Blamling Cross hops

[TheRedDarren]

Hi guys,
I've just bought some of these with the idea of making an English IPA, I was thinking of a nice simple grainbill with the whole 100g of these throughout the boil.
Having done a bit of reading up on them it seems they don't make a great IPA at all. Most people who have made a BX IPA say it wasn't all that nice and that they would work better in a porter.
Does anyone have any experience with them?
Has any tried making an IPA with them?
I'm still keen to try it, maybe using a hop accentuating yeast, but I don't want to end up with a sub standard beer...

 

[TheRedDarren]

I've also got some Bodicea, I was thinking they would work well together..?

 

[Hops_and_Dreams]

I'm by no means an expert, but I used them in a pale ale with Challenger and EKG and it worked out Ok, although can't say what they'd be like on their own.

That wasn't very helpful, was it?!

 

[clibit]

Can't see why a Bram X IPA wouldn't work out pretty well. Maybe bitter with something else to get the solid IPA bitterness. Target or Admiral would work. Split the Bram X into late additions, 15, 5 and dry hop, perhaps. And you could add some Boadicea at the end/dry too, would add some complexity, though I've never used Boadicea. Have had Boadicea single hop ale in the pub though. So no guarantees, but I can't see it being a bad beer. Could be really nice.

 

[martinjamesford]

I've used BX and Target together in a few IPA brews and I'd urge caution with hopping levels, to my taste (& I love hoppy new world beers) it's easy to over hop with those two. Mine came out very high on earthy flavours. I'd say less is more. I'll drag some more details out of Beersmith when I get a chance later.

BX definitely works in a porter.

 

[TheRedDarren]

I'm by no means an expert, but I used them in a pale ale with Challenger and EKG and it worked out Ok, although can't say what they'd be like on their own.

That wasn't very helpful, was it?!

Haha! It all helps matey!
What quantity did you use?

 

[TheRedDarren]

Can't see why a Bram X IPA wouldn't work out pretty well. Maybe bitter with something else to get the solid IPA bitterness. Target or Admiral would work. Split the Bram X into late additions, 15, 5 and dry hop, perhaps. And you could add some Boadicea at the end/dry too, would add some complexity, though I've never used Boadicea. Have had Boadicea single hop ale in the pub though. So no guarantees, but I can't see it being a bad beer. Could be really nice.

Yes, that's kind of what I had in mind, thanks fella

 

[TheRedDarren]

I've used BX and Target together in a few IPA brews and I'd urge caution with hopping levels, to my taste (& I love hoppy new world beers) it's easy to over hop with those two. Mine came out very high on earthy flavours. I'd say less is more. I'll drag some more details out of Beersmith when I get a chance later.

BX definitely works in a porter.

Ah excellent, thanks mate. Any quantities would be really helpful.

I guess I could save a small amount for a porter too.

 

[Hops_and_Dreams]

Haha! It all helps matey!
What quantity did you use?

http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=52639

Recipe is here.

 

[martinjamesford]

Looking back at my BX recipes and I realise that you just need to avoid hoppy madness... I've gone big a couple of times - around 100g BX in 20l batches (some dry hops) backed up by a big dollop of 9% AA Target to total 70+ IBUs.

I'd suggest just make sure you tone it down, 50ish IBU's in a Pale Ale & be careful with the bittering hops.

 

[TheRedDarren]

Looking back at my BX recipes and I realise that you just need to avoid hoppy madness... I've gone big a couple of times - around 100g BX in 20l batches (some dry hops) backed up by a big dollop of 9% AA Target to total 70+ IBUs.

I'd suggest just make sure you tone it down, 50ish IBU's in a Pale Ale & be careful with the bittering hops.

Thanks for the info, would you mind explaining why though, please?
Is it because too much can get a bit grassy? Bit like an EKG?

 

[TheRedDarren]

Roughly how much as a late addition?

 

[martinjamesford]

Thanks for the info, would you mind explaining why though, please?
Is it because too much can get a bit grassy? Bit like an EKG?

Yes, grassy and dank, overpoweringly nasal, if that makes much sense...