• Please visit and share your knowledge at our sister communities:
  • If you have not, please join our official Homebrewing Facebook Group!

    Homebrewing Facebook Group

IPA Hops...Best/Worst???

Homebrew Talk

Help Support Homebrew Talk:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Awesome, thanks. I hadn't considered the yeast yet, but if the primary purpose of the beer(s) is to profile a particular hop a yeast that ferments without contributing much to the flavor profile. Any thoughts on hop quantity (or anything else relating to the recipe, really)? Although the goal is to feature a particular hop variety I'd still like to make it enjoyable to drink.
 
Most of the dual purpose American bred high alpha hops are great for IPAs. Some of the New Zealand varietals can also work quite well.

Hop quantity for a 5 gallon batch of IPA = 6-9 oz. total hops (heavy on the late additions and dryhop).
 
Most of the dual purpose American bred high alpha hops are great for IPAs. Some of the New Zealand varietals can also work quite well.

Hop quantity for a 5 gallon batch of IPA = 6-9 oz. total hops (heavy on the late additions and dryhop).

At least in my case (and I've completely hijacked the thread--I'm sorry!), I'm thinking no late additions, since I want to make five mini-batches so I can learn what the different hops varieties taste/smell like. Will it still work decently if all the late additions/dryhop are dryhop (i.e., no late boil additions, lots of dryhopped)?
 
If one were to leave the recipe book behind just for fun, would mixing hops that have different profiles, like say Cascade with Chinook give and interesting flavor combo, or make a muddy, bitter mess?

That is my goto combo since they are easy to come by and I love it. I've even swapped them ( cascade for bitter, chinook for aroma/flavor) and it came out spectacular.
 
So how much and when?

Thats quite a general question, it really depends on what you're looking for.

I prefer my IBU/SG ratio around 0.9 for my IPAs, for a 10 gal batch I'll drop in 2oz chinook at 60, and do a 15/5/0 (2oz/2oz/2oz) cascade. Should hit around 55 IBUs. There is also the traditional 30/15/5 which can bring you up a few notches to ~60 IBUs, but personally I find the distinction better with the later additions of cascade, even though the IBUs are a tad lower, I like the flavor.
 
Amarillo, Citra, Motueka, plus all the others mentioned. My Badfish IPA uses Amarillo, Citra, Centennial, and Simcoe and it is hella tasty. I also made a blonde using a Citra and Motueka combo that's delicious. Obviously it's not an IPA but its a great combo that could be used in one. I've also become a fan of making all my hop additions with 30 minutes or less in the boil. Hop bursting is where it's at!!!
 
Thats quite a general question, it really depends on what you're looking for.

I prefer my IBU/SG ratio around 0.9 for my IPAs, for a 10 gal batch I'll drop in 2oz chinook at 60, and do a 15/5/0 (2oz/2oz/2oz) cascade. Should hit around 55 IBUs. There is also the traditional 30/15/5 which can bring you up a few notches to ~60 IBUs, but personally I find the distinction better with the later additions of cascade, even though the IBUs are a tad lower, I like the flavor.

I was thinking for 5 gal, 1 oz chinook at 60, 1/2 oz each at 15,5, flame out???
 
For non-US hops Pacific Jade (NZ) and Sorachi Ace (Japan) have interesting citrus/herbal flavors - both have worked well for me in single hopped beers. Pacific Gem (NZ) is good mixed with other hops, but there was a little too much cask/oak flavor when I used it in a SMaSH brew. I want to try a combo of Gem and Nelson Sauvin in my next brew - seems like it could be a good combo.
 
I was thinking for 5 gal, 1 oz chinook at 60, 1/2 oz each at 15,5, flame out???

Hey sorry for the delay, its wood stacking weekend.

I plugged your numbers into Beersmith and ~50 IBU I personally, would go 1/1/1/1 across the board, I don't know if you will get the full hop punch in the face with those numbers. I use the 1/.5/.5/1 for my APA and I shoot around 1.055 with that.


What is your recipe? Are you aiming for 1.060+ beer? If so, I would add more hops.
 
I plugged your numbers into Beersmith and ~50 IBU I personally, would go 1/1/1/1 across the board, I don't know if you will get the full hop punch in the face with those numbers. I use the 1/.5/.5/1 for my APA and I shoot around 1.055 with that.


What is your recipe? Are you aiming for 1.060+ beer? If so, I would add more hops.[/QUOTE]

I don't really have a recipe. I think we maybe mis-communicating. I'm talking a total or 4 oz. One of Chinook at the start, then .5 of Chinook and Cascade each, total of 1 oz. at 15 min 5 min and flame out. Not enough total hops? Too much Chinook for the Cascade?
 
I have some extra hops vacuum sealed in the freezer from summer brews. Thinking of doing an IPA with Galena for bittering, Sorachi Ace and Cascade for flavor and aroma, and dry hop with Amarillo, Hallertau, and cascade. Hoping for a strong citrus blend with a good floral pressence.
 
I don't really have a recipe. I think we maybe mis-communicating. I'm talking a total or 4 oz. One of Chinook at the start, then .5 of Chinook and Cascade each, total of 1 oz. at 15 min 5 min and flame out. Not enough total hops? Too much Chinook for the Cascade?

Ah! I see yes, we were on a different path.

