Hops in the Shops

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Frothy

Hops in the Shops

Post by Frothy » Thu Aug 31, 2006 4:55 pm

I've been around a couple of my local homebrew shops and notice that majoritively the hop varieties they stock are

Halletau
Saaz
Goldings

Are these varieties particuarly good for any beer styles? Are they mainly stocked because they suit British Bitter Ales?

thanks
Matt

mysterio

Post by mysterio » Thu Aug 31, 2006 5:47 pm

Hallertau & Saaz are low alpha acid hops for lagers. Saaz is the only hop in Bohemian style Pilsners such as Pilsner Urquell. Hallertau is more common in German style lagers. I think 'Hallertau' is the name for the American grown variety - the German variety is Hallertau Hersbruck and is probably different.

East Kent Goldings is generally considered one of the best English ale finishing hops and is a fairly common ingredient in most English (and Scottish) style recipes.

If you're looking to brew ales, Goldings, Fuggles & Challenger are probably the most common in homebrew recipes. For lagers, Saaz, Hallertau & Tettnang are pretty common.

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Andy
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Post by Andy » Thu Aug 31, 2006 6:03 pm

I'm currently going through a fuggles phase :D

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Post by bitter_dave » Thu Aug 31, 2006 6:33 pm

QUOTE (andy @ Aug 31 2006, 06:03 PM) I'm currently going through a fuggles phase :D
Does that mean you've finished that ton of goldings you had andy :P ?

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Post by Andy » Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:12 pm

nope! Not even half way through B)

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Post by bitter_dave » Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:20 pm

I'm barreling my lasted beer at the moment made with 100% goldings and had a sip and my god it goldingsy! Nice, but might add some fuggles or challenger or someat next time to balance out the flavour slightly :P

Bigster

Post by Bigster » Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:23 pm

Was that the Harveys BD ?

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Post by bitter_dave » Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:29 pm

QUOTE (Bigster @ Aug 31 2006, 09:23 PM) Was that the Harveys BD ?
Yeah, although I should have used four varieties of hops to be authentic.

The yeast worked a treat - after 6 days the beer is already clear - down to 1008, and I mashed at 67.5-ish, so I'm surprised. It tastes pretty dry, but then I guess that's how Harveys is.

Anybody used Brambling Cross? I may add them next time..

stringy

Post by stringy » Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:30 pm

QUOTE (bitter_dave @ Aug 31 2006, 08:20 PM) made with 100% goldings
No malted barley or water in this one dave?!?! :lol:

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Post by bitter_dave » Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:31 pm

QUOTE (stringy @ Aug 31 2006, 09:30 PM) QUOTE (bitter_dave @ Aug 31 2006, 08:20 PM) made with 100% goldings
No malted barley or water in this one dave?!?! :lol:
:lol:

stringy

Post by stringy » Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:40 pm

My last few brews have consisted on of a combination of First gold and Fuggles. I do nt really know the different flavours of hops well enough yet, I think I may do an all Goldings batch next to see how that compares to previous batches.

eskimobob

Post by eskimobob » Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:31 am

QUOTE Anybody used Brambling Cross? I may add them next time..

I'm planning to try out one of Dave Line's recipes shortly (Theakston Best) and that calls for some Brambling but unfortunately Hop&Grape don't stock them so I have substituted with more Goldings instead.

Picked up my latest order from H&G yesterday - nice big sack of smelly malts and hops in the understairs cupboard now - mmmmmm :P

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Post by Andy » Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:36 am

QUOTE (eskimobob @ Sep 1 2006, 08:31 AM) Picked up my latest order from H&G yesterday - nice big sack of smelly malts and hops in the understairs cupboard now - mmmmmm :P
EB - that's what my understairs cupboard was like last week, keep poking my nose in for a sniff :D

mysterio

Post by mysterio » Fri Sep 01, 2006 10:55 am

QUOTE (stringy @ Aug 31 2006, 08:40 PM) My last few brews have consisted on of a combination of First gold and Fuggles. I do nt really know the different flavours of hops well enough yet, I think I may do an all Goldings batch next to see how that compares to previous batches.
It's a good idea. I've tried single hop batches with all Centennial, Fuggles, Saaz, Hallertau Hersbrucker & Goldings. Fuggles is my favourite for ales so far B)

Frothy

Post by Frothy » Fri Sep 01, 2006 12:01 pm

QUOTE (mysterio @ Aug 31 2006, 04:47 PM) Hallertau & Saaz are low alpha acid hops for lagers. Saaz is the only hop in Bohemian style Pilsners such as Pilsner Urquell. Hallertau is more common in German style lagers. I think 'Hallertau' is the name for the American grown variety - the German variety is Hallertau Hersbruck and is probably different.

East Kent Goldings is generally considered one of the best English ale finishing hops and is a fairly common ingredient in most English (and Scottish) style recipes.

If you're looking to brew ales, Goldings, Fuggles & Challenger are probably the most common in homebrew recipes. For lagers, Saaz, Hallertau & Tettnang are pretty common.
great - thanks

I've just attempted Palmers - English Special Bitter and as usual got the country slightly wrong by resorting to using NOrthern Brewer instead of Target. GOldings for aroma. Other than that this will be the first brew where I've actually used the hop varieties correctly :)

When I asked in the shop about Target they said that they don't stock them but I read on Hop Shop that these are the most widely grown variety in the UK. I also found out that my favourite - frog island "natterjack" is made with Target and Goldings :)

An IPA recipe calls for Nugget (12%) but I can't find these anywhere

Matt

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