I have 3 oz of Rakaw, a hop I have never used...

[natewv]

I want to make a pale ale base, just 2 row, some munich I think. I'm not sure if 3 oz is enough so I'm wondering what others might use as a 'neutral' kind of bittering hop so I can use the Rakaw as a late addition and dry hop.

Thoughts? Also on the grain bill? I'm kind of looking for a pale ale base I can use for a bunch of smash-ish beers.

 

[hillhousesawdustco]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/rakau-hops-296822/

Sounds like fun to me 2 row plus munich or vienna makes for an easy almost-smash grain bill (i like a little bitty bit of crystal, but that gets you away from the smash of course).

Can you do batches smaller than 5 gallons? If not I would probably try a neutral bittering (other threads have also suggest falconer's flight) hop at 60 or 90 minutes to get your IBUs in and then use all the Rakau for hopbursting near the end of the boil.

Good luck, that hops sounds fanastic.