Single Hop IPA questions/suggestions?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by BigCheese, Jul 10, 2012.

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  1. BigCheese

    BigCheese Initiate (0) Jul 4, 2009 Massachusetts

    Just starting to get into homebrewing, and thus far have done 2 (relatively) successful batches.

    Want to do a series of Single Hop IPA's to experience the different flavor profiles of various hops and had a few questions?

    Which hops work the best on their own for this experiment? (I was considering a Amarillo, Simcoe, Citra and Columbus)

    Does it matter much if I use a different hop for bittering (say Magnum or Chinook), and just used the "single" hop for aroma/flavoring/dry-hop, or should I go single hop all the way?

    Any other tips/suggestions/recipes appreciated.
     
  2. premierpro

    premierpro Savant (1,060) Mar 21, 2009 Michigan

    This could be done either way,however if your going to do single hop batches why not keep it single. There are beers that you can buy that are single hopped and are nice for this purpose.
     
  3. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Centennial is my favorite for a single hopped IPA, so if you're doing a series, I'd recommend it as one of them. Since you ask about bittering... An interesting experiment (round 2?) would be to do the same beers both ways, i.e. true single hopped vs. flavor/aroma single hopped with magnum for bittering.
     
  4. MADhombrewer

    MADhombrewer Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2008 Oregon

    I am doing a SMaSH series myself. Mainly to determine a good base malt other than 2-row. The one hop I am using is Simcoe and I really like it. Nice pine flavor and aroma. I use one ounce at 60, 20, and 5 min. To get the best feel for the hop, use the same one for bittering and aroma. Good luck and have fun.
     
  5. cmmcdonn

    cmmcdonn Initiate (0) Jun 21, 2009 Virginia

    Out of curiosity, do you use the same amount for each beer regardless of AA%, or do you adjust to attain a similar ibu? I've heard of both and agree with the argument for both. A single hop/smash series is on my list of to-do's after my wedding.
     
  6. Eriktheipaman

    Eriktheipaman Pooh-Bah (2,303) Sep 4, 2010 California
    Pooh-Bah

    The best two single hop (American Pales) I've made was a Chinook IPA and an Ahtanum Pale Ale. I've also done an all Citra Pale Ale twice but I much prefer Citra Blended with something. I strongly suggest you give the all Chinook a try, you wont be disappointed.
     
  7. MADhombrewer

    MADhombrewer Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2008 Oregon

    I will do the same hop regardless of AA%. Although it will be noted in my mind as I taste the different ones if the acids are a big difference. I used marris otter first. I think the next one will be with Vienna.
     
  8. Homebrew42

    Homebrew42 Initiate (0) Dec 20, 2006 New York

    Personally I think the best way to do these beers is to use the same amount of hops for the late addition in each batch but adjust the bittering addition so that each beer has the same IBUs. This gives you a better idea of the flavor contribution in each beer since you're basically only changing on variable (flavor), rather than changing two (flavor and bitterness), particularly for hops at the extreme ands of the AA spectrum, say comparing 5% cascades to 18% summits.
     
  9. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    My ‘house’ IPA is an all Centennial hopped. I really like that beer; I brew it twice a year.

    The other single variety hopped IPAs that I have made are Simcoe and Citra. I enjoyed those two IPAs as well.

    I have drunk commercial all Amarillo hopped IPAs and they were tasty.

    Some hops like Simcoe and Citra can be difficult to obtain at times. On my last online order I was only able to buy 2 ounces of Simcoe (that was the vendor’s limit). If you are restricted in hop amounts you should just use them for flavor/aroma additions and use something like Warrior or Magnum for bittering.

    Cheers!
     
  10. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,647) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

  11. cracker

    cracker Pundit (893) May 2, 2004 Pennsylvania

    I made a single hop American pale with amarillo a couple years back. It was one of the tastiest single hop beers I've brewed. Unfortunately, I did not get my bulk order in in time this year for amarillo hops. I think hopsdirect sold out in under 24 hours!
     
  12. itsjustzach

    itsjustzach Initiate (0) Oct 23, 2006 Ohio

    I do a SMaSH APA with Amarillo and Maris Otter fairly often. It's one of my favorite beers I make.
     
  13. nozferatu46

    nozferatu46 Initiate (0) Mar 24, 2008 Indiana

    All are good choices for single hopped beers. I also like Ahtanum as a single hop.

    As far as the different hop for bittering... won't hurt. You get a small impact from the bittering choice, but it isn't a game changer. I wouldn't use chinook for bittering though. Chinooks are higher in cohumulone and tend to give a harsher bitterness. Magnum, Apollo, and Warrior are all commonly used bittering hops, that are lower in cohumulone levels.
     
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