Opinions required about hop mixture (Mosaic + Citra)

[hetyu]

Hi All,

I'm planning to have a relatively 'aromatic' amber ale achieved with dry hopping. Planning to add Mosaic & Citra for a week after the 1st week of fermentation is done.
I'm aiming to have somewhat unique aroma coming from the combination of these 2 hops but I'm not sure a about the mixture ratio.
While mosaic has a truly unique and strong flavor and aroma the citra has more oil content, but my intention to have a balance between them.

What would be the ratio between these hops to achieve my purpose?(50%-50%)?

Thanks!

 

[bobeer]

That's something you're going to have to play with since we cannot know exactly what your nose is going for. One person's perception of balanced could be different from another's.

There's a bud lite experiment where you can dry hop a 12 pack and recap them. Leave them for 4 or so days then cold crash and enjoy. You can test out what different amounts do to the beer. I think that would be your best bet to hone in the aromatic feel you're going for.

 

[RmikeVT]

I've made some fantastic IIPA, IPA, APA with 100% citra and they turn out fantastic and very aromatic. I think 50/50 citra/mosaic blend would be a good place to start and then you can adjust accordingly. I mean you really aren't going to go wrong with that combo, its all about dialing in your personal tastes.

I think I would start with 3-4oz of hops per 5.5ish gallons. You also might want to consider a hop steep at 180F for 15 minutes during your cooling process.

 

[Queequeg]

I have used a 50/50 blend Mosaic and galaxy. I personally found the Galaxy over powered the Mosaic. Galaxy is somewhat similar to Citra. Mosiac might be a distinctive flavour but it is easily masked by more assertive robust flavours. I would suggest 33/66 in favour of Mosaic

 

[hetyu]

Thanks for the opinions and advices. I'll report back how I've decided and how that turend out.
Cheers!

 

[BrotherBock]

Deschutes' Fresh Squeezed uses mosaic and citra. Granted its an IPA, but that'll give you an idea of the aroma/flavor combination. Mango/Grapefruit

 

[m00ps]

Those would be great together, but they also can easily stand on their own. If it were me, I'd do like 75-25 leaning towards whatever I thought smelled best. But listen to RmikeVT, do a hop steep. I find this is a much more effective way to use your hops. You'll get more bang per oz and for your buck. I usually save 2-3 oz for dry hopping, but much larger flameout and steeping additions. Once I started doing this I've never gone back to concentrating on the dry hop addition

 

[ArkotRamathorn]

I did a red rye IPA a little while back that had approximately 50/50 mix of Citra and Mosaics. I didn't get the massive tropical punch but the beer is still super delicious, I just didn't use enough hops in the dry hop and the late aroma additions. It's a good combo and its been mentioned before 50/50 is the best bet to start. I will still be doing an even split when I remake this beer, but I will be upping the late additions (probably to the point where I get 95% of my IBUs from sub 10 minute additions).

 

[stonebrewer]

Here is a little trick I learned long ago when it comes to hops and blending:

1) get a 6 or 12 of a rather plain beer, say bud lite or the like (only use I have for such a beer... )
2) pop the tops and add 1-2 pellets of one hop type to each bottle. So for example, open a 6, add citra to one, galaxy to another, mosaic to the third, columbus to the 4th, chinook to the 5th, and nelson to the last bottle (or whatever hops you want to later combine)
3) recap each bottle
4) take the beer and store them in a dark closet for a week or three
5) after a week or two, put the 6 in a fridge until chilled
6) pop them all open, and taste them individually
7) blend to your hearts content, finding combinations that you like...remember to vary the amount of beer (hops) per blend to match your tastes
8) take really detailed notes and put together a plan of hop combinations you want to try

Now you have your data, and have formulated your plan...

Next, I scale it up and make a real beer or four. I brew a 3 gallon test batch, brewing with a clean bittering hop like Columbus or Magnum, with no other hops. I separate the 3 gallons into 4 1 gallon containers and do a hop stand with my hop combination candidates and then filter the hops while transfering into my 1G carboys. I may or may not dry hop after primary calms down. Bottle, carb, chill, and test. Go big with what you like. Remember to take notes!

 

[Brew_G]

Here is a little trick I learned long ago when it comes to hops and blending:

1) get a 6 or 12 of a rather plain beer, say bud lite or the like (only use I have for such a beer... )
2) pop the tops and add 1-2 pellets of one hop type to each bottle. So for example, open a 6, add citra to one, galaxy to another, mosaic to the third, columbus to the 4th, chinook to the 5th, and nelson to the last bottle (or whatever hops you want to later combine)
3) recap each bottle
4) take the beer and store them in a dark closet for a week or three
5) after a week or two, put the 6 in a fridge until chilled
6) pop them all open, and taste them individually
7) blend to your hearts content, finding combinations that you like...remember to vary the amount of beer (hops) per blend to match your tastes
8) take really detailed notes and put together a plan of hop combinations you want to try

Now you have your data, and have formulated your plan...

Next, I scale it up and make a real beer or four. I brew a 3 gallon test batch, brewing with a clean bittering hop like Columbus or Magnum, with no other hops. I separate the 3 gallons into 4 1 gallon containers and do a hop stand with my hop combination candidates and then filter the hops while transfering into my 1G carboys. I may or may not dry hop after primary calms down. Bottle, carb, chill, and test. Go big with what you like. Remember to take notes!

Fantastic idea, stone...

 

[Singletrack]

Thanks for the opinions and advices. I'll report back how I've decided and how that turend out.
Cheers!

Have you tried your beer yet? It should be about time to report back.

 

[hetyu]

Truly apologies for the delay with my answer...!
This batch turned out to be infected..shame on me.

On the other hand in the meantime I've tried some combinations. Citra + Mosaic seems to blend well together but I prefer to add Simcoe (prefer this) or Chinook in the same time to balance the fruit bomb.

Citra + Mosaic together is just Ok, adding a piney / earthy contrast makes them shine.

 

[Singletrack]

Thank you

 

[TxBigHops]

Truly apologies for the delay with my answer...!
This batch turned out to be infected..shame on me.

On the other hand in the meantime I've tried some combinations. Citra + Mosaic seems to blend well together but I prefer to add Simcoe (prefer this) or Chinook in the same time to balance the fruit bomb.

Citra + Mosaic together is just Ok, adding a piney / earthy contrast makes them shine.

What did you decide regarding the ratio of Citra to Mosaic? I'm planning an IPA that will be bittered with Simcoe and finished with a Citra/Mosaic blend. I've heard from some that the Citra can overpower the Mosaic in a 50/50 ratio, so thinking around 65% Mosaic to 35% Citra.