BeerBorg

I'm in the mood to make a simple, single hop pale ale. It's won't exactly be a SMaSH, but pretty darn close. The grain bill will be 2 row, a little crystal 40 for color and a touch of carapils.

I just don't know what hop to use, so I'm asking for some of your recommendations. I don't want to use any the normal everyday hops like cascade, centennial, simcoe, amarillo, etc etc. I'm looking to give something a try that I've not used much of yet. I was was reading up on Rakau, Equinox and Galaxy. They all sound interesting to me. I like my pale ales in the citrusy and fruity realm, so keep that in mind too.

So what have you tried that you liked, that might play well as a single hop pale ale?
Thanks for the help everyone!

Azacca, Galaxy, Equinox......any of the Australian/New Zealand hops are nice and different. Pacific Gem etc>
What about one of the new, experimental hops they have floating around? I 've read about a few and Farmhouse usually has a supply of experimental ones on hand.

I've still got a shyte-ton of hops I have to go thru so please don't like something I've not tried yet or I'll have to buy those too and you'll have an addict continue his addiction.

Make a hop dart board and brew with what it lands on.

Take a look at bravo and delta hops

Lovin some Amarillo! But then again I didn't read your post completely My new vote Galaxy, had that in a pale ale when we were in Buffalo at Resurgence, mighty tasty too! You opened yourself up to you might as well throw a dart at it! So many individual palates out there that may not perceive tastes the same as you. I would also make your hop additions from 30 to flame out to max out the flavor without the bitter bite.

RE: experimental hops - some of the new experimental hops say they have stuff like "stone fruit". Which is cool. Except that if 'Mericans get over their yeast flavor is bad thing, they could find out that using many English yeasts will give them "stone fruit" when fermented at real ale temperatures. IE West Yorkshire yeast makes wonderful stone fruit.

Just saying you can get flavors many other ways then hops. People used to know this - Europeans still know this - but somehow 'Mericans got afraid of it with the whole "don't let yeast mess with my hops" thing. So now they make hops that provide flavors that are missing because they won't use the yeast...

Just seems dumb.

:: rant of the day mode disabled ::

LOL.

I can only speak for Galaxy after pulling out the stuff you mentioned you didn't want to use.

And I know you've used the Mandarina Bavaria in Fruit Salad, right? Have you done a SMaSH with that?

I did a pale ale with a similar grain bill and used Nelson Sauvin hops. People really loved that one. Its a fun hop to mess around with.

Nelson Suavin and Galaxy are both fantastic all by themselves.

Thanks for the replys and suggestions everyone.
The Mandarina Bavaria was in the Fruit Salad, but I've not used it alone. The Galaxy might be the choice here. It's one that I was looking at and it's also one that most of you suggested. Just have to make sure that the LHBS has some stock.

Thanks again everyone....Galaxy it is.

HBC438, used in an ipa a couple weeks ago. A bit pricey but the proceed went to ALS. Not sure but I think you can still find some out there, I got mine from Label Peelers.

Two years ago, MadBrewer and I collaborated on a session red ale, Leaf Raker Red. It was to be a single hopped, hop forward, session Red Ale. We used Galaxy in 6 separate additions. We thought the several additions at different times throughout the brew would give us a better grip on Galaxy and just what it brings to the table. I don't think either of us had used it to that point and I haven't since.

It gave a big, bright hop character to the beer that was real nice. I also remember it seeming in some way one dimensional. I'm pretty sure we concluded it would be a great hop to use in conjunction with another variety (whatever that might be)... something that would play well with others. It just seemed to lack depth by itself.

Anyway, that was the only time I used it. MadBrewer probably had a better, more accurate opinion. I'm sure he has used it since.

Just my two cents...

Thanks Pudge...good feedback. I'll post the recipe in the Advanced Recipe section in a little while.