Single Hop IPAs

Is that from the Bison Brewing Company in Northern CA. that also makes a stout utilizing cocoa powder? I quite liked that rich stout; it was less sweet than most chocolate-flavored stouts (Young's, Rogue).

I don't know about any single hop IPAs. But Victory has done a few single hop pilsners which were supposed to be very good. Grant's used to have a series of seasonal ales, each of which featured a single variety of hop. The beers were interesting but I don't know if they are still made.

I think it's tough to make a well balanced beer with only one hop variety. Since some hops are better for bittering and some for aroma and flavor, I can see it being a bit of work.

The dividing line between bittering/aroma isn't as sharp as you'd think. I brewed (make that "brew" as I'm probably not yet finished) a series of blonde ales that were single-hopped-- Santiam, , Saaz, Hallertauer, Tettnanger, Amarillo, Simcoe, etc. They all tasted good, though some aged more gracefully than others, and all were well-balanced (though perhaps lacked complexity).

I can see that. I think for an IPA though you might want the complexity. I definitely haven't brewed enough to know the difference between using say Saaz for aroma rather than just for bittering.

Maybe it would be a good way for me to become more familiar with various hops.

Ben

I don't have any notes but I believe Shipyard makes an IPA that only uses Fuggles hops and I remember thinking it was pretty tasty..

I like 'em , Bells 2heart (Centennial), Hop Ottin (Columbus), probly a shiteload of brewers that just use Cascade, the mighty Bert Grant (rip) did single hop brews....Amarillo would be nice...

AC/DE!

Hop Ottin is a good IPA. Not really a standout, but what is does, it does well. It's a good balance between malt and hops, good value (7%), and has great distribution. Whenever I'm out of the SF Bay Area, especially in some small podunk town, Hop Ottin is the one decent IPA I'm likely to run across. It's saved my ass from beer mediocrity more than once. :)

My brewer buddy made an all Amarillo IPA. I don't recall the exact tasting notes, but it struck me as "abrupt" or maybe "sharp". I didn't really care for it. But, that's just me.

nb

Grant's did a summer ale once which used Amarillo hops exclusively and was good.

I didn't realize that Bell's Two Hearted and AV's Hop Ottin' were single hop IPAs. I like 'em too.