Back to Shopping at NorthernBrewer.com

English IPA Hops

Ingredients
#1

I’m planning an English IPA (English cause I plan on sticking with MO and English hop varieties) and I want it to have a front-end bite with a slightly malty, abundantly hoppy finish. I generally like to stick to the Mosher paradigm of using low-alpha varieties, both for bittering and flavor/aroma. If I work with Fuggles and EKG, say Fuggles for ‘bittering’ and flavor additions, and EKG for aroma, will I still be able to get the bite I am looking for?

Basically, are higher alphas required for ‘bite?’

As a partial aside, I am planning on adjusting water a little to the bitter side using chloride/sulfate balance.

Thanks for the input!

#2

Not necessarily, although you need to explain exactly what you mean by “bite”. Alpha acids are interchangeable as far as simple bitterness goes so 3 ounces of 5% hops give the same amount as 1 ounce of 15% hops. However, hop varieties can be very different in their impact on the beer. None of the English varieties have the acrid and sharp punch of high alpha American C hops but that’s probably not what you want in this beer anyway. There are some UK bittering hops like Target and Phoenix that are in the 10% range and they have relatively neutral flavor and won’t get in the way of the low alphas. Challenger comes in at 7-8% has both good flavor and blends very well with hops like Goldings and Fuggles.

#3

Great, thanks for the suggestion. What I mean by ‘bite’ is a well-defined bitterness at the beginning that is replaced by an even, rounded hop aroma. Basically, I want some bitterness, but not to feel like I’ve eaten a grassy lemon.

Are either Fuggles or EKG better suited for dry-hopping?

#4

[quote=“pduppel”]
Are either Fuggles or EKG better suited for dry-hopping?[/quote]

IMO, id go with EKG. or a mix.

smell them, whichever you think smells ‘best’ will be your best bet for aroma hops

#5

Fuggles would be good. I think Lagunitas IPA is all willamette which I’ve been told is pretty similar to fuggles.

#6

Lagunitas IPA has a 30 min addition of Willamette but that’s the only addition of it. It has 30 min charge of Centennial, and Cascade at end of boil as well as both as a dry hop. The bittering addition is something high alpha or hop extract, can’t remember which.

#7

If you get some fresh, English Fuggles, they are very resiny. If you use enough to bitter to 45-50 IBU, you should get the bite you are looking for. Balance that off with East Kent Goldings for flavor and Aroma, and you have a wonderful beer. I don’t care for Willamette most of the time though. I have had some metallic beers when using this hop.

#8

Stay away from American Fuggles unless you like the taste of dirt. :cheers:

#9

Haha, well noted. I like UK Fuggles and Williamette (a Fuggle breed, right?) so I probably would have tried US Fuggles.

#10

US Tettnager is reportededly a fuggles. I would dry hop with fuggles. It has a high farnesene content.

Back to Shopping at NorthernBrewer.com