It seems that IPAs have the biggest range for types of hops that can be used. It seems like it used to be a narrower range, but now I see Citra, Simcoe, Amarillo, Chinook, whatever. I’d like to know what other people use for American IPAs. Does anybody have any combinations that work well? Or hops you are attached to for bittering, aroma, or flavoring? I was thinking of trying to incorporate some type of balance between citrus and piny, or citrus and earthy. I am also fascinated by single hop strains. It just seems the options are overwhelming, in a good way, but if anyone has any favorites I’d love to hear about them. Ive been experimenting with Amarillo, and feel they’d be better with some other hop to balance even though they can be used in a single hop beer. I have more experimenting to do.
It’s a matter of personal choice but lately I have been on a Chinook, Columbus, Centennial, Simcoe and Amarillo kick. This blend is my favorite right now and seems to be popular with other homebrewers as well. Dry hop with Amarillo.
I agree with Ron that that’s a great combo. I did one recently with all those and some Falconer’s Flight.
Equal portions Nelson Sauvin, Simcoe, Amarillo. Nelson Sauvin is my Favorite Hop, it gives amazing tropical flavors (lychee, mango). Also good is Sorachi Ace, of which I had a SMASH the other day from Brew Dog, it tastes like (no joke) coconut.
Denny, What did you think of the Falconer’s flight? I’ve been looking forward to giving them a whirl.
So far, I like them a lot. Most of the beers I’ve used them on are still fermenting so I only have a couple beers that I’ve actually tasted them in, but I think they’re gonna be a winner.
I have been using the combo of Columbus, Centennial, and Amarillo. I can’t seem to find Simcoe anywhere 
Any combo of the “C” hops always seems to work out well.
I concur Dean.
I like a mix of Summit, Simcoe, and either Amarillo, Centennial, or Cascade (or all three).
Does it really matter what the bittering hops are? I don’t have many c hops so I don’t want to use them for bittering if they are wasted. Thinking of trying a dark IPA down the road.
We tapped a keg of IPA hopped with Columbus/Zeus, Cascade, Mt. Hood and Amarillo (dry). Delicious.
Also planted rhizomes of Willamette, Cascade, Columbus and Mt. Hood. First watering was a few drippings of the IPA with a toast. Cheers!
Is there really a shortage of Simcoe going on? Seems like folks are having a hard time finding it. Regionally maybe?
I think the problem is finding Simcoe in bulk. You can find it by the ounce here and there, but if you want to buy it by the pound . . . well, I’m not aware of anyone still selling it that way.
I haven’t tried them (Simcoe) yet. What is it about this hop that folks like so much?
Danged if I know. I find it unpleasant.
You can’t have any. So it must be good. I call that the BeerAdvocate logic.
First time I used Simcoe all by itself, it confused the hell out of the judges and I got ripped for an APA. Next time I mixed them with Amarillo and the judges loved it. This was several years ago when Simcoe first came out; don’t know if it would happen today. Still, I find it a better hop to blend than to use alone.
I second centennial and amarillo. Haven’t tried columbus. I think Simcoe is very dry. Wyerbacher has a double Simcoe IPA that while tasty, is pretty dry and I couldn’t drink more than one.
A new local brewbup without hop contracts could not source Simcoe several months back (they buy the 44 lb. boxes of pellets). The brewer changed that recipe to get the beer brewed.
You can still find Simcoe at some online stores, but some are out.
I find the Simcoe/Amarillo combo to be very tasy and pleasantly aromatic. It’s now my go to combo for American Ales and IPA’s.