Working on an all Centennial Pale Ale - Worried...

[cannman]

Heya everybody,

I'm working on the "House" IPA recipe this morning. I've been inspired by a few bottles of "Single Hop" series of brew SWMBO got me for Easter. I'm wanting the hop base to be Centennial due to the fact that I have about 12oz left from previous batches and it needs to be cycled through. But I'm worried: I could only find one recipe in some obscure database of brew concoctions that exclusively uses Centennial Hops... Why? You'll see the 60 min grain bill below. What is going on? Am I in for a nasty treat? Also is the Crystal included enough for good head retention?

Thank you for the help!

Estimated OG: 1.060 SG
Estimated Color: 8.5 SRM
Estimated IBU: 68.8 IBUs
FG: 1.013 SG

11 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 1 93.6 %
12.0 oz British Crysta Hugh Bairdl Malt 50/60 (5 Grain 2 6.4 %
0.75 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 3 29.4 IBUs
1.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Boil 20.0 min Hop 4 23.7 IBUs
1.00 Items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins) Fining 5 -
2.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 6 15.6 IBUs
1.0 pkg Safale American (DCL/Fermentis #US-05) Yeast 7 -
1.00 tsp Yeast Nutrient (Primary 3.0 days) Other 8 -
1.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] - Dry Hop 0.0 Days Hop 9 0.0 IBUs

 

[moreb33rplz]

I am currently drinking a MO and Centennial smash. It has a soapy taste which is slowly fading with time. It could be some mistake on my part, but I've never tasted this before. I did a search here and found one or two other people complaining of something similar with Centennial.

my 2 cents

 

[cannman]

I am currently drinking a MO and Centennial smash. It has a soapy taste which is slowly fading with time. It could be some mistake on my part, but I've never tasted this before. I did a search here and found one or two other people complaining of something similar with Centennial.

my 2 cents

Hmmm

You say soapy... would you almost say "Garden Hose?"

 

[eadavis80]

I know NB's Dead Ringer is all centennial hops.

 

[cannman]

I know NB's Dead Ringer is all centennial hops.

Wow, I think I've found where the recipe poster found his/her inspiration. Almost exact! thanks for the lead!

 

[rlmiller10]

I did a Centennial batch last summer that I liked. I did use Magnum for the 60 min bittering addition. But the rest was centennial. My notes say it has a clean bitter flavor with just hints of citrus and some floral notes. I certainly didn't get anything soapy. I wonder if pushing the IBU numbers might lead to different flavors. This is a rather mild IPA at only 59 IBU. Below is what I used for a 2.5 gal batch

2 lbs 7.8 oz Pale Malt, Maris Otter (3.0 SRM) Grain 1 48.9 %
2 lbs 4.1 oz Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 2 44.5 %
5.4 oz Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 3 6.6 %
11.3 g Magnum [12.20 %] - Boil 60.0 min Hop 4 35.9 IBUs
5.1 g Centennial [10.00 %] - Boil 20.0 min Hop 5 8.1 IBUs
0.29 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 mins) Fining 6 -
5.1 g Centennial [10.00 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 7 4.9 IBUs
0.7 pkg Safale American (DCL/Fermentis #US-05) [50.28 ml] Yeast 8 -
13.0 g Centennial [10.00 %] - Dry Hop 7.0 Days Hop 9 0.0 IBUs

 

[chickypad]

I think centennial makes a great single hop beer, seems like many agree given that Dead Ringer is one of the most popular kits out there and Bells Two hearted that it's based is one of the most popular IPA's around. I've brewed that a few times, and recently a MO/Centennial smash that was quite yummy and certainly not soapy. I think I've done at least one other single hop pale with it too. I usually get a lot of grapefruit from centennial, like cascade but maybe a little less floral. IMO you could pretty much pick any grainbill for an American PA/IPA and plug in the centennial.

Edit: I will also say I'm not one of those who has ever tasted cat pee with simcoe, I love the stuff. I also love cilantro. If you're one of those that thinks cilantro tastes like soap, maybe you should be cautious.

 

[moreb33rplz]

Hmmm

You say soapy... would you almost say "Garden Hose?"

Not sure what garden hose taste is, but probably not. When I had a bottle 1 week into carbonation, it was very strong. 3 weeks later it's mostly gone, and the beer is pretty good.

 

[cannman]

Not sure what garden hose taste is, but probably not. When I had a bottle 1 week into carbonation, it was very strong. 3 weeks later it's mostly gone, and the beer is pretty good.

Back in the 80 and beyond, I believe that the green garden hose was made from even worst material than is now... and it had a distinctive taste when you took a swig from the hose after a long summer day (and possibly kill a few brain cells). I'm not sure if it is a different taste, but I often hear people complain of the "band-aid" flavor... and wonder if this is the same thing.

 

[Jonkl]

1) Did you say garden hose flavor? I think I might like that in a summer beer, if only for nostalgia sake.

2) I've tried an all-Centennial IPA before that someone else made, and I got a ton of piney character when I drank it. I enjoyed it, but see point #1, that you may better judge my taste in things.