So I get that "Centennial Type" is a blend of Cascade and Columbus. The real question is "how close does it come?". I've been asked to brew a kit someone else purchased (Dead Ringer from Northern Brewer, their Two Hearted clone) for a Halloween party. With Centennial being more scarce than a politician with scruples, NB sent the "type" hops. I have four ounces of actual Centennial, but since my setup works best with the Garetz hop calculation, I'm going to need more than that, and will have to use a combination of hops, likely some mix of the real and "type". My plan is to use the "type" at the front end then late and dry hop with the true Centennial, to get a truer aroma and flavor. But those of you with experience with the "type", does the Columbus funk come through too much? Should I look at something else to bitter and/or add as mid-boil flavor additions? Something like Falconer's Flight 7cs? (Yes, I know it had Columbus too, but not in as high a proportion.) Amarillo? I've got it worked out in my head, and I'm leaning toward my first instinct, which is the combination of real and "type". I'm just bouncing this off y'all so I don't brew up a mess and have to spend time thinking how I wish I'd asked about the "type" beforehand, so here we are. Thanks for any input!
I would agree with your thoughts on using the "type" hops (I am assuming it is the 70/30 (I think this is the one I remember seeing) ratio of CTZ to Cascade). You will get more flavor contribution from the hops added at the end as you stated and that is what you are after anyway.
While it might not be a "Dead Ringer" of Two-Hearted, it should make a good beer that the Halloweeners will appreciate regardless of where in the boil you sub those hops. My approach would be to premix all my hops and then weigh out the additions.
Never used it, but my gut reaction is to use a clean non-Centennial bittering hop (C-type?), and then blend what you need for the rest of the boil as C-type and the real one. Reminds me of my 10 ounces of Centennial in my freezer... Gotta make another IPA
i just picked up a # at nikobrew.com for like $25 if you really are in want The columbus/cascade will get you in the ball park. Are you doing a 5 or 10gal batch? If 5gal, the 4oz Cent should get you 90% of the way there imho. Columbus bittering and columbus/cascade flavor addition and centennial KO & DH and it should be centennial dominating. If you think columbus delivers something you don't enjoy, then I would go lighter on it and use the falconer's instead of the columbus/cascade.
Sounds like my initial plan was probably the best way to go, then. I'd consider the mixture of all my hops, but I'm just not a fan of Columbus. I think it brings a funk that I'm not big on. If I can relegate that to bittering duty and leave the "real" Centennial for the flavor, aroma, and dry hopping, I think it'll work out okay. Thanks, all!
I love me the Columbus...but I think I agree with you. To emulate Centennial I'd use a shit load of Cascade and maybe some Magnum/Amarillo (although Amarillo is harder to find now than Centennial).
Yeah, the Amarillo I have will likely play a role, too. I still just may dump the "type" altogether and use the Falconer's Flight 7Cs, Amarillo, and end with Centennial. As stated above, it won't be "Dead Ringer" exactly, but it'll end up working.
