Beerthoven
Well-Known Member
I'd like to maximize the hop flavor and aroma in some of my beers without using an excessive amount of hops (hop shortage and all).
There are two methods I've read about for doing this: First Wort Hopping (FWH) and Late Hop Additions (LHA).
From what I've read (here, and here), FWH is when some or all of the finishing hops are added to the kettle with the first sparge runnings. This supposedly increases the hop aroma and flavor characteristics of the beer, while also increasing IBUs slightly.
I've seen some people doing it with their bittering hops instead of the finishing hops. I don't see why this method would not also increase hop aroma and flavor.
In the Late Hop Addition almost all the hop additions are pushed back into the last 20 mins of the boil. This is the opposite of the FWH. This method may result in somewhat lower IBUs due to the lower boiling time but supposedly resutls in blockbuster hop flavor and aroma.
Proponents of both methods claim a smoother bitterness results.
Has anyone used either or both of these methods, and what did you think?
I've done LHA once, with an IPA. The hop flavor and aroma are awesome, but I didn't have a "normal" IPA to compare it to.
There are two methods I've read about for doing this: First Wort Hopping (FWH) and Late Hop Additions (LHA).
From what I've read (here, and here), FWH is when some or all of the finishing hops are added to the kettle with the first sparge runnings. This supposedly increases the hop aroma and flavor characteristics of the beer, while also increasing IBUs slightly.
I've seen some people doing it with their bittering hops instead of the finishing hops. I don't see why this method would not also increase hop aroma and flavor.
In the Late Hop Addition almost all the hop additions are pushed back into the last 20 mins of the boil. This is the opposite of the FWH. This method may result in somewhat lower IBUs due to the lower boiling time but supposedly resutls in blockbuster hop flavor and aroma.
Proponents of both methods claim a smoother bitterness results.
Has anyone used either or both of these methods, and what did you think?
I've done LHA once, with an IPA. The hop flavor and aroma are awesome, but I didn't have a "normal" IPA to compare it to.