anyone forget the hops? Whats the beer like ?

[Stag-Brewing]

Was just savouring a nice bitter ale and wondered what would happen to beer without the bittering hops.
Surely someone has totally forgotten the hop additions and fermented.
What`s that taste like, is it like flat beer ?

 

[IffyG]

It wouldn't taste like beer for starters, it would be extremely sweet because there is no bitterness to balance the malt. I guess I would imagine hopless 'beer' would taste like a bock with no bitterness.

 

[TyTanium]

Maybe kinda like this:

 

[Blackmuse]

THIS - is a great question! Could you maybe bottle some of a decanted starter?

 

[BBL_Brewer]

THIS - is a great question! Could you maybe bottle some of a decanted starter?

Starter beer would taste absolutely horrible

Grossly overpitched with plenty of oxidation.

 

[Stag-Brewing]

so imagine WW3 or some sh*t happens and you cant get the hops,
The over sweet brew will taste crap but you still get you zonked - right ?

Can you add bitter to a finished brew ? Is there such a thing.
I know you brew experts have tried it all.

 

[brewnz]

so imagine WW3 or some sh*t happens and you cant get the hops,
The over sweet brew will taste crap but you still get you zonked - right ?

Can you add bitter to a finished brew ? Is there such a thing.
I know you brew experts have tried it all.

You could probably add Hop Tea to it - that should do the trick...let us know

 

[Proboscidea]

I ranched the yeast from a bottle of commercial Saison last week, gradually upping the amount of starter every day or so. There were no hops involved. So basically, I made a hop-less beer. Yeah, I had to taste some of it. Coincidentally this thread comes up today.

Here's my answer: the spent starter tasted like an ester overload - as if I'd been fermenting cane sugar in water. I'm not saying that particular fermentation was perfect ('twas my first bottle ranching), but, wow. Esters.

A lot. Funny how hops, even the smallest amount, would have probably masked that somewhat.

 

[Proboscidea]

Can you add bitter to a finished brew ? Is there such a thing.

Before bottling, you might be able to boil some Northern Brewer's Hopshot with your priming sugar (assuming bottle-carb).

In the zombie apocalypse that selectively kills all hop plants but leaves barley crops undamaged, I plan to use the bitter pith from citrus fruits for all my bittering needs.

 

[Diaperload]

Without hops wouldn't it just be malt liquor?

 

[jmprdood]

Was done forever back in the day, not beer without hops, but gruit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gruit

 

[sweetcell]

beer, by definition, has hops.

no hops = malt liquor, AKA what tytanium said.

 

[Stag-Brewing]

In the zombie apocalypse that selectively kills all hop plants but leaves barley crops undamaged,

hehee yeah I noticed that. Well the the barley men had a real good crop that year. cheers Pro

 

[Stag-Brewing]

Was done forever back in the day, not beer without hops, but gruit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gruit

That was interesting thanks.

Wiki quote - Some traditional types of unhopped beer such as sahti in Finland, which is spiced with juniper berries and twigs, have survived the advent of hops, although gruit itself has not.

Amazing that blokes will find a way.
So yeah perhaps the modern equivalent would be " I got a couple of bags of old grain but can cant afford any hops, how can I make this taste ok.

 

[neko]

Gilgamesh Brewing in Salem, OR has a hopless beer with zero ibu. I tried a pint at a restaurant before knowing anything about it. Looks like regular beer, but had a bit of a "dirty" aroma and wasn't that great. I even asked the waitress about it and she explained that it was made with tea and no hops. Oh well, it's good to try new "beers".

http://gilgameshbrewing.com/loungebeers
MAMBA
A very complex hopless brew, with a light yet slightly sweet and spicy body. Brewed with black tea, a hint of tangerine zest, and rye creating an aromatic and extremely unique brew. Definitely something you must try.
IBU: 0 | ABV: 6.7%

 

[neko]

Hair of the Dog also made a beer called Greg that was brewed with winter squash and no hops. It doesn't seem to be a regular production though.

 

[Stag-Brewing]

IBU: 0 | ABV: 6.7%

Hi neko,
WOW 0 IBU`s and 6.7 vol.
You could take that to work in a tea flask and no-one would know you`re half pissed all day.

 

[Greenbasterd]

lol my dad is always complaining beer is to hoppy, so i maid him an extract with no hops.. i though whats the worst that could happen?
well, i now have about 5 gals sitting in a keg that nobody is drinking lol..
i could have come here and asked if anybody ever tried it. but i though scru it.. live and learn..

i learned it sucks, and i have a much bigger appreciation for hops now

 

[TimT]

THIS - is a great question! Could you maybe bottle some of a decanted starter?

I did this once out of curiosity and it was one of the worst things I have ever done.