IBU and ten thousand hop combo

[shaunsbrew]

am i right in thinking that depending on the bitterness of the ale intended (i.e. The expected bitterness, 34.6 IBU) this is the reason behind using all different types of hops to get to the value IBU required ?

 

[Wez]

Different hops have different AA (alpha acid) contents (this is the value we use to calculate bitterness, which in beer is measured in IBU's)

The way it works is if you want a 40 IBU beer you would need more of a lower AA hop to get that 40IBU's than you would a high AA hop.

We have a bitterness calculator here which may help:

calculators.php

:thumb:

 

[shaunsbrew]

as so not to use more grams of hops needed to get to a high IBU

 

[jamesb]

No mate. You can achieve any desired bitterness from just one hop. The use of more varieties is for the flavours. However, opinion is divided on whether you use one high aa hop for bittering only and then use late hops for flavour or whether different bittering hops also give different flavours or types of bitterness to the brew.
I'm firmly in the later camp. A brew bitterered with brewers gold will be completely different to one brewed with target even if you use the same (third) variety of hops for the late flavour addition.

 

[shaunsbrew]

thats what im trying to find out, only time and taste buds will tell i suppose but next year im hoping to grow some hops and so wondering how many different types i need or could i just get away with one/two decent varient(s)

 

[jamesb]

The classic British combination is always fuggles and goldings.