Hop tea for a kit

[Bowl sprayer]

I was wondering what hops would be recommended to create a belting IPA. My plan is to brew a kit IPA and give it an extra lift with extra malt and hop flavours.

Any ideas on the hops to use?

Thanks

 

[clibit]

Most people are using American hops like Centennial, Citra, Cascade, Columbus, Chinook, Simcoe, Amarillo. Check out this American blog article..

http://www.themadfermentationist.com/2013/02/american-ipa-hop-bills-and-analysis.html

And have a look at the Better Brew IPA thread in the kit brewing forum. You'll find it in the A-Z.

 

[Duxuk]

Let's assume your kit gives the right level of bitterness. What you want to add is the fresh hoppy flavours that a kit can't really do. I would get a bag of American hops from the list above and make my kit as per the instructions but substituting pale malt extract if you are advised to use sugar. You can add a bit more extract than the sugar recommendation, 'cos it's not as "strong". Add 1.2kg instead of 1kg of sugar maybe.
When the kit stuff and extract are in your pan and have reached a boil, take it off the stove and allow to cool to around 80-90C. At this point add 30-40g of your chosen hop and allow to steep for 20 mins. Then sieve the panfull into your FV with a sieve, collinder or piece of nylon curtain material to collect the hops. If the latter, do it whilst the family are out, then thay'll never know:-D
After the fermentation has calmed down after a week or so, add another 20-30g of hops dry and leave 'til the brew is fermented out and looking fairly clear, usually about 14 days. Syphoning never seems to cause me a problem when I dry hop like this. Prime, bottle, wait.............................................and enjoy.

 

[pms67]

Good point well made, I agree with all except boiling the kit.
I thought it was recommended not to do this ? Maybe I am wrong.
Adding hops transforms a beer :

 

[Duxuk]

You may well be right about not boiling a kit, pms67. I haven't made a kit in a long time. But my hopping theory works for extract and AG, though you do need to boil hops at various stages for those brews. I've just drunk a bottle of fairly mature AG with chinook steeped as described and citra dry hop. Very nice:drink:

 

[Bowl sprayer]

That will be a great help. I will post the results. Thanks

 

[pms67]

Sounds nice Duxuk,I have just thrown together a Kilner bitter (£7.50 from sainsburys ) and chucked in some of the hop pellets from my Youngs American Amber Ale, some Amarillo and some Hallertau Hersbrucker.
I haven't got a clue how it will turn out but a nice hoppy pint will do me.
Should be fine as I am drinking the Kilner lager and it's obviously quality malt extract.
Cheers

 

[pms67]

Just drinking my Coopers Draught with East Kent Goldings, very,very good.
First time I've tried this hop and must recommend it.
Beer is clean with a slight fruity finish although I swapped the yeast for Safale us04.
Cheers guys