Cat Pee Hop?

[polamalu43]

What hop do people feel most often imparts a "cat pee" flavor/aroma to a beer?

 

[avaserfi]

Simcoe is a common hop that some perceive as being catty.

 

[Weizenheimer]

I find that Simcoe offers a more pine flavor/amoma

 

[polamalu43]

I've gotten that from simcoe as well. I didn't want to put in there because I didn't want to biases anybody who is responding, but yeah -- I'd love to get other people's thoughts on simcoe and cat pee.

 

[beerkrump]

I like Simcoes. Piney. Herbal. Spicy. Yes. I've even had hints of mint in one IPA. But, cat pee??

Then again, I've never used cat pee.

Would you add that at the beginning or end of the boil?

 

[freddyb]

I enjoyed DFH 60 minute IPA a bit more before someone brought up the whole simcoe/cat pee link. Now I swear I can taste it too. But I'm still a fan.

 

[saq]

Some people would describe some simcoe as "catty" but I would say thats just a unrefined palate or someone who doesn't appreciate good hops
Piny, Citrus and Floral combine together in a very distinct way. Simcoe is one of my favorite hops, especially if you get some late boil / dry hop they leave the most distinct and magnificent hop aroma.

Simcoe hop flavor/aroma profile courtesy of www.brew365.com

 

[niquejim]

Some people would describe some simcoe as "catty" but I would say thats just a unrefined palate or someone who doesn't appreciate good hops
Piny, Citrus and Floral combine together in a very distinct way. Simcoe is one of my favorite hops, especially if you get some late boil / dry hop they leave the most distinct and magnificent hop aroma.

Simcoe hop flavor/aroma profile courtesy of Homebrewing Recipes and Articles

I appreciate good hops and I like Simcoe when used in moderation, but Weyerbacher's Double Simcoe reminded me of cleaning an overused litter box

 

[jpc]

I appreciate good hops and I like Simcoe when used in moderation, but Weyerbacher's Double Simcoe reminded me of cleaning an overused litter box

The funny thing is that i was using pine sawdust kitty litter for a while... I know exactly what cat piss and pine smell like. I don't think I could stomach the Simcoe hops based on the association. Maybe I can find a friend who has used them and get a taste of his beer, but I won't risk it myself.

 

[DeathBrewer]

You guys should really quit cheesing. It's not good for ya.

 

[Edcculus]

The funny thing about the whole "cat pee" thing, is that in the wine world, it is a normal descriptor. Its also described as gooseberry. Most American's don't know what gooseberry tastes/smells like. It happens to closely resemble cat pee. The most notable "cat pee" wines are Bordeaux whites, or Sauvignon blanc varietal wines.

 

[SnickASaurusRex]

I tried ferment some of my cats pee once, Turns out the simco is a much nicer alternative.

 

[Whut]

What hop do people feel most often imparts a "cat pee" flavor/aroma to a beer?

I don't even want to know how anyone would know what "cat pee" flavor is. Aroma, yes. Flavor, oh heck no!

Wait a minute, perhaps I protest to much? Yuk!

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Is this a question about hops you have used and are getting a cat pee taste? If so, that could be oxidisation.

I don't think I even want to associate any hop with cat pee. I'd never shake the image!! :cross:

 

[remilard]

I don't even want to know how anyone would know what "cat pee" flavor is. Aroma, yes. Flavor, oh heck no!

Wait a minute, perhaps I protest to much? Yuk!

The only flavors are: sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and depending on what you believe umami and/or pungent.

What most people mean when they say "flavor" is a mixture of one of these flavors with aroma. A hop with a cat urine aroma will taste like a combination of that and bitter.

In wine, the catty aroma is often described as black currant, which is apt.

As to gooseberry, I have heard "cat urine on a gooseberry bush" but I think black currant is probably closer than gooseberry, at least to the quintessential sauv blanc aroma (and simcoe).

 

[Gremlyn]

I'm quite familiar with the taste of normal black currant and black current juice, I would say it is nowhere near what I imagine cat pee would taste like. Is it that different in wine?

 

[Saccharomyces]

I don't get that but others do from the same beers, so I think it's just a personal thing.

I think centennial dry hopping alone smells like a musty locker room. But when combined with other dry hops it seems to be fine to me.

 

[Tonedef131]

Cluster is THE cat piss hop.

 

[deggenbe]

Cluster as a dry hop? or cluster as a bittering hop?
how much?

NEED MORE details. lol sorry

 

[Homercidal]

You guys should really quit cheesing. It's not good for ya.

"Take a ride (ride ride ride) on Heavy Metal"! :rockin:

 

[SenorPepe]

You cannot yet caress my daughter's awesome bewbage!

 

[bjl110]

I don't get the catty flavor/aroma from simcoe at all. Those that do must be cheesed out of their minds. I smelled and tasted specifically for it, and just can't find it. Having said that i have only used it in late additions. I'm pretty convinced it must vary from person to person or something, similar to how some people claim IPAs and cilantro taste like soap. I got some urine-esque aroma from a brew that was heavy on Columbus while it was still in the bucket and at bottling. However, it was completely gone after conditioning.

 

[ErieShores]

This reminds me of the "centennial smells like cheese/feet" thread
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/centennial-hops-aroma-51801/

 

[sketerbuck]

sorachi ace = cat piss

 

[Sardoman]

I've heard some people say they get a little cat pee from Citra as well, particularly when they are used early in the boil. I haven't been able to detect it from Simcoe or Cluster, but I have not tried Citra.

The only flavors are: sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and depending on what you believe umami and/or pungent.

Have to chime in here. Umami is not a matter of faith. 20-30 years ago we were taught in elementary school that there are four flavors. Scientists have discovered new flavor sensing cells on the tounge in the meantime, and the glutamate receptor is responsible for the sensation of "umami".

 

[Rivenin]

bittering with citra is a huge cat piss taste. bleh.

 

[8rnw8]

You cannot yet caress my daughter's awesome bewbage!

Daughter's bewbage? Is that a type of hop?

 

[Clann]

Never tried simcoe but I use cluster often and don't get any cattiness from it. I have even used it thruout the process(bitter, flavor, aroma, dry hop) all in the same beer and it was very citrousy, tangerine flavored

 

[DeathBrewer]

Daughter's bewbage? Is that a type of hop?

You'll have to ask the itty-titty fairies of mammary mountain!

 

[SankePankey]

No one has mentioned New Zealand for pissy. If you want to know what cat pee smells like in a wine, go buy an inexpensive New Zealand Sauv Blanc. That's the most cat pee-ish you'll get. Another level of pissy beyond a CA or FR sauv blanc.

EDIT: Not that that's my sales pitch on NZ wines, but... none of you are the buyer, so..

 

[kencarman]

I tried ferment some of my cats pee once, Turns out the simco is a much nicer alternative.

And squeezing the kitty litter just seems to produce this gritty texture to it all.

 

[davidabcd]

Are we talking a nice Cat IPeeA here? You're in luck as I'm the expert.
Cat pee has a distinct flavor and aroma unto itself. In other words, there is no hop that can even come close to six or eight ounces of fresh cat pee added just before flameout.
PS: adding clump balls of pee to the wort is cheating.