How do you choose your hops? [DIPA extract]

[piratefan]

Trying to come up with a DIPA recipe with 4 hops and I want some input regarding how you guys come up with your hops additions?

Currently thinking about Cluster, Cascade, Amarillo, and a hop to be named later. My reasons for each are very unscientific - what have I used before (Cascade, Amarillo) and what I want to use. I honestly have no idea how their going to work together.

BTW, malt is pale extract, with American II yeast. I will dry hope with one of the four.

 

[inflictor-of-grimness]

I pick hops based on recipes for commercial beers I like and learning what hops I really enjoy. I pick amounts and boil times for hops based on the flavor profile I'm looking to achieve, the aroma I want, and the amount of bitterness I'm looking for. At the end of the day I'm just winging it until I come up with a definitive recipe based on trial and error.

 

[logan3825]

I like to stick to no more than 3 different hops in a beer. One bittering hop and 2 flavor/aroma hops.

If you are using hops you are not familiar with I would recommend only using a single type for flavor/aroma unless you are trying to copy hop additions for a commercial beer you like. Using a single hop will give you a better idea what flavors the hops will contribute.

 

[TriggerFingers]

Cascade and Amarillo is a good place to start. Just think about what commercial beers you have tried and see whats in them. You could get a cleaner bittering hop like Magnum, Horizon, Warrior. Then think about what else you may want to try for flavor/aroma/dry hop additions. You could go Spicy route, Herbal route, Citrus, Pine, etc....

I agree with Logan....I usually don't do more than a handful of hops (maybe 3-5 varieties).

 

[drainbamage]

I pick either by trying to approximate a commercial beer, combining varieties that I know I like, or by trying something new (usually by itself) to learn what characteristics it adds. Trial and error is a big part.

Do you have an idea what characteristics you want for flavor or aroma? We can help you narrow down certain varieties that way.

 

[hellawaits77]

Do you have an idea what characteristics you want for flavor or aroma? We can help you narrow down certain varieties that way.

This would help. I really like fruity hops, like Cascade and (especially) Citra. I think those 2 can make most IPA's solid!

 

[drainbamage]

Centennial is another good citrusy bittering hop for IPAs, and the Cascade/Amarillo combination will work well together for late additions.

 

[Ryfi]

Just came across this http://hopunion.com/aroma-wheel/ it has some good info

 

[heckler73]

one of my favourite concoctions.

Wet Coast IPA
1056 yeast
Ferment starting at 68F, let it increase to 72F over the course of fermentation.

9 lbs pale extract
1.31 lbs Crystal
1.31 lbs Carapils

1.0oz Simcoe @90m
0.25oz Simcoe @60m
0.25oz Zeus @60m
0.25oz simcoe @30m
0.25oz Zeus @30m
0.75oz Simcoe @15m
0.75oz Zeus @15m
0.25oz Columbus pellets @15m
1oz cascade @10m
1tsp Irish Moss @5m
0.75oz Zeus @1m
0.5oz simcoe @1m
0.25oz Columbus pellets@ 0 min
Wait 10 minutes to steep after flameout before cooling


Dry hops:
0.75 oz of Cascade pellets into primary Day 8
Secondary Dryhop:
1.0 oz Amarillo pellets
0.5 oz Columbus pellets
1.0 oz Centennial pellets

 

[hellawaits77]

Interesting combo. Bet it will be excellent. Keep the thread updated.