2 Hop questions

[Hoppkins]

What are the characteristics of fuggles, challenger and goldings (and any of the other more popular ones?) ?

I recently have pruchased a fuggles plant which my dad will be growing on his allotment. How best should hops be kept after harvesting to keep them fresh enough for brewing? Is it possible to make a brew with only one kind of hop?

Cheers

[steve_flack]

I'd be inclined to stick to aroma hops if you're growing them yourself as you won't know the alpha acid level of hops you grow yourself so knowing how much bitterness they'd add to beer is tricky without a trial brew.

As for keeping them - they should be dried and are best stored in sealed bags in a freezer. If you've got a vacuum sealer then even better.

Yes you can make a beer with only one hop. Of the three you mention it's most usually done with Goldings

[tubby_shaw]

What Steve said plus difference in varieties here
viewtopic.php?t=375

[Hoppkins]

Ah right, which are aroma hops?

Too late now i already ordered the fuggles plant. They won't be disasterous will they? Please forgive my ignorance, im only just starting to take the plunge into the "non kit" world.

Thanks for the link, very handy.

[steve_flack]

Fuggles are fairly low alpha but aren't really used for their aroma. I guess you could though.

[mysterio]

I use Fuggles a lot. They don't really have a huge character but they contribute a kind of 'earthy' background taste. Goldings are the same, very mild but more floral. I've only used Challenger as a bittering hop but it's supposed to be a good aroma hop too.

All three can be used for bittering or aroma. If you want to get a feel for each try dry hopping with an ounce in your next beers.

[Hoppkins]

From what i've read (and correct me if im wrong please)

Bittering hops are adding during the boil and aroma at the end of the boil?

So since fuggles are dual purpose would it possible to add them at the begginging AND end for bittering and aroma? I realise i may be over simplifying things and this will probably result in a drab beer.

[mysterio]

Generally, bittering hops are added between 90 and 45 minutes (usually 60 minutes), to get the benefit of the full boil extracting the bitter alpha acids from the hops. Flavour hops usually added at 15 mins, and aroma in the last 5 or steeped at the end.

Fuggles can be used for either bittering or aroma, but you won't know the alpha acid content for bittering so it will be guess work. It's likely your beer will be under or over bittered.

[Hoppkins]

Stupid question but how does one know the alpha acid content?

[bitter_dave]

From what i've read (and correct me if im wrong please)

Bittering hops are adding during the boil and aroma at the end of the boil?

So since fuggles are dual purpose would it possible to add them at the begginging AND end for bittering and aroma? I realise i may be over simplifying things and this will probably result in a drab beer.

You could do. I remember enjoying a 'Fuggles IPA'* from the supermarket a while ago (can't remember the brewery ), and I've seen homebrew recipes using fuggles exclusively. Adnams beers have Fuggles as late hops as well, and I'm a big fan of Adnams beers.

[Hoppkins]

Yeah i love Broadside, excellent beer. So hard to find Adnams pubs these days, it is in NOttingham anyway, i only know of 2 bars which have Adnams as standard.

Oh well in the end I can always BUY other hops and use my fuggles as well.

Thanks

[bitter_dave]

Stupid question but how does one know the alpha acid content?

It has to be worked out by clever scientists using their magic powers

I did read an article about roughly guessing the IBUs of hops, from the CBA; I'll see if I can dig it out at some point.

[Hoppkins]

Looks like a job for Doctor Steve Flack

[steve_flack]

Sadly I don't have a spectrophotometer or an HPLC at home.