[HoosierBrew]

Apollo + Galaxy should be nice. Another "space" themed hop that you might be able to get your hands on is Southern Cross.

+1.  And I've come around to Apollo big time. I shied away from it for awhile after having a couple single hop Apollo beers that were pretty onion-y.  But on my last big YVH order I picked up some Apollo among others and I'm really liking the resiny, orange/citrus thing. And I got none of the onion character out of these hops.

[Pinski]

I've been looking around for the hops because my LHBS doesn't have apollo of pioneer. I can't find a single place online that has pioneer hops. I only know the places you guys suggest, but nobody had them.

Pioneer might be tough to find, but Apollo and Galaxy will make a great IIPA. I'd go with somewhere around 8-12 oz of hops total, roughly 1/3 of that in the dry hop. Nothing wrong with either grain bill; I personally like ~5% medium crystal.

Good advice.  Don't let folks completely scare you off of the crystal.  Just use it with a light touch and know why you're adding a particular grade.

[HoosierBrew]

Good advice.  Don't let folks completely scare you off of the crystal.  Just use it with a light touch and know why you're adding a particular grade.

I agree, Steve. I like crystal with a light touch - I just think it gets way overdone. Too much of a good thing. I like 5% in IPA, even 7% in APA, then dried out with gypsum. I'm more of a 'crystal limiter' than a hater. 

[Pinski]

Good advice.  Don't let folks completely scare you off of the crystal.  Just use it with a light touch and know why you're adding a particular grade.

I agree, Steve. I like crystal with a light touch - I just think it gets way overdone. Too much of a good thing. I like 5% in IPA, even 7% in APA, then dried out with gypsum. I'm more of a 'crystal limiter' than a hater. 

Everything in moderation. Except peat.