How to sample various hops?

If this belongs in a different section I apologize, please move it then.

I've been wondering if there's a way some of you have sampled various hop types without brewing up a batch for each one. In other words, there are soooo many hop varieties out there. How do brewers go about learning the individual flavor characteristics in a timely fashion without having to simply rely on written descriptions of them?

One thing I would guess would be a simple hot water hop tea. Does that work for one to sample and get an idea of the variance between the many hops out there? Anyhow, is there some common method of this?


Rev.

 

the only real way is to use them in a brew, and experience it. check out SMaSH techniques for a quicker way

 

Thanks for the reply. I am familiar with SMaSH and batch splitting etc, was just wondering if there was a quicker, cheaper, more isolated way to analyze hop types.


Rev.

 

Hop teas are actually a very good method for your quest. They aren't as great for the bittering aspect of hops, but give you a great idea for flavor and decent idea for aroma.

 

smash or hop tea are probably your only options. you could always get some 1 gallon fermenters, make a bunch of small batches with a single hop in each. also, mikkeller makes a huge line of single hop beers which you can purchase and try. only problem here is that a 12 oz bottle is like $6. also sam adams did a deconstructed latitude 48 12 pack you could buy which had different hop varieties in each bottle which was pretty sweet.

 

I don't remember where I saw it, but someone took some cheap beer and put a few hop pellets in to get an idea of the aroma properties of the hops.

However, I'd recommend brewing a small batch with each. Using extract with hop bursting with 15 minute boils I was able to knock out 5 different hops in less than 4 hours start to finish and got a great idea of how each hop influences the same base beer.

 

Commercial beers with a single hop are a great starting point. Latitude 48 deconstructed is a cool offering from SA that will get you started if you can find it in your area.

Edit: missed this was already said - but agreed! There are others as well.

 

Cool, some good suggestions here. Thanks guys!


Rev.

 

If you have any other homebrewers near you could all make a couple single hop beers and trade.

 

I sit down with a neutral beer & take small bites off of different hop pellets, wash down w/ said beer. Not a perfect profile, especially considering the impact of the hop schedule, but it at least has given me an idea of how they taste.

-d