Recipe: chinook cascade ipa TYPE: All Grain
Style: American IPA
---RECIPE SPECIFICATIONS-----------------------------------------------
SRM: 9.2 SRM SRM RANGE: 6.0-15.0 SRM
IBU: 66.9 IBUs Tinseth IBU RANGE: 40.0-70.0 IBUs
OG: 1.065 SG OG RANGE: 1.056-1.075 SG
FG: 1.016 SG FG RANGE: 1.010-1.018 SG
BU:GU: 1.028 Calories: 151.6 kcal/12oz Est ABV: 6.5 %
EE%: 75.00 % Batch: 5.00 gal Boil: 7.77 gal BT: 60 Mins

---WATER CHEMISTRY ADDITIONS----------------


Total Grain Weight: 12 lbs Total Hops: 5.00 oz oz.
---MASH/STEEP PROCESS------MASH PH:5.40 ------
>>>>>>>>>>-ADD WATER CHEMICALS BEFORE GRAINS!!<<<<<<<
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
11 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 91.7 %
1 lbs Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 2 8.3 %


Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Mash In Add 18.20 qt of water at 161.6 F 152.0 F 60 min

---SPARGE PROCESS---
>>>>>>>>>>-RECYCLE FIRST RUNNINGS & VERIFY GRAIN/MLT TEMPS: 72.0 F/72.0 F
>>>>>>>>>>-ADD BOIL CHEMICALS BEFORE FWH
Batch sparge with 2 steps (1.18gal, 4.29gal) of 168.0 F water

---BOIL PROCESS-----------------------------
Est Pre_Boil Gravity: 1.048 SG Est OG: 1.065 SG
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
1.00 oz Chinook [13.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 3 43.5 IBUs
0.50 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 4 4.6 IBUs
0.50 oz Chinook [13.00 %] - Boil 15.0 min Hop 5 10.8 IBUs
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 6 3.7 IBUs
0.50 oz Chinook [13.00 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 7 4.3 IBUs
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 0.0 min Hop 8 0.0 IBUs
0.50 oz Chinook [13.00 %] - Boil 0.0 min Hop 9 0.0 IBUs

---FERM PROCESS-----------------------------
Primary Start: 10/16/2012 - 14.00 Days at 67.0 F
Secondary Start: 10/30/2012 - 10.00 Days at 65.0 F
Style Carb Range: 2.20-2.70 Vols
Bottling Date: 10/30/2012 with 2.3 Volumes CO2:
---NOTES------------------------------------

That actually looks pretty good! I personally, don't like mixing my bittering and flavor hops, but give it a shot! Hell, I might try this as its something I don't normally do. I'm a huge fan of the cascade taste and the chinook bittering which is why I keep them separated.

I suspect it will have a nice punch!
 
That actually looks pretty good! I personally, don't like mixing my bittering and flavor hops, but give it a shot! Hell, I might try this as its something I don't normally do. I'm a huge fan of the cascade taste and the chinook bittering which is why I keep them separated.

I suspect it will have a nice punch![/QUOTE]

I'm an extract guy but I think I get it. That has been my question all along, mixing the two as you go. Will this be a great mix of piney / citrus with a punch, or a muddy bitter mess?
If it works, next step is to switch out cascade for centennial to jack it up a but maybe?
 
I'm an extract guy but I think I get it. That has been my question all along, mixing the two as you go. Will this be a great mix of piney / citrus with a punch, or a muddy bitter mess?
If it works, next step is to switch out cascade for centennial to jack it up a but maybe?

It will be a piny / citrus punch. There are lots of recipes that mix. I've done several amirillo simcoe IPAs that were awesome. It is personal preference, and particularly I love cascade, I grow it in my back yard, its up to you, and its really hard to make a muddy mess.
 
[ I love cascade, I grow it in my back yard, its up to you, and its really hard to make a muddy mess.[/QUOTE]
I'm a Cascade fan as well, Mirror Pond is one of my favorite beers. If you see someone sneaking around the garden, please don't shot or send the dogs, I don't want to get hurt.
 
togodoug said:
[ I love cascade, I grow it in my back yard, its up to you, and its really hard to make a muddy mess.
I'm a Cascade fan as well, Mirror Pond is one of my favorite beers. If you see someone sneaking around the garden, please don't shot or send the dogs, I don't want to get hurt.[/QUOTE]

Depending on the crop yield, I'd watch my ass.
 
Hello there, I'm new at the home brew world. Since I work offshore I don't have much time to prepare many batches, so I do it BIAB all-grain style, 5 lt at a time.

Wanted to know from y'all about a combo from Citra and New Zealand hops, would it be good or... ?

Cheers, From Brazil
 
Hello there, I'm new at the home brew world. Since I work offshore I don't have much time to prepare many batches, so I do it BIAB all-grain style, 5 lt at a time.

Wanted to know from y'all about a combo from Citra and New Zealand hops, would it be good or... ?

Cheers, From Brazil

I LOVE NZ hops! Green Bullet is fantastic for bittering, flavor, and aroma. I also like Motueka, Nelson Sauvin and Gem as well. I've never paired them with Citra but I imagine they'd play nice as long as you don't go heavy on the citra
 
I just did a nelson and citra beer, it was as great as you would imagine!

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Home Brew mobile app
 
I like bittering with chinook
And my favorite flavor and aroma hops are Nelson Sauvin, Simcoe, Nelson Sauvin, amarillo, mosaic and Nelson Sauvin.
I'll usually use a fruity citrusy combo of like nelson, amarillo and or citra and balance them out a bit with simcoe.
 
I just dryhopped a beer with nelson, citra, amarillo, and apollo. Smells awesome

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Home Brew mobile app
 
I'm rocking Super Alpha w/Simcoe, Amarillo and Mt Rainier hops as I type.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew
 
Back
Top