cluster

[rmolledo]

I have over 1lb of cluster because It was super cheap. But I didn't read reviews of the hop before hand. Since I bought them I read reviews of this hop smelling like cat urine and such. Are these urban legends or is this hop actually decent?

 

[BendBrewer]

What's wrong with cat urine?

 

[devilishprune]

I don't have experience with brewing with cluster, but I've heard similar stories about simcoe (and summit smelling like onions). I haven't experienced any of these flavors, so I think that you should be good. If a hop smelled like cat urine to 100% of people, then I highly doubt that it would be a popular variety.

 

[BigEd]

Cluster is a bit "catty" when used to excess but it can't hold a candle in the cat piss department to some modern varieties like Chinook. Cluster makes a pretty good basic bittering hop especially for some of the traditional American styles like CAP and California Common.

 

[Biscostew]

im in the same boat, have half pound of cluster and have been afraid to use it because of these "cat urine" rumblings. Im assuming it would be safe to use 1-3 oz at the 60 and 30 minute additions without risking the "cat urine" flavor?

 

[BigEd]

im in the same boat, have half pound of cluster and have been afraid to use it because of these "cat urine" rumblings. Im assuming it would be safe to use 1-3 oz at the 60 and 30 minute additions without risking the "cat urine" flavor?

The cattiness of Cluster is way overstated IMO. Like I posted above Cluster is way less catty than some modern hops like Chinook which lots of folks seem to be nuts about. That said, I wouldn't use it in any additions considered to be for flavor or aroma.

 

[ChshreCat]

Open the bag and take a sniff. See what you think.

 

[rmolledo]

Open the bag and take a sniff. See what you think.

this coming from the guy with a cat as his profile pic! I did already, smells good IMO. I'll just bite the bullet and try it one of these days. If it tastes bad then I'll name that recipe Cluster F***.

 

[Clann]

I made a wheat pale ale, kinda like NB wheaten beatdown but with all cluster.
I think it went
1/2 oz 60 min
1 oz 30 min
1 oz 15 min
1 oz 2 min
1 handfull dryhop

No cat but real nice tangerine/light grapefruit
I like it