So I typically buy my hops in bulk (by the pound). I am looking to place an order for 3-5 pounds, which based on experience will get me through most of the year assuming I jump on a pound here or there when deals come up. This year I am planning on focusing on English beers, lagers, and IPA’s with the occasional stout and Belgian thrown in. If you could only buy 3-5 varieties of hops (price IS a MAJOR factor), knowing you would brew these styles, what would you buy.
Footnote - I have a pound of cascade on hand, and don’t particularly care for or use it often, mostly just to compliment base hops in an IPA…
So far I am leaning towards
Golding variety
Saazer/ spicy noble
Fruity IPA hop (Simcoe and Amarillo have done me well in the past)
Bittering Hop (Nugget or Magnum)
EKG for your Goldings
Sterling as your spicy Noble that can also be used late in a APA or similar
Citra or Galaxy for fruit
Columbus for sharp bittering, Magnum for smooth, or just skip the bittering and add a second flavor variety like Simcoe, Mosaic, Nelson, etc. That one’s matter of your personal preference. Sterling can double as a smooth bittering hop, as can EKG.
Thanks for the tips, I hadn’t thought of chinook, you like the flavor it gives late? It sounds like it is more of a west coast IPA type, which could be good for me after a year of NEIPA’s…