Which hop for grapefruit

[IffyG]

It's funny how everyone experiences the flavors differently.

Agreed. My roommate gets dryer sheet flavors from Amarillo hops and I can't pick it out. Honestly, the OP might have to try a few hops in small batch brews to figure out which one works for him.

 

[LVBen]

Based on the wide range of flavors that people report for hops, I'd assume that hops of the same variety have some differences in flavor year to year and grower to grower.

 

[ClarnoBrewer]

It's also important to consider everything else that's in the beer, and addition times.
Bittering hops can lay down a base bitterness that will affect the end result.
Malts will certainly mask or highlight different aspects of the hop flavor and aroma.
Yeasts can lend a fruitiness that will amplify perceptions of fruit, as well as a myriad of other flavors to highlight or mask hop flavors.

Doing a SMaSH could be helpful, but if you're looking for a grapefruity pale, just keep experimenting. It's all gonna be good, and the joy is in the experiment!

 

[DevilDog2000]

Citra! It's a fairly new hop but seems readily available. It has a bit of a floral aroma, but its main taste note is grapefruit. I do an all citra IPA that even non-IPA drinkers like.

 

[pola0502ds]

Yeah, have fun getting your hands on some amarillo and simco..

 

[day_trippr]

Yeah, have fun getting your hands on some amarillo and simco..

Not that hard to find, I have a pound of pellets each I picked up only a couple of weeks ago, along with a pound each of Citra, Cascade, and Chinook. Did take three sources to acquire the lot, though. Google was my friend

Cheers!

 

[Spring_Chicken]

Cascade all the way. Redhook IPA is pure grapefruit juice. They are local and on the tours they tell the ladies to think of grapefruit juice when they drink it. After hearing that all I can taste is grapefruit. They use willamette at 10 and then cascade at knockout and for dry hops. I'd use straight cascade and try.

Just go buy a Budweiser and drop a cone of each in a bottle, recap, and try it the next day. This will let you evaluate each on their own merits. I'm sure that you'll find cascade is grapefruit and the others are more fruity.

 

[suds_zville]

I like a Chinook / Cascade combo to bring out the Grapefruit aromas.

 

[Calichusetts]

Cascade, Centiennial all the way...plus I add grapefruit with 30 minutes left in the boil

 

[Carter5112]

In recap, pending the person, they all taste like grapefruit!!

 

[dmckean44]

Plus grapefruit can mean two different things. There's the extremely bitter taste of the pith you get drinking a glass of grapefruit juice or eating a grapefruit cut in half. Grapefruit that has been fully peeled has none of that taste and it's sweet, citrusy and tropical.

And then theres the whole aroma vs flavor thing.

 

[scottland]

Cascade = grapefruit, especially when mixed with Simcoe in small amounts

 

[corkybstewart]

My all Amarillo Rye IPA tastes like a glass of grapefruit juice.

 

[bowhuntah]

Cascade all the way. Redhook IPA is pure grapefruit juice.

I love Redhook but I don't get a grapefruit flavor. A brewpub that I go to did a single batch IPA that had an "in you face" grapefruit flavor and aroma. It was Citra.

 

[unionrdr]

Let's not forget Columbus. I used 2oz each of Columbus,Nugget,& Cascade in my last IPA,& it was mainly grapefruit & bitter orange with a hint of lemon. I want to add Citra &/or Amarillo to it next time.