Columbus vs. Northern Brewer

[vegas20s]

I've been looking at buying a lb of hops from wholesale hops and want to get one kind to use in the next few batches, which are going to be either Stouts or IPAs. I've read about these 2 kinds of hops and both seem like they can be used as a bittering agent and as a aroma flavor agent. I'm leaning towards Columbus due to higher AA but I've read quite a few good reports on Northern Brewer as well.

Just want to get some input, what do you all think about these two hops?

:rockin:

 

[Walker]

I use and love both of those varieties.

But, if I had to choose just one of them, I'd go with the columbus.

 

[pjj2ba]

I vote for Columbus as well. NB would probably be better for the stout, while Columbus would work better for the IPA. For the reverse, Columbus would be better in a stout, than NB would be in a IPA - in my opinion

 

[Walker]

I haven't brewed it in a while, but my IPA recipe actually used a generous amount of NB.

2 oz of NB and 2 oz of cascade mixed together and divided into a half dozen additions during the last 30 minutes.

So, I do like it in an IPA for sure.

However, I still vote for the columbus as a more general purpose variety. My Santa Maria house ale uses only columbus hops.

 

[samc]

Columbus is pretty versatile and I use it for bittering, aroma, dry hop. Not used NB but it is used in some of the beers I like so it is something I would buy in smaller quantities if I was making those beers.

 

[SgtHulka]

Are you planning to shrinkwrap and freeze? What size portions do you break down to?

 

[vegas20s]

Are you planning to shrinkwrap and freeze? What size portions do you break down to?

I'm still a total newbie so input is more than welcome. FYI the only reason I'm even thinking of buying so much at one time is it's SOOO much cheaper than LBSH. $1/oz vs $2.50-$3/oz.

I was planning on using like 4oz in a batch (3 oz for at beginning of the boil and 1 oz at 10-15 min. from flame out ). So I would break down the 16 oz into 4 portions of 4 oz each. Put into zip lock bags and suck the air out ( via my lungs). Then put what I don't plan on using right away into a bigger zip lock bag and store in the freezer. I read a few posts that said they kept in the freezer for a year with only a slight decrease in flavor. I figure I'll use these up in 3-6 months so I'm thinking I should be good.

Any other ideas on how to store hops would be appreciated.

​

 

[vegas20s]

Columbus is pretty versatile and I use it for bittering, aroma, dry hop.

This is why I wanted to use it because it's versatility.

Does any one have any other suggestions for a multi purpose hops?

 

[SumnerH]

Columbus is a good but pretty boring bittering hop IMO, and there aren't many beers I'd use it for anything other than bittering; Magnum, Glacier, and other hops are just as good at that role. There is absolutely no hop role where Columbus is the best choice, and even for what it's good at it's a pretty limited option.

Northern Brewer is good for bittering and also makes a great aroma/flavor hop-unlike Columbus, it has its own unique character and can be used in many different ways.

Basically, Columbus is okay for one thing but it's a one-trick pony and isn't even the best at that one trick. Northern Brewer is incredibly versatile and can be used in a lot of ways, and isn't replaceable for most of them.

It's really no contest between the two to me; Northern Brewer hands down. Hell, you can't make a true Cali Common without Northern Brewer; it's #1 with a bullet for brewing that style, and in the top 3-4 for most British pale ales. Losing Northern Brewer means you've almost completely lost one of the BJCP styles. There's absolutely no beer style where losing Columbus would even mean you lost one of the top 5 or so hops for the style

 

[vegas20s]

It's really no contest between the two to me; Northern Brewer hands down

How well is it in a stout?

 

[SumnerH]

How well is it in a stout?

A bit strong. Between the 2, I'd definitely pick Northern Brewer, but EKGs or Fuggles are more reasonable for most stouts. Even my Russian Imperial Stout used Fuggles instead of a high-alpha variety. EKG, Fuggles, Styrian Goldings, or in a pinch Willamette would be my choices in a stout, but if I had to go with higher-alpha options Northern Brewer and Challenger would be near the top of the list. Columