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Author Topic: Citra Hops Questions  (Read 2555 times)

Offline Ace_Atlas

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Citra Hops Questions
« on: April 24, 2018, 01:51:55 pm »
I am trying out an all grain cream ale recipe using citra hops. I have never used them before I am trying to get a citrus aroma and taste with mild bitterness. Anyone have any tricks and tips with this hop? I have also heard that  seeds of paradise will give citrus flavors. Boil times are below:

0.5 oz 60 minutes
0.25 oz 30 minutes
0.25 oz 5 muntues

Thanks in advance
- cheers!

Offline a10t2

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Re: Citra Hops Questions
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2018, 02:15:43 pm »
Some thoughts:

Citra hops aren't particularly citrusy, more tropical-fruity. There may be better options (Centennial, Amarillo, etc.) but I think a Citra cream ale sounds nice.

Additions before roughly 15 minutes aren't a very efficient use of (expensive) flavor/aroma hops. I'd use something cheaper for your 60 minute addition and move the 30 min to 15. That would also let you use the full ounce late - assuming this is a ~5 gal batch 1/4 oz may not be very noticeable.
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Offline Stevie

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Re: Citra Hops Questions
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2018, 02:21:24 pm »
Not enough late hops. I would also use something else for bittering if you have it. If you want to accentuate the citrus, you’ll want to pair with something like cascade or centennial.

Offline majorvices

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Re: Citra Hops Questions
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2018, 03:50:39 pm »
As was mentioned you aren't going to get Citrus from Citra despite it's name. It's a mango bomb. definitely agree also that you need more finishing hops.

Offline narcout

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Re: Citra Hops Questions
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2018, 05:16:49 pm »
To me they taste like juicy fruit gum (which is good), but it sometimes crosses over into over-ripe fruit and sweaty gym socks (which is less pleasant). 
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Offline Ace_Atlas

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Re: Citra Hops Questions
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2018, 06:22:24 pm »
Some thoughts:

Citra hops aren't particularly citrusy, more tropical-fruity. There may be better options (Centennial, Amarillo, etc.) but I think a Citra cream ale sounds nice.

Additions before roughly 15 minutes aren't a very efficient use of (expensive) flavor/aroma hops. I'd use something cheaper for your 60 minute addition and move the 30 min to 15. That would also let you use the full ounce late - assuming this is a ~5 gal batch 1/4 oz may not be very noticeable.

Yes this is a 5 gallon batch and I had originally had 1oz of Amarillo at 60 minutes as it may be a better fit.

I have tossed around the idea of making hop tea to test both of them out would anyone recommend that?

Offline a10t2

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Re: Citra Hops Questions
« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2018, 08:20:57 pm »
Yes this is a 5 gallon batch and I had originally had 1oz of Amarillo at 60 minutes as it may be a better fit.

I have tossed around the idea of making hop tea to test both of them out would anyone recommend that?

Not even doing any mathing, an ounce of relatively high-alpha hops (both of these run around 10% typically) in 5 gal is going to give 30+ IBU, so I'd cut half that out for a cream ale anyway. If it's only those two ounces, I'd use ~0.5 oz of the Amarillo for bittering and split the rest between 15 and 0 min additions, but that's me. If you have cheaper/easier access to another high-alpha hop for bittering, by all means use that and save some Amarillo.
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Offline Ace_Atlas

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Re: Citra Hops Questions
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2018, 10:11:03 pm »
Using the beer smith app for the math it came out to just over 30 IBUs but after some tweeks I got it down to 17. Full build:
11 lbs 2 row
2 lbs honey malt
.50 oz Amarillo at 60 minutes
.25 oz citra at 10 minutes
.25 oz citra at 5 minutes
(Unsure on the yeast at this time)

Thoughts? Opinions?

Thank you for all the help this may have saved me alot of time and tinkering Cheers!

Offline KellerBrauer

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Re: Citra Hops Questions
« Reply #8 on: April 25, 2018, 06:52:32 am »
I have my own opinions on the various use of the hops mentioned in this thread.  However, I like to use Citra as a dry hop addition.  It delivers an amazing aroma that I can’t seem to achieve using any other hop.  I typically use 2-3 oz. for one week.  That said, as with all dry hop additions, that wonderful aroma only lasts a few weeks.  :(
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Offline a10t2

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Re: Citra Hops Questions
« Reply #9 on: April 25, 2018, 08:05:49 am »
Thoughts? Opinions?

Way too much honey malt, and also not a traditional cream ale grist, which would use a pretty substantial amount of adjuncts (usually corn). Not that there's anything wrong with either, but I wasn't sure how many cream ale recipes you'd seen.
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Offline BrewBama

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Re: Citra Hops Questions
« Reply #10 on: April 25, 2018, 06:20:14 pm »
I have a cream ale on deck as well. I’m torn between this (which I’ve not brewed): https://beerandbrewing.com/make-your-best-cream-ale

...and this (which I’ve brewed and really enjoyed): https://www.northernbrewer.com/documentation/allgrain/AG-CreamAle.pdf

If you want to use Citra you might look up Seymour Citra Gold recipe. I’ve brewed it and it was tasty.


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Offline Ace_Atlas

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Re: Citra Hops Questions
« Reply #11 on: April 25, 2018, 08:37:17 pm »
Thoughts? Opinions?

Way too much honey malt, and also not a traditional cream ale grist, which would use a pretty substantial amount of adjuncts (usually corn). Not that there's anything wrong with either, but I wasn't sure how many cream ale recipes you'd seen.

I just updated beer smith and it shows the percentage of the gain build for the recipe and I was way over with the honey malt. Other cream ales that I have looked into use around 5-7% honey malt. I just tries a peach cream I brew (based off this recipe with adjustments http://wiki.homebrewersassociation.org/12CreamAleNHC2011) and holy cow was it great. I have also researched zesting oranges and adding it to primary but it takes alot of oranges.