Headcracker Advice - Hops

[Chris The Fish]

Hello again (ive not been around for a while),

Ive got a Woodfordes Headcracker lined up next and was wondering if it would take to the addition of extra hops, steeped prior to fermentation.

I had great success with the North Eastern, added some great Progress hops to it, however it is a very different pint.

Do i need to?

Ive heard good things about the kit and would like to freashen up the hop charachter..... if i need to.

Cheers in advance,

Chris

[stevezx7r]

Hi Chris, i'm not familiar with the Headcracker kit, your best bet would be to pop over to the Woodfordes site and see if they say what hops are used in it then get some of the same to freshen it up. Maybe dry hopping would be more suitable (for aroma/taste) as adding some via boiling/steeping would make it more bitter.

[Chris The Fish]

cheers guys, ive had a look over at woodfordes site but can find no mention of the hops they use, i may just give them a ring and see if they will divulge the info.

its going on this morning so if i cant find the right one in the next hour or so (google crazy!) then ill just use goldings or fuggles.

cheers again

chris

[fivetide]

I'd say local Goldings too, almost certainly. But check out some quite interesting reviews and tasting notes on BeerAdvocate referring to the bottled version.

[Chris The Fish]

just put the kit on, using fuggles.

Boiled for 10, then that and a second handful steeped for 10.

i added a little more spraymalt to both get it up there and as an insurance policy over the famed high finish of woodfordes kits. I also substitued the packed yeast for Nottingham.

it came out at 1078

[fivetide]

Yikes! Barley wine is a killer but that sounds like a great brew in the making.

Takes ages to condition though, so you'll be forced to make more beer in the meantime

[gished100]

I just made this kit as my second ever homebrew. It's really nice and it's strong too - 7%.

I didn't do anything different from what it told me and it's turned out a bloody tastey brew.

[Chris The Fish]

all of the woodfordes kits ive tried have been amongst my favourites..

Wherry, 2nd kit, best of the woodfordes range imho
Great Eastern, I hopped this one with progress and it was absolutly gorgeous
Nelsons Revenge, Not my favourite style of beer, but bloody good all the same.
Headcracker.. In Fv as we speak!

Im definately going to do them again!