Hoppy & Smoky

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Spartan1979

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I'm thinking about brewing a Rye IPA with some applewood smoked malt added to it. I'm not sure how the combination of smoky and hoppy will work together.

Has anyone made a beer like this?
 
Everytime I have made any smoked beer with too much hop, I've had to wait a good six months for the taste to die down before it was drinkable. For some reason the bitterness just make the burnt rubber taste stand out too much. Heavy hops I love, heavy smoke I love, but the two together work like dill pickles and vanilla ice cream.

Try this, grab a basic IPA you have on hand, soak a handful of the smoked grain and let it sit for a few hours, it should give you a good idea of the combo.
 
the key to making this work is dial back one of the flavors. The best ones I have had have been hoppy with a bit of smoke or smokey with a bit of hop. Don't make the two flavors compete let one be the clear winner and the other be a side note.
Also the right type of hop is important I would go with the more spicy, or earthy flavors. I have had pretty good success with this Including one of the best beers I have ever made which was a Smoked American Barley Wine
 
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