Modern Hopping Techniques in West Coast IPA

Even in the land of the West Coast IPA, the Hop Hype continues to be Hazy. Given how popular aggressively aromatic hazy IPAs are, it comes as no surprise. But while everyone is focused on pumping out more hop aroma, where does the latest research lead us when talking about the classic West Coast IPA, not to mention the newer West Coast IPAs? How does dry hop time and temperature affect flavor and aroma? Does the form of hop matter? Does variety change the best techniques. How do grist, water, and yeast influence hop perception? These are a few of the questions we look at in this session. With help from the hop gurus and brewers from around the world, Denny and Drew walk you through taking advantage of all the latest techniques and products for making a stellar hop forward and bitter West Coast IPA. Hops just got fascinatingly complex!

Learning Objectives

• Delve into the latest in hop research
• Discuss what kind of hop character are we looking for in a West Coast IPA
• Explore the various “styles” of West Coast IPA
• Learn how to apply the latest in hop products and techniques to brewing a West Coast IPA

About the Speakers

Drew Beechum is a long time homebrewer and writer. He’s written a small shelf worth of books with the latest being Simple Homebrewing: Great Beer, Less Work, More Fun. He coihosts the Experimental Brewing podcast with Denny Conn. He lived in Pasadena, California and is regularly found in his garage brewery trying to perfect something. Ask him about saisons, milds, and rescue animals at your own risk.

Denny Conn has breweed over 580 batches of beer in the last 25 years. He is the co-author of Experimental Homebrewing, Homebrew All Stars, and Simple Homebrewing: Great Beer, Less Work, More Fun, as well as numerous magazine articles. He is the co-host of the Experimental Brewing podcast. He has served 15 years on the American Governing Committee. Denny even has a strain of brewing yeast named after him!