Amarillo hops what's the verdicted??

[beer gut]

Hi everyone iam making a I.P.A this weekend and iam thinking about expermenting with Amarillo hop. Caus it is a little pricey i was wondering what people think of the Amarillo hop? and what it is best used for?. I have been told it is very orangey but with it been quite a new hop they is not much else been said. So what do you think of the Amarillo hop?

[softlad]

I really like Amarillo. It is citrusy (more grapefruit than orange to me).

I made an all pale malt pale ale (5.3% 56 IBU) and it was a perfect summer afternoon pint. The fairly high AA% means youre not adding a shedload of hops. That said, its still the thick end of a pack of hops.

[beer gut]

Hi and thanx for the advice and after what you have said i will use it in my hop bill. I heard from my friend when he used it for a christmas spiced ale the ale was a little harsh, i don't know if that has anything to do with the Amarillo hop i am just being carefull.

[vacant]

The fairly high AA% means youre not adding a shedload of hops.

Probably my untutored sense of taste, but I'm not totally convinced about the bittering differences between hops. So I tend to use some cheap high AA% hops for bittering and save my expensive hops for late additions etc.

As I said, not totally convinced, I'm still working out exactly what FHW is doing to my brews. Only brewing once a month means I have at least a four week aging difference so maybe I'll never know.

[adm]

It's lovely!

But you'll probably end up making more of an APA (American Pale Ale) as opposed to an IPA with it - it's very much a signature US hop.

To me, it tastes a lot like Seville Orange Marmalade or Ruby Grapefruit - in a very good way!

Personally, I'd use a more resiny type hop (Like Simcoe perhaps for most of the bittering as most of the Amarillo flavour will get lost), then use the Amarillo for the flavour and aroma additions.

Go for it....

[beer gut]

I thought you could not add such a high Alpher hop at the end of the boil? The Amarillo i bought as aau's of 9.2% which is very high for a aroma hop. In my I.P.A hop bill iam mixing Amarillo with progress, East kent goldings and the low aau's hallatu mulifru.

[adm]

You can add whatever hops whenever you like! There are no rules.....

However, some of the very high Alpha hops can leave a pretty rough bitterness, whereas some of them are really "dual purpose" hops and can be quite happily used for flavour and aroma. You can of course use it for bittering too, and the higher AA means you don't need so much either.

I'd say Amarillo is an excellent flavour and aroma hop - like Cascade. Although the AA is fairly high, it's got a nice smooth taste.

For the flavouring and aroma additions, it's not so much the AA that you are looking for - more the more volatile compounds (i think cohumulone and other exotically name things, but don't quote me...)

If you are looking for that American style citrus, personally, I'd leave out the Hallertau from this beer as it's more of a lager hop and will probably get lost with the other hops unless you use loads of it. I'd maybe go for a mix of Progress and Amarillo for bittering at 90 minutes to about 30IBU (probably going heavier on the Progress) then another mix of Amarillo and Golding for the flavour and an additional 20 IBU- but this time going heavier on the Amarillo, then finally pure Amarillo for aroma. But that's just me, and I do like my Amarillo!

On the other hand, if you want a more traditional English style IPA, I'd still leave out the Hallertau and probably the Amarillo too - although a bit wouldn't hurt - and just use the Goldings and Progress

[softlad]

The fairly high AA% means youre not adding a shedload of hops.

Probably my untutored sense of taste, but I'm not totally convinced about the bittering differences between hops. So I tend to use some cheap high AA% hops for bittering and save my expensive hops for late additions etc.

I'll give that a try next time around. I used Amarillo only to get a good sense of the flavours that the hop gives, after reading the rave reviews earlier this year. Reading this I may be able to get two brewdays out of the one pack of Amarillo

[6470zzy]

I love using Amarillo hops. Generally I use them for flavour and aroma additions in a APA, very tasty indeed and if you like those then you need to get your hands on some Summit hops. Even better.

Cheers

[adm]

Oh you swine.....I've just read all about Summit, and they sound right up my street. Only problem is I can't find anyone in the UK that has them.

I had a look at Craftbrewer in Aus, but even they don't have the elusive Summit!

And I saw Laripu's post about NorthernBrewer selling them for $9.99 a pound - but they are out of stock too.

[6470zzy]

Oh you swine.....I've just read all about Summit, and they sound right up my street. Only problem is I can't find anyone in the UK that has them.

I had a look at Craftbrewer in Aus, but even they don't have the elusive Summit!

And I saw Laripu's post about NorthernBrewer selling them for $9.99 a pound - but they are out of stock too.

Lucky for me that I still have 6 ounces left in my hop stash in the deep freeze. I truly love Summit.

Cheers

[beer gut]

Hi guys i only started making all grain beers this year so what is this elsuive summit hop and what taste and other properties does this hop bring to the glass? The other hop i was looking to buy is soverign, i have been told it's great for bitters and pale ales.

[Fuse]

I absolutley love the amarillo hops, in fact having made a brew a while back its now become my regular brew - mine was done in a very hoppy concoction (link here) about 110 IBU's is the stable now for it. It gives a great taste of grapefruit as mentioned before, but ive never gotten any orange from it. Also mentioned before is using it as an aroma hop, you wouldnt believe the lovely smell it gives off esp for such a high aa% hop. I Always tend to dry hop with 30g now as well. Only problem is, that its becoming an expensive hobby with those bad boys. im up to 65p a pint now

Im going to try a bit of pacific gem as well now, see how that goes.

[beer gut]

That beer looks fantastic! it is a litle pricey for the american hops. bu tyou can still make just as good or even better than you would recive in a pub in your home at much lower price. I think paying for the better hops like amarillo and some other variets are well woth putting your hand in your pocket. It's a known fact since the credit crunch every one has gone back to home brewing caus my local home brew shop is over run with orders, so the companys wack the prices up while there is this mad rush and soon as(hopefully)prices of drink goes back down people will drop the home brewing, but people like us we will stay either way.

[6470zzy]

There's a nice Hop sale going on at Rebel Brewer

http://www.rebelbrewer.com/shoppingcart ... ents/Hops/

I just scored some Amarillo, Summit and Apollo

Cheers