Need advice for Chinook/Centennial IPA

framptonbmx · November 13, 2011, 9:40pm

Hey guys,

It’s been another year off brewing. I want to get back in the game with an IPA. I am planning to make an IPA using only Centennial and Chinook hops. I want a ton of hop flavor and aroma. I was thinking of bittering with an ounce of Chinook and then using 1 oz chinook / 1 oz centennial, at 20 minutes, 10 minutes, zero minutes and for dryhop. I was just wondering, is Chinook okay as a flavor/aroma/dryhop? I had always heard it was only for bittering, but was wondering if you guys think this would work or if Chinook shouldn’t be used for flavor and aroma?

s_scoggin · November 13, 2011, 10:40pm

i use chinook as an all purpose hop. it gives a ‘pine-tree’ aroma and flavor. i use it often as late addition hops. if overused ive heard some people can perceive it as harsh.

shadetree · November 14, 2011, 4:48am

Do you enjoy Arrogant Bastard? If so, you like Chinooks since they’re the only hop used. I think they’re a great all-purpose hop and really like them for dry-hopping.

kh54s10 · November 14, 2011, 5:29am

I have an Amber Ale and Pale Ale in fermentation that have Cascade and Centennial. I am dryhopping both with Centennial. My inspiration for the Centennial came from Long Trail Brewery’s Pale Ale. I really liked it. I hope they come out good. I have the Northern Brewer all grain Chinook IPA kit so I look forward to that one also. It will be the first time using Chinook.

a10t2 · November 14, 2011, 5:36am

Chinook can definitely be harsh, so it depends on what you like in your IPAs. I think your recipe sounds pretty good as-is, but if you want more citrus you may want to go with 2:1 Centennial:Chinook, or even 3:1.

jlap · November 14, 2011, 5:18pm

+1. I’d suggest going with something like 1.5 oz Cent/.5oz Chinook in the late hops additions. I guess I look at Chinook as having good contributions to make but it isn’t as well rounded as something like Centennial for a late addition. You might look at the BYO Stone IPA clone recipe. I think it uses Centennial for flavor and aroma and then dry hops with a mix of Chinook and Centennial. That could be another way to go…

framptonbmx · November 16, 2011, 4:29am

Thanks so much for the advice guys! I think I’ll go with the 1.5 oz Centennial and 0.5 oz Chinook for the late additions. I’ll let you all know how it comes out. Thanks again.