Pacific Gem hops???
 

Planning on making a SMaSH using Vienna Malt and Pacific gem hops. Thinking that the reported woody bitterness and blackberry/currant notes would be nice in a SMaSH. Anyone have any experience with Pacific Gem?

Cheers!

I haven't used them exclusively in beer, but I did bitter with them followed up with Nelson Sauvin hops (aroma/flavor) for a New Zealand pale ale. I wasn't a fan of Pacific Gem for bittering, I felt that it gave it some odd undertones that were absent when I brewed the same beer with Magnum for bittering. After that, I stopped using them, so I can't provide anything constructive for flavor/aroma properties.

Did you do it?

I'll be making a (T)MaSH in November, using 2 row and malted wheat. Planning on using the PG at 20 minutes only. The idea is to get the best of all 3 worlds and really capture that blackberry escence.

i had a SMaSH munich and pacific gem homebrew, in which the brewer also did a bunch of kettle carmelization...OMG! I am doing this beer next! Soooo good, wasn't a hop bomb, but very subtle, and delicious......

PacGem is probably my least favorite hop. I've had two SMaSH beers with it, and they were both unpleasant to the point of being undrinkable. I can see it being used as an accent hop, maybe to increase the tannic character of Nelson Sauvin, but not as the feature or even sole hop in a beer. Containing up to 40% (!) cohumulone, I'd definitely not use it for bittering.

I use it in a double IPA that I like a lot. I use to be able to find it in bulk (1 lb at a time) but I have a hard time just fining it at all now. I think the last place I got it was at Farmhouse. Anybody know a good source?

Got mine from Rebel Brewer

I Did it! and it is fantastic... probably the best beer I have made so far... 45IBU makes it hoppy, but not very bitter...Subtle oak barrel dry bitterness with a pronounces berry note atthe finish and very crisp... Will be brewing this again!

What was your hop schedule?