HOPS ? newbi question

[steve denholm]

+1 for a SMASH too, I'm just learning all grain and am currently buying a 100g bag of hops (cascade, nelson etc) then using them with about 5kg maris otter extra pale, then using brewers friend to work out timing of adding the hops for my desired bitterness. This way i can get a good feel for what hops do what (and drink loads of beer) (side bonus of this is I can also work out my brewhouse efficiency)

 

[terrym]

I think we would all agree that hops are relatively cheap, most being around £4/5ish per 100g delivered, unless you are looking for something exotic, especially since you can put them in the freezer if you don't use up all of the packet as usually happens. So pick a hop that would better serve your needs in terms of the beers you like and the brewing learning experience, and keep your existing hops for another day unless, of course, you really really want to use them.

 

[trevorS]

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?

100 g 4.6 approx 2017

 

[An Ankoù]

100 g 4.6 approx 2017

70 grams at the beginning of a 5 gallon boil should give you 40 BUs and put the rest in at flame out. You may want a bit less than 40 IBUs. I assumed an target OG of 1045. Yep that'll work. Play around with the IBU calculator in Brewer's Friend or just go for it and see how it turns out. Fuggles are a very forgiving hop, but can be a bit grassy if you over-dry hop with them.

 

[trevorS]

Thanks to everybody that responded to this thread I have ordered Greg Hughes' book Home Brew Beer and with make a decision from there !

Thanks all

 

[Keruso]

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.

Good advice from Clint, I got the GH book it really helped me with the whole process and recipes

 

[The Baron]

I think everybody needs a copy of this book it is called the Bible in the brewing fraternity and there are some SMASH recipes in it to give you a idea

 

[Macedonut]

Thanks to everybody that responded to this thread I have ordered Greg Hughes' book Home Brew Beer and with make a decision from there !

Thanks all

Good choice. I've just conditioning my first SMASH from Greg Hughes book. Sampled after 12 days and I'm very happy with the outcome.

 

[Richy25]

after reading this Im in for the SmaSH and have order the book too :)

 

[The Baron]

Thats a good bit of advice the book is called the bible in the uk brewing world and always good to go for a recipe or a recipe to adapt. Smash brews will give you a good idea of what a hop will bring to the party so that you can blend different hops for a specific taste. I do not generally see why people should use more than 4 hops in any one recipe, you can use the same hops multiple times in a recipe but too many confuses the taste