Help me find "my" hop

I would start by googling each of those beers and try to see what hops they contain. Frequently the brewer's website lists what hops they use. It's quite possible you'll see a trend pretty quickly.

I've had almost all of those beers, both on your "good" and "bad" list, and I basically liked them all, so I'm no help there.

 

Yeah, what is this "don't care for" in reference to beer? Is that possible?

I think you like beers with fruity hops. Citra, Amarillo, Nelson, Cascade, and beers that favor healthy late additions. It actually might have a lot to do with the yeast as well, as some people just don't care much for beers made with Chico and like a fruitier yeast profile.

 

Go for simcoe, citra, and amarillo.

 

I think you will like Citra. Citra and Simcoe make a great combo.

Edit: A little late on that one. I second mattsander's suggestion.

 

Pretty sure ZD is all Citra and Gumballhead is all Amarillo. SNPA is pretty much all Cascade I believe.

 

My guess is you like Citra, Amarillo and Simcoe. You'd probably like Australian Galaxy, Australian Summer, Australian Topaz and Australian Pride of Ringwood as well, as they're all tropical fruit heavy with a little grapefruit and grass thrown in.

Zombie Dust and Abrasive are all Citra.

Gumball Head is all Amarillo.

Sculpin has primarily Amarillo and Simcoe.

SNPA is Magnum & Perle for bittering and Cascade Late and Dry Hop.

No idea on Jai Alai (Remember it being tropical), Little Sumpin, Sumpin and Hopslam (I hate hopslam so bad person to ask, it tastes like bitter grapefruit rind).

 

Sumpin= Nugget, Horizon, Summit, Willamette, Santiam and dry hops of Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe, Chinook, Amarillo, Columbus

Zombie Dust = Citra

Gumballhead = Amarillo

Sculpin = Amarillo, Warrior, Magnum, Northern Brewer, Tomahawk, Crystal, Centennial, Simcoe

Jai Alai = Ahtanum, CTZ, Amarillo, Ahtanum, Cascade, Centennial, Amarillo

Abrasive = Warrior, Citra

Hopslam = CTZ, Simcoe, Chinook, Centennial, Citra, Amarillo

Ones you don't care for (hop-wise):

Nugget Nectar = Nugget, Simcoe, Warrior, CTZ, Palisade


Sierra Nevada* didn’t say which one.


60 Minute = Warrior, Amarillo, Simcoe


Crooked Tree = Chinook , Cascade , Centennial


Big Eye = Columbus and Centennial

 

I just did my first all grain IPA and it turned out surprisingly good, as others mentioned I did 50/50 Simcoe and Citra which I feel is always a great combination. Good luck!

 

I think if you do Amarillo, Centennial, and Citra combo you will be happy.

 

There's only "slightly prefer one over the other, but it's close, and only if forced to choose at gunpoint" for me.

 

I think this has less to do with what hops are being used, and more about how they are used.

With what you seem to be describing, my safe bets are Amarillo, Centennial and Simcoe. These hops are all pretty hard to screw up in my opinion (although DFH seems to).
As long as you keep Citra and Cascade out of the bittering charge, you should be fine.
I get tired of Columbus pretty quickly, and am tired of it now so it is a bad time for me to comment.
Chinook is a hop I haven't used enough, but plan to in the near future.

Recipe formulation and your system are more likely what you are going for here (I am also not a fan of DFH 60minute, but amarillo and simcoe hands down my two favorite hops). Remember, there are a lot more factors than simply what hop was used. Malt and yeast being obvious factors as well as fermentation temp and water among other influences to your beer.

 

Exactamundo.

 

SNPA is almost all cascade, which I am a fan of...but think it plays much nicer with others.

 

You really can't go wrong with some C hops, simcoe and amarillo. If you don't like your beer it'll be more likely because of the grist than the hops. A good BU:GU ratio is very important in APAs and IPAs.

 

I agree to a point on the BU:GU ratio, but there are so many different ways to get there.

 

There was a thread on here a month or so ago. It's geared more towards dry hopping but will give you a good feel for what you like and what you don't. I would use a "known" bittering hop and let the dry hopping test write the rest of the recipe.

...Suprised The Serg didn't mention it.

 

Yeah I skipped past the dryhopping issue because I suspect it is more an issue of abrasiveness in how the hops are used based on the examples she gave. Shouldn't have assumed though. Good call!