substituting amarillo for cascade in SNPA clone

[drmick]

Hi All

I ordered the 80 pint kit of Mysterio's SNPA from the MaltMiller and made up half of it a couple of weeks ago and its happily sitting in bottles at the moment conditioning. Rather than make up the other 40 this weekend (or more likely next weekend) exactly the same I thought I might have a play - I have 100g of Amarillo in the freezer that I have never used and was thinking would it be a good idea to subsitute in the amarillo for the cascade?

I read on one of the posts further down the page that Amarillo and Saaz (think it was Saaz might have been Styrians) make a good combination so would that be a better replacement for the cascade and if so what proportions of each hop?

Thanks

Michael

[Eadweard]

It'll be great, they are similar hops but I think Amarillo has the edge on Cascade.

[drmick]

just had to go and check that it was Amarillo I had in the freezer - took a bit of rummaging but found it under a packet of Bramling Cross, next thing I need to find something to use those in and the packet of cascade that I will be replacing in the SNPA.

If I get the time this weekend my aim is to do a London Pride batch from BYOBRA, and then this will be second on my list.

Thanks
Michael

[Bryggmester]

I have just brewed a mild using only Bramling Cross. I had read somewhere that Oscar Wilde mild, one of my favourites, has overtones of blackcurrant, which is supposed to be one of the characteristics of Bramling X. It is now maturing in the polypin, but when I transferred it from the FV it tasted wonderful. Don't know about blackcurrant, but Bramling X certainly has a distinctive taste. Amarillo is one of my favourite hops for pale beers, either single variety, or combined with Challenger.

[befuggled]

If you substitute Amarillo for Cascade it won't be the SNPA clone, but it should be a damn fine beer.
Quite a few years ago I had some Crouch Vale Amarillo and have brewed several single and multi- hopped since.

I confess that I cannot see much of a similarity between Cascade and Amarillo, with some saying that Amarillo is Cascade on steroids.
To me, they are very different. I find that high levels of Amarillo can taste rather medicinal when drunk young, but mature beautifully.

In a word (or three) go for it!

[drmick]

well I am going for it - currently mashing. Luckily I was awake this morning when I was weighing out hops and looked at the label for the amarillo, alpha acid 9.5% which is almost twice the cascades - I was just going to weigh out the same amount as the SNPA recipe - that might have been a bit too much hops.

While searching in the freezer I discovered I now have 200g of Cascade might have to find something to use them up as well as the bramling cross.

[Rookie]

It'll be great, they are similar hops but I think Amarillo has the edge on Cascade.

I agree, amarillo is way better.

[drmick]

the smell in the kitchen from the amarillo was quite fantastic. Apart from my hop strainer getting blocked again (I really should sort out a better one) its been a rather good day, hopefully it will turn out well and be ready for Christmas

[befuggled]

I am just getting stuck into some Chinook bittered (50gms), three additions of Amarillo (total 135gms), bit of Cara Aroma, 6.7% 72EBU, 55EBC.
Made in June and now beautifully mellowed.

Pint number two and a warm glow is starting to develop.
I hope yours is ready for xmas, it should be a good un!
Best of luck with it!

[Rookie]

If you substitute Amarillo for Cascade it won't be the SNPA clone, but it should be a damn fine beer.
Quite a few years ago I had some Crouch Vale Amarillo and have brewed several single and multi- hopped since.

I confess that I cannot see much of a similarity between Cascade and Amarillo, with some saying that Amarillo is Cascade on steroids.
To me, they are very different. I find that high levels of Amarillo can taste rather medicinal when drunk young, but mature beautifully.

In a word (or three) go for it!

The so called "super charged" cascades may be a missquote, I've seen that term applied to centennial hops, which I agree with.

[befuggled]

Rookie, my comments are based on others here and from pages like this:
http://www.brew365.com/hops_amarillo.php
Are you saying that Centennial are supposed to be "super charged" Cascade as well?
I have only recently used them for the first time - in a Jaipur like brew (which you probably do not get over there, but is highly thought of by many here).
Too early to take a serious sample yet though....

[bosium]

They don't taste the same, they are both citrus-ey but to call Amarillo Super-Cascades just isn't accurate imho.
Personally, I prefer Cascade for flavour, but an all-Amarillo beer will be lovely too.

I find Amarillo has a more robust, in-your-face American flavour, but I do think it has a nicer aroma than Cascade and is superb for dry-hopping.

[beer gut]

I have been well informed from comercial brewers and craft brewers that there is to many pale ales that are laced with cascade so much that people are sick of the cascade flavour.So i beleive Amarillo is AMAZING hop with good balanced bitterness to flavour.I have used Amarillo in one of my favourate brews my American pale ale called Miracle this brew did very well in the compition this year, my local home brew shop did not stock amarillo but when i brought some in for him to try he was hooked and sinced he has started stocking Amarillo he has been selling loads amd loads of Amarillo so that speaks volumes to me about Amarillo.Another good hop that blends real well with Amarillo is Crystal it has a delicate tangarene/floral flavour and aroma.This hop is best added either the last 10 mins of the boil or even better add crystal hop when you have transfered the hot wort into FV and leave the hop to stand for half hour and don't forget to keep the lid on the FV while you are steeping the post boil hop crystal this way you will get the best flavour, aroma out of your hop.There is one more hop you could use and that is Simcoe(if you can find some) this hop is breath taking when added early in boil you get Lemony/Piney type flavour however if you add Simcoe late in boil or even dry hop you get a passion fruit flavour and aroma.

[Rookie]

Rookie, my comments are based on others here and from pages like this:
http://www.brew365.com/hops_amarillo.php
Are you saying that Centennial are supposed to be "super charged" Cascade as well?
I have only recently used them for the first time - in a Jaipur like brew (which you probably do not get over there, but is highly thought of by many here).
Too early to take a serious sample yet though....

I've not seen amarillo called supercharged cascades any where else. In my personal experience both are citrussy hops but different.

[Rookie]

I have been well informed from comercial brewers and craft brewers that there is to many pale ales that are laced with cascade so much that people are sick of the cascade flavour.So i beleive Amarillo is AMAZING hop with good balanced bitterness to flavour.I have used Amarillo in one of my favourate brews my American pale ale called Miracle this brew did very well in the compition this year, my local home brew shop did not stock amarillo but when i brought some in for him to try he was hooked and sinced he has started stocking Amarillo he has been selling loads amd loads of Amarillo so that speaks volumes to me about Amarillo.Another good hop that blends real well with Amarillo is Crystal it has a delicate tangarene/floral flavour and aroma.This hop is best added either the last 10 mins of the boil or even better add crystal hop when you have transfered the hot wort into FV and leave the hop to stand for half hour and don't forget to keep the lid on the FV while you are steeping the post boil hop crystal this way you will get the best flavour, aroma out of your hop.There is one more hop you could use and that is Simcoe(if you can find some) this hop is breath taking when added early in boil you get Lemony/Piney type flavour however if you add Simcoe late in boil or even dry hop you get a passion fruit flavour and aroma.

I think cascades are way over used, SNPA hit it big with them and is considered the standard hop for APA, but I much prefer amarillo. I also like a good British pale with goldings.