simcoe hops

[Admiral]

I love the flavor and aroma of simcoe. I hear they are a tricky breed. I've been told if you don't use them right, they can impart a cat urine flavor on one's brew. I'm about to boil 1 oz for the last 10 min of my 60 min boil. Anyone know if this is too much, too soon and too long?

 

[mcaple1]

Nope...sounds right....I put an oz with 15 min left and 4 oz for 2 weeks dry hopped...for an imperial IPA though, not sure what your going after.

 

[passedpawn]

The cat box is real. They do impart that. However, i think it's going away as my pale ale ages.

I probably won't be using them again.

 

[Admiral]

Nope...sounds right....I put an oz with 15 min left and 4 oz for 2 weeks dry hopped...for an imperial IPA though, not sure what your going after.

Nice! I'm going for an IPA too. 2 oz of magnum, 2 oz of Columbus for 60min, the 1 oz simcoe for the last 10, 2 oz of cascade for the last 5min. Haven't fully decided on the dry hop yet. Maybe 2 oz of cascade? Then I'll be putting an oz of simcoe in the keg for 10 days.

 

[Admiral]

The cat box is real. They do impart that. However, i think it's going away as my pale ale ages.

I probably won't be using them again.

How did you use them?

 

[smagee]

Nice! I'm going for an IPA too. 2 oz of magnum, 2 oz of Columbus for 60min, the 1 oz simcoe for the last 10, 2 oz of cascade for the last 5min. Haven't fully decided on the dry hop yet. Maybe 2 oz of cascade? Then I'll be putting an oz of simcoe in the keg for 10 days.

Cascade and Simcoe are both wonderful dry hops, and your chance of getting "cattiness" from the simcoe is just about negligible as a dry hop. I'd go 2oz cascade, 1oz of simcoe (or 1.5oz each) if you have it .

 

[Admiral]

Cascade and Simcoe are both wonderful dry hops, and your chance of getting "cattiness" from the simcoe is just about negligible as a dry hop. I'd go 2oz cascade, 1oz of simcoe (or 1.5oz each) if you have it .

Then that is what I shall do. Than you good sir.

 

[passedpawn]

How did you use them?

Sorry, I should have elaborated. Here is the hop bill from the pale ale I made. I like it (cat piss and all!). I meant to stick to amarillo and simcoe, but I ran out of amarillo. I've used all the other hops below, a lot, except for the simcoe. The cat box flavor / aroma was very real. It was my first thought upon drinking my first one.


0.75 oz Magnum [14.00 %] (60 min) Hops 16.6 IBU
2.00 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] (20 min) Hops 24.9 IBU
2.00 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] (5 min) Hops 8.2 IBU
2.00 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (5 min) Hops 5.4 IBU
2.00 oz Northern Brewer [8.50 %] (Dry Hop 3 days)Hops -
2.00 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] (Dry Hop 3 days) Hops -

 

[Admiral]

Sorry, I should have elaborated. Here is the hop bill from the pale ale I made. I like it (cat piss and all!). I meant to stick to amarillo and simcoe, but I ran out of amarillo. I've used all the other hops below, a lot, except for the simcoe. The cat box flavor / aroma was very real. It was my first thought upon drinking my first one.

0.75 oz Magnum [14.00 %] (60 min) Hops 16.6 IBU
2.00 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] (20 min) Hops 24.9 IBU
2.00 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] (5 min) Hops 8.2 IBU
2.00 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (5 min) Hops 5.4 IBU
2.00 oz Northern Brewer [8.50 %] (Dry Hop 3 days)Hops -
2.00 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] (Dry Hop 3 days) Hops -

Thanks!! I wonder if boiling simcoe (3 gal) is the breaking point...

 

[Admiral]

Thanks!! I wonder if boiling simcoe (3 gal) is the breaking point...

For 20 min that is.

 

[smagee]

I've used (and love) simcoe for just about every stage of the boil from 30 minutes left to dryhopping, and never had a problem. Some batches/hops/people just get that out of some hops (I've heard the same complaint from Citra, Falconer's flight, and Willamette, among others I can't think of offhand). I'm not entirely sure that you can plan your way entirely out of the risk zone, but it seems that utilizing them later in the boil tends to minimize the chances of it hitting you.