Great British hop combinations?

[bigdave]

This may sound like a sin but I've never brewed exclusively with English hops and I think it's about time I did!! Can anyone recommend a good combination for a summery pale ale?

[Dave S]

This may sound like a sin but I've never brewed exclusively with English hops and I think it's about time I did!! Can anyone recommend a good combination for a summery pale ale?

I reckon you can't go far wrong with Fuggles and EKG. I'll bet they are, or were the most commonly used combination in English ales. I also love the dry hop aroma you get with EKG.

[AnthonyUK]

Challenger and EKG for me.

[Dennis King]

Challenger and EKG for me.

Great combination.

[Dave S]

Challenger is indeed a great hop.

[TC2642]

Challenger is indeed a great hop.

Second that, it's the only British one along with Bramling X that I really use. Although I did grab some First Gold to make an all PA with.

[bigdave]

Cool. Cheers guys. I will investigate EKG and Challenger.

[Goulders]

Challenger is great - check out the Consiton Blue bird clone here

[beer gut]

Hi all I must agree Challenger and East Kent is a fab blend. I have brewed a bitter where I have used either Progress or EKG for first wort, I then use Challenger for bittering and the last 10 mins I then use progress and EKG for 2 mins boil. I then leave all the hops to soak for 30 mins before transferring to the F.V. There is another thread on this forum where they say Bram X and Pilgrim makes a cracking blend, I myself have never tried this blend but I have plans too in the future. I have had great success blending Sovereign with EKG or First Gold in Aroma usage. Hope this helps

[lancsSteve]

Some of the less-well-known British hops are many of which Rob has in stock excellent and quite interesting and different compared to the traditional CAMRA-pleasing EKG/Fuggles combo.

Admiral blew a LOT of people away at a hop rubbing with charles faram's at the northern craft brewer's meeting in saltaire.

Adnams I tried with Boadicea was also excellent. I like the sound of pioneer, pilgirm and progress in particular. (A "pilgirm's progress" brew sounds excellent for name and falvours!). Endeavour was reportedly amazing but out of stock everywhere.

[smdjoachim]

(A "pilgirm's progress" brew sounds excellent for name and falvours!).

Already done it

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=32817&hilit=+pilgrim

[beer gut]

Hi all that Pilgrim and progress ale sounds and looks fab. I bought a packet of Endeavour hops which I am keeping for a single hop ESB brew. I have a plans for a Farmhouse pale ale using First Gold for bittering and flavour then I am going to use either Beata or Archer for finishing. What is Pilgrim like to brew with? They is info on it but I believe you only way you find a true hops qualities and flaws is you brew with it. I have used Boadicea hop in a few of my brews it has excellent bittering qualities but is very poor on the aroma side, I have been told that Boadicea is going to be getting scrapped because of the poor aroma. The hop farmers have tried everything to get the aroma out of Boadicea but they couldn't so the farmers are going to faze it out overtime. I have brewed with the new hop Flyer, this has good clean bittering but it's aroma and flavour of the hop fades as the beer matures so I won't be brewing with it where a good hop flavour is needed. Has anybody tried Admiral yet?

[barney]

Hello Beer Gut, did you see the Farams guy at Saltaire NCB? He was raving about Admiral, Orange Marmalade flavour and aroma.

[Nofolkandchance]

Got this from my mate, brewed it many times now as my go to house bitter. Its a lovely pint on a summers day

Challenge For Gold

Original Gravity (OG): 1.043 (°P): 10.7
Final Gravity (FG): 1.010 (°P): 2.6
Alcohol (ABV): 4.34 %
Colour (SRM): 4.2 (EBC): 8.3
Bitterness (IBU): 29.6 (Average)

100% Pale Ale Malt

1.4 g/L Challenger (6.1% Alpha) @ 60 Minutes (Boil)
0.8 g/L East Kent Golding (5.4% Alpha) @ 10 Minutes (Boil)
1.2 g/L East Kent Golding (5.4% Alpha) @ 5 Minutes (Boil)
2 g/L East Kent Golding (5.4% Alpha) @ 0 Minutes (Boil)


Single step Infusion at 68°C for 60 Minutes. Boil for 60 Minutes

Fermented at 18°C with Danstar Nottingham

[seymour]

As stated, East Kent Goldings and Fuggles are the classic combo. I've said this before in other threads, but it's relevant here, too: In a similar but amplified way, I've really enjoyed using Challenger and Progress together. You know how we refer to Centennial as "super-Cascade", mostly the same grapefruit/black currant/pine resin aspects but more of them? Well, I'm sure this is an oversimplification, but it seems to me Challenger is like a super-Golding and Progress is like a super-Fuggles.

But that's purely my own opinion from a few recent brews. If I'm off-base there, someone please set me straight.

I was starting to think Challenger would be my go-to bittering hop for any and all English ales, but now I'm digging hard on Flyer, so I'm conflicted...