These big hop bomb IPA's...

[RobWalker]

you know, your sierra nevada torpedos, punk IPA, double IPA's...

has anybody got a nice solid bit of theory on when to hop? I've got cluster, nelson sauvin and cascade to use. I tried clean bittering with a tonne of aroma, but it could definitely be better...would love to have a full batch of something matching up to those examples!

 

[puravida]

The technique is to add large amounts of hops right at the end of the boil so just the aroma gets extracted and not the alpha acids which give the bitterness.

If I am making a super hoppy beer, I'll add bittering hops at 60 mins then the aroma hops at 20 mins, 5 mins and then about 5-10 mins AFTER I turn the flame out. I'll then add further hops in a muslin bag about a week later directly into the FV.

I'd suggest you avoid the cluster hops altogether. Your cascades are the classic big, hoppy, west coast aromoa hops and are perfect. Nelsons are lovely but can be overpowering. Add them with caution.

Double IPA's are a slightly different style - the beer should be stronger and should be heavily weighted at both ends to make sure there is an intensely bitter flavour as well as the massive aroma.

 

[Green Ninja]

Last one I did I actually overdid the hops.

It's like grapefruit juice, no malt at all.

I like it though (a bit)