HOPS ? newbi question

[trevorS]

Only ever done kit beers but finally got most of the equip needed for all grain!

Reading recipes on here and elsewhere i see recipes with as many as ten different hops listed , so my question is do you use all these different hops or just choose one?

Also looking for a pale ale / lager type simple recipe to start with if anyone has a suggestion.

Currently using Masterpint lager kits !

Thanks all

 

[Banbeer]

Hi trevorS, no they are all added to give different bitterings, taste etc, if you read the recipe it should list when the hops go in etc, hope this is clear?

 

[trevorS]

Hi trevorS, no they are all added to give different bitterings, taste etc, if you read the recipe it should list when the hops go in etc, hope this is clear?

Thanks Yes that is clear I think i must have found the complicated recipes first.

 

[Banbeer]

Yeah most only have a couple of hops but are still added a few times for the same reasons as before.

I'll PM you a nice Lager AG recipe if you want, very easy to do,

 

[Nicks90]

Complicated recipes which demand different hops will use lots different ones depending on the profile they're after.
Personally I use just follow a simple guide. Bittering hop, bitter aroma hop and then aroma hop as part of a 3 stage addition when doing the boil. Which hops I use at each point depends on the style. However there is absolutely nothing wrong with just using one if it's a multipurpose hop.
No point trying to make a high bitterness beer using only one hop and choosing a hop with low bitterness and high aroma... You'd end up adding a tonne of it to get the bitterness you want and wasting money.

I have a go to bitter hop - challenger or admiral. Smooth way of cheaply adding bitterness.
Then the other 2 additions are dependant on style. Usually fuggles or EKG for British ales, citra and cascade for American ipas.

Of course I'm fairly new to ag and I am expanding my hop stores to include other stuff to experiment with

 

[Davvy]

Hi there,
I personally would have a look at what other recipes are using , and the more you look at them on the section on this forum (and others) for "recipes" (Linked to Brewers friend, etc..) you will see a common theme emerging !!??
I personally started with Pils types - and using trad. German hops such as Saaz, and other ones in the same German background, it gave me a good starting point and a pretty good beer.
All the best,
David.

 

[Leon103]

A recipe with 10 different hops is one best to avoid

 

[The Baron]

Hi Trevor if you want something simple just do a single malt single hop beer commonly known as a SMASH so all you have to do is buy one hop for your first beer. There are plenty of recipes out there for this style so say just a ale malt plus a hop you fancy do a bit of research on each hop style to get a idea of what it will turn out like. It will make your first brew day simple as multi hops can be problematic until you have done a few brews

 

[terrym]

There are single hop recipes for Cascade and East Kent Goldings in Greg Hughes' book Home Brew Beer if you can get hold of a copy, which should be good as a starter. Try your local library or ebay for a s/h copy.

 

[An Ankoù]

Have you got any hops already? If so, what have you got?

 

[Banbeer]

PM sent

 

[trevorS]

Yeah most only have a couple of hops but are still added a few times for the same reasons as before.

I'll PM you a nice Lager AG recipe if you want, very easy to do,

Thanks please do

 

[trevorS]

Have you got any hops already? If so, what have you got?

Fuggles

 

[terrym]

Fuggles

You should be looking for some bittering hops. See what @Nicks90 said above.
Fuggles are usually added late on or for a dry hop because they have low bittering potential (i.e. low IBUs). They are typically classed as an aroma hop.
Have a look through CMLs list of hops which may help.
https://www.crossmyloofbrew.co.uk/hop-guide
and this
http://beerlegends.com/hops-varieties
and this
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/...-english-and-american-ales.52909/#post-483777

 

[trevorS]

You should be looking for some bittering hops. See what @Nicks90 said above.
Fuggles are usually added late on or for a dry hop because they have low bittering potential (i.e. low IBUs). They are typically classed as an aroma hop.
Have a look through CMLs list of hops which may help.
https://www.crossmyloofbrew.co.uk/hop-guide
and this
http://beerlegends.com/hops-varieties
and this
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/...-english-and-american-ales.52909/#post-483777

Thanks i will browse those threads

 

[Clint]

As said...get the Greg Hughes book! It breaks AG down into basics,it's easy to follow and there's loads of great recipes.

 

[An Ankoù]

You can make good beer, especially pale ale, with fuggles. But you'll need quite a lot. So how many have you got? What percentage alpha acid is marked on the packet? How old are they?

 

[phildo79]

I'm no BrewDog fanboy but they have released all their recipes online. If they have a beer that you like, you could try a clone version. The benefits of this are that it's a tried and tested recipe, you already like the beer, you know how it should taste so you can see how well you've done and it's free (some official clone recipes come at a price). Might be worth thinking about. You can always pop your hops in the freezer if you don't need them for your chosen recipe.

 

[HoppyTommy]

Hi Trevor if you want something simple just do a single malt single hop beer commonly known as a SMASH so all you have to do is buy one hop for your first beer. There are plenty of recipes out there for this style so say just a ale malt plus a hop you fancy do a bit of research on each hop style to get a idea of what it will turn out like. It will make your first brew day simple as multi hops can be problematic until you have done a few brews

I think a SMASH is a great suggestion to start. With the right type of hop you can use some in the boil, some at flame out and some as a dry hop. I did a few different smashes with the same hop and the same weight of hop in total but used at different points in the brew. You'll soon find out what you like from a brew.

 

[pvt_ak]

Go with single hop brews would be my advice - gives you a real understanding of the hop flavours and bitterness .

I did this for quite a few before moving on to more complex hop addition brews .