Novice Hops question

[forces]

I understand that AA% and hop quantity determines the IBU in a brew, and it increases as the hops are boiled longer. I also understand that the boil gravity affects the AA absorbtion. My question is;
if you add a lot of hops at the 2 minute mark, will that imbue the beer with any bitterness, or JUST aroma; would it be acceptable to use, for example, 3 ounces of a high AA hop, such as columbus, as an aroma hop if you wanted a REALLY aromatic beer? Or would it create an off flavor because of the high alpha acids?

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

This is something a lot of people do with IPAs. I personally don't like a lot of bitterness, but I love the hop flavors. So, I add most of my hops at the end, while still trying to balance them across the boil. Just make sure whatever hops you're using for aroma/flavor are hops that you enjoy. Not all bitter hops are suitable for arome/flavor.

I believe the concept you are describing is called hopbursting.

 

[david_42]

A 2 minute add will give you a maximum of one-tenth the IBUs of a 60 minute add.

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

Sorry, I guess I didn't really answer the question fully.

+1 to above post. Late additions won't add many IBU's, but you'll still get flavor and aroma as OP stated.

 

[alexdagrate]

High AA hops are great for late additions. The aroma from Centennial, Amarillo, and Simcoe is fantastic! They're great for dry hopping as well.

 

[forces]

Right on. Thats sort of what I figured, but I wanted to be sure. I WAY over hopped on batch of beer (while not fully understanding what alpha acid % meant) and it was so bitter that it almost tasted salty.... and very dry. A problem that I would like to avoid in the future.