I’m starting this thread to discuss growing the unique hop variety, Hartwick. And of course to discuss the sensory and flavor profile.
Hartwick is available from Great Lakes Hops in their heritage collection. As best as I can tell, this variety is either a lost variety brought over from Europe or a feral North American plant found somewhere in Michigan.
I bought a crown fron GLH 2 years ago. So it’s coming up on it’s 3rd season. We live in the Denver metro area in Colorado. The production so far hasn’t been crazy. 1.75 oz dried in year one, 6.4 oz dried in 2020.
The Hartwick plant got brutalized last June by a weeks worth of 30-40mph winds and a derecho with winds over 60mph. Despite that, it produced fairly well.
I finally had a chance to brew a 5 gallon test batch last month using all 6.4 oz.
Aroma: I don’t get a ton of aroma. It’s a nondescript light and fruity aroma.
Flavor: I kegged the beer at 2 weeks and burst carbed it so it was ready to drink at 2.5 weeks. For the first two weeks it was ok. Fruity with a slightly grassy/vegetal flavor. However, around week 4-5 (now), the grassy/vegetal flavor has faded out completely. I now get a very prominent and readily apparently pineapple flavor (which is what’s advertised on GLH’s website). I’ve shared this beer with others, and without prompting, “pineapple” is the number one descriptor others come up with as well. It’s incredibly refreshing and enjoyable.
I would rate the overall pungency as mild to moderate. I think that could possibly change with a more mature plant in this third year. The pineapple is slightly reminicent of the smooth coconut finish I get when drinking a Sabro pale ale. This is NOT a Sabro replacement, but it has an awesome tropical component that I think others will really appreciate.
With regard to the vegetal flavor; perhaps I didn’t dry the hops enough before vacuum sealing. I’ve had similar experiences with my Cascade plant; vegetal for the first few weeks and then a nice citrus flavor over time.
Anyway, some of you may have read my Arcadian thread. I fully intend to rip that plant out come springtime. Hartwick on the other hand, will be staying put for years to come.
Hartwick is available from Great Lakes Hops in their heritage collection. As best as I can tell, this variety is either a lost variety brought over from Europe or a feral North American plant found somewhere in Michigan.
I bought a crown fron GLH 2 years ago. So it’s coming up on it’s 3rd season. We live in the Denver metro area in Colorado. The production so far hasn’t been crazy. 1.75 oz dried in year one, 6.4 oz dried in 2020.
The Hartwick plant got brutalized last June by a weeks worth of 30-40mph winds and a derecho with winds over 60mph. Despite that, it produced fairly well.
I finally had a chance to brew a 5 gallon test batch last month using all 6.4 oz.
Aroma: I don’t get a ton of aroma. It’s a nondescript light and fruity aroma.
Flavor: I kegged the beer at 2 weeks and burst carbed it so it was ready to drink at 2.5 weeks. For the first two weeks it was ok. Fruity with a slightly grassy/vegetal flavor. However, around week 4-5 (now), the grassy/vegetal flavor has faded out completely. I now get a very prominent and readily apparently pineapple flavor (which is what’s advertised on GLH’s website). I’ve shared this beer with others, and without prompting, “pineapple” is the number one descriptor others come up with as well. It’s incredibly refreshing and enjoyable.
I would rate the overall pungency as mild to moderate. I think that could possibly change with a more mature plant in this third year. The pineapple is slightly reminicent of the smooth coconut finish I get when drinking a Sabro pale ale. This is NOT a Sabro replacement, but it has an awesome tropical component that I think others will really appreciate.
With regard to the vegetal flavor; perhaps I didn’t dry the hops enough before vacuum sealing. I’ve had similar experiences with my Cascade plant; vegetal for the first few weeks and then a nice citrus flavor over time.
Anyway, some of you may have read my Arcadian thread. I fully intend to rip that plant out come springtime. Hartwick on the other hand, will be staying put for years to come.
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