New Brewer

JoeyChestnutFan · Feb 1, 2014

Hey Guys,

This forum has been a huge help for someone just getting started! I would like to experiment with some single hop variety of APAs/IPAs to learn more about each hops' individual flavors and characteristics. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to try first? I would love to do a Galaxy (or possibly Citra) themed beer, because I had a Schlafly TIPA and it was awesome! I am an extract brewer by the way.

Cyclman · Feb 2, 2014

Make an IPA, use a neutral bittering hop like Magnum. Split it into 5 one gallon fermenters. Add hop tea, different hop for each fermenter. When bottling, you can taste and cross blend different ones to taste even more varieties.

IvanTheTerribrew · Feb 2, 2014

That's a good suggestion to make 5 smaller batches with just a neutral bittering hop.

I like doing SMaSH beers. Single malt and single hop. I did a smash with warrior hops and it was fantastic. Sometimes just read the characteristics of hops and see what sounds good and give it a shot.

- ISM NRP

JonM · Feb 2, 2014

You can also get a sixer of some mild-flavored beer with a pry-off cap (like Amstel light) and experiment. Pop it open, drop in a couple pellets of a hop, recap and wait a week. It's a good way to try six individual hops at once. You can even pour them together and get an idea of combos.

EDIT: Having said all that, Centennial, Columbus/Tomahawk/Zeus, Simcoe, and Citra are some of my favorites. Might want to try Nelson Sauvin (and if you can get New Belgium Clutch where you are, I hear that has a lot of Nelson Sauvin in it) and Soriachi Ace.

m1batt1 · Feb 2, 2014

My buddy got a kit from his in-laws called citra pale ale and to my understanding it used only the citra hop and included a dry hopping stage after primary fermentation.

It was a pretty awesome end result IMO so I would definitely suggest giving citra a shot.

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JoeyChestnutFan · Feb 3, 2014

Cyclman, that is a good idea, but I'm afraid I do not have the resources to pull that off! Perhaps the next couple of beers I make will be an IPA with a 60 min addition of 1oz. of Magnum, and put some later additions (15, 5, 1?) of a single kind.

titansvol · Feb 3, 2014

I would use citra

beersnblues · Feb 3, 2014

I have done what you are proposing with simcoe, centennial, citra, and amarillo back when i did extracts. I used warrior for bittering, but that doesn't really matter. I liked them all. My friends all really liked the simcoe and citra. similar hop schedule as you are proposing as well as dry hopping.