 hits 20IBU spot on assuming 6% AA. that puts you in a good spot. if you add the base malt and end up closer to 1.060 you have a spare .5oz to make adjustments. or just dry hop with it so it has some aroma.

 

[the_bird]

... adding hops at 15 and 5 minutes is hardly more complicated than adding hops at 20.

Neither way is "right," but I've long found that the de-facto standard of 60/15/5 gives a reasonable amount of hop flavor and aroma - and they're certainly subdued additions.

 

[RonPopeil]

... adding hops at 15 and 5 minutes is hardly more complicated than adding hops at 20.

Neither way is "right," but I've long found that the de-facto standard of 60/15/5 gives a reasonable amount of hop flavor and aroma - and they're certainly subdued additions.

true. but the purpose of the experiment is to learn grains. being the case, up front hop flavors are going to complicate matters. better leave them aside and give the grain bill center stage.

 

[the_bird]

... we may have differing opinions on what constitutes "up-front" hop flavors. To me, one ounce at 15 and a half-ounce at five doesn't get you there!

 

[RonPopeil]

for me anything T- 20-10 minutes sticks to my tongue.