So this got brought up in another thread (https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f13/what-advanced-techniques-have-improved-your-beers-431860/), but I thought I should start a new one so as to not drive that one too far off topic.
bethebrew mentioned leaf hops being better than pellet hops, and when I asked him about it, he said:
Now, I'm new to brewing and I'm not about to disagree with him because honestly I don't really know. I've never used whole leaf hops, but in a way his point does make sense. I always figured that hop distributors would want both products to be of high-quality though, and I was always under the impression that pellet hops were of high quality.
I've heard interviews with craft breweries who, from what I understand, almost all use pellet hops now. The only one I heard an interview with that was exclusively using whole hops said that they'll be making a huge change to their system to allow them to use pellet hops soon. Even if the process was longer and/or more expensive to use whole hops, wouldn't most (or at least some) craft breweries stick to using them to get a better end product? Or am I wrong and do most avoid pellets?
Does it depend on the source of the pellets? Like anything, I'm assuming that quality can depend on where they come from. I've had good results from using pellet up until now. Should I look into acquiring some whole-hops, specially with the harvest coming in soon?
Has anyone two batches that are the same, but one with pellet and one with whole hops to see a side-by-side difference?
bethebrew mentioned leaf hops being better than pellet hops, and when I asked him about it, he said:
Why don't I like pellet hops? Let's take an Off Topic tour into marijuana as a comparison. Pellet hops are Mexican Brick Weed. Smashed down and not the same as good herb. There's a lot of it around, it's cheap, it stores well, it's cheap, it stores well, and there's a lot of it around. And it's cheap, and stores well. Leaf hops stored properly in a vacuum pack bag and out of the light are like weed should be. Not all smashed down and browned out. Properly stored in a vacuum, and out of the light.
Now, which would you rather smoke given the option? Brick weed or some fine sensi?
Now, I'm new to brewing and I'm not about to disagree with him because honestly I don't really know. I've never used whole leaf hops, but in a way his point does make sense. I always figured that hop distributors would want both products to be of high-quality though, and I was always under the impression that pellet hops were of high quality.
I've heard interviews with craft breweries who, from what I understand, almost all use pellet hops now. The only one I heard an interview with that was exclusively using whole hops said that they'll be making a huge change to their system to allow them to use pellet hops soon. Even if the process was longer and/or more expensive to use whole hops, wouldn't most (or at least some) craft breweries stick to using them to get a better end product? Or am I wrong and do most avoid pellets?
Does it depend on the source of the pellets? Like anything, I'm assuming that quality can depend on where they come from. I've had good results from using pellet up until now. Should I look into acquiring some whole-hops, specially with the harvest coming in soon?
Has anyone two batches that are the same, but one with pellet and one with whole hops to see a side-by-side difference?