Smash Beer Recipes: Choosing The Right Hops For Your Brew

SMaSH beers are a great way to experiment with hops and malts. SMaSH stands for Single Malt and Single Hop, and these beers can be used to showcase a malt or, more often, to highlight the unique flavours and aromas of a specific hop. While SMaSH beers might seem simple, they can be very complex. There are no style guidelines, so you can make these beers hop or malt-focused, with any alcohol content, as long as you use a single malt and hop variety.

When choosing a hop variety for SMaSH brewing, it is best to choose a variety suitable for use at any stage of the brewing process. Some hops can produce a harsh bitterness when used early in the boil, so addition adjustments may be needed. However, any variety of hops could be used. It is recommended to choose a hop that will complement and balance the malt character. To add complexity, a combination of early, late, and dry hopping is key.

Medium alpha hops work best for bittering, flavour and aroma

Medium alpha hops are incredibly versatile and can be used at any stage of the brewing process. They are a great option for SMaSH brewing as they can be used for bittering, flavour and aroma.

Medium alpha hops are ideal for bittering as they have a higher alpha-acid percentage than aroma hops, which typically have less than 10%. The higher alpha-acid content will add more bitterness to your beer.

They also work well for adding flavour. Hops with a medium alpha-acid content will have more pronounced flavours than low alpha hops, which tend to be used purely for adding aroma.

Medium alpha hops are also great for adding aroma to your beer. While hops with a higher alpha-acid content will have a more intense aroma, medium alpha hops will still add a noticeable aroma without being too overpowering.

Some popular medium alpha hops include:

• Ahtanum: A versatile hop with a citrusy, floral aroma and an alpha acid composition of 5.7% to 6.3%.
• Amarillo: A well-balanced hop with lush floral and orangey citrus aromas and an alpha acid range from 8% to 11%.
• Citra: A high alpha acid hop with strong citrus and tropical fruit aromas.
• Simcoe: A complex hop with earthy, herbal, citrus, and tropical fruit notes.

Low bitterness hops can be used but more is needed for bittering

SMaSH beers are Single Malt and Single Hop beers. They are a great way to experiment with new hops and really understand the impact of each ingredient in your beer.

While low bitterness hops can be used in SMaSH beers, you will need to use more of them for bittering than you would with a better bittering hop. This can impart off-flavours in your beer. If you are brewing a hoppier style, using a large quantity of low alpha acid hops to achieve the target IBUs can result in a grassy quality to the beer.

If you are making a hoppy brew and use a large amount of low bitterness hops, boiling them for a long time can lead to grassy flavours. If you are making a SMaSH beer, it is recommended to use medium alpha hops as they work well for bittering, flavour and aroma.

If you are looking to make a hoppy beer, it is recommended to use a higher alpha acid (7%+) for the bittering addition in your SMaSH recipe.

High alpha hops can be used but be sure you like the flavour and aroma

SMaSH brewing is a great way to experiment with different hops and really understand their individual characteristics. It stands for Single Malt and Single Hop and involves brewing with one base malt and one hop varietal.

When it comes to hops, medium alpha hops tend to work best as they are good for bittering, flavour and aroma. However, high alpha hops can also be used and may offer some interesting possibilities. If you are making a hoppy brew, using a large amount of low alpha hops and boiling them for a long time can lead to grassy flavours, so it's important to be mindful of the flavour and aroma of the hops you are using.

If you are using high alpha hops, be sure that you like the flavour and aroma. One way to evaluate a hop for use as an aroma hop is to make hop tea. This is a simple process that will give you a good idea of the aromas you can expect from a particular hop. To make hop tea, steep about a quarter of an ounce of hops in 8 ounces of near-boiling water for 10-20 minutes. Don't boil the hops, as you will lose some of the delicate aromatic oils. After steeping, simply smell the hops to get an idea of the aroma characteristics.

Another way to evaluate a new hop is to brew a SMaSH beer with it. This will allow you to put the hop through its motions and really see how it performs. When brewing a SMaSH beer with high alpha hops, it's important to keep the recipe simple to truly understand the flavours and aromas that the hop brings to the beer.

So, if you're thinking of using high alpha hops in your SMaSH beer recipe, be sure to give them a good evaluation first to make sure you like their flavour and aroma. This will help ensure that your final beer turns out just the way you want it.

Choose a malt with enough diastatic power to convert starch to sugar

SMaSH (Single Malt and Single Hop) beers are a great way to experiment with new hops and malt varieties, keeping things simple and allowing you to get to know your ingredients. When brewing a SMaSH beer, it's important to choose a malt with enough diastatic power to convert starch to sugar.

Diastatic power, or enzymatic power, is the measurement of how much starch-converting enzyme a malted grain contains. It is typically measured in degrees Lintner. If your mash does not have enough diastatic power, your beer will have a low brewhouse efficiency and a lower-than-expected starting gravity. This is because not enough starch will be converted to sugar, which brewer's yeast can then ferment.

To ensure adequate diastatic power, aim for an average of at least 75 degrees Lintner for your total grain bill. Light base malts, such as pilsner or 2-row pale malt, tend to have higher diastatic power, while darker roasted malts have lower diastatic power due to excessive heating during the roasting process. Generally, the darker the roast, the less diastatic power the malt will have.

When choosing a malt for your SMaSH beer, consider the colour and flavour you want to achieve. For a clear, crisp beer, a base malt like 2-Row Pale or Marris Otter is a good choice. If you want to brew a SMaSH IPA, a Vienna malt can also work well and provide a delicious flavour profile.

Remember, the key to SMaSH brewing is to keep it simple and focus on the individual characteristics that each ingredient brings to your beer. By choosing a malt with sufficient diastatic power, you'll ensure that your beer has the right balance of starch and sugar, allowing the hops to shine.

Choose a hop that's suitable for any stage of the brewing process

When choosing a hop for your SMaSH beer, it's important to remember that any type of hop can be used for any stage of the brewing process. The same hop variety can be used for bittering, flavouring, and aroma. However, the timing of when you add the hops will determine which of these roles it will play.

For bittering, hops are added once the wort has been collected in the kettle and a rolling boil has been achieved. This stage is crucial for balancing the sweetness of the malt, as without bitterness from the hops, your beer would taste overly sweet. Hops added at this stage also act as a natural preservative, extending the shelf life of your beer.

Flavoring hops are added with 15 to 30 minutes remaining in the boil. During this timeframe, minimal bitterness will be extracted, but the crisp hoppy flavour will come through.

Aroma hops, on the other hand, are added during the last 5 minutes of the boil or at flame-out, when the kettle is removed from the heat. This is because the hop oils responsible for aroma are extremely volatile and will be lost if boiled for too long. Adding aroma hops at this stage ensures you get the maximum amount of aroma in your beer.

If you want to focus on the flavour of the hops, you can also consider adding them post-boil using methods like flame-out, whirlpool, or hopback. These techniques help preserve the hop oils while still adding some bitterness.

When choosing a hop for your SMaSH beer, consider using medium alpha hops, as they tend to work well for bittering, flavour, and aroma. While low bitterness hops can be used, you may need to add more of them for bittering, which can impact the flavour of your beer. Alternatively, you can opt for high alpha acid hops (7% or higher) if you're looking for a stronger bittering addition, especially when brewing a hoppier style.

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