You have to use it and see for yourself. I like it, my wife does not.
+1
I think it is about personal smell/flavor. And I really do believe the ability to detect cattiness and dankness is genetic to some degree. For me, simcoe is all cat-pee and I will avoid using it. In fact, I know of award-winning commercial beers that generously use Simcoe and I nearly gag when smelling/tasting, while the person next to me is in hop euphoria. I am not arguing with those that love the aroma and flavor. I'm sure that's what they experience. So, long story short, use your own judgement. And there are a lot of commercial beers to help with Simcoe research
I agree with the cattiness comments. It smells like a dirty liter box to meā¦but it is popular nonetheless. I think if you are careful with it and pair it well with some other hops, specifically amarillo and citra as other have said, it can be drinkable. I think it a personal preference. Try it out and see what you think.
Cheers!
It smells like Ammonia? You have a f*cked up sense of smell!
I like Simcoe, I don't get the whole cat pee thing people describe...are you sticking your nose in your cat's litter box after he/she goes? Simcoe doesn't burn the nostrils like cleaning my cat's litter box does.
I get more of a pine/citrus thing. It's definitely a unique hop and it is strange that so many people either love it or hate it. There doesn't seem to be much of a gray area.
But Simcoe definitely goes well with either Chinook or Amarillo, or both. One of my favorite hop combos I use in my black IPA is Cascade, Chinook, Simcoe. It's nice. Also the same combo as New Belgium's Ranger, come to find out. That's a solid IPA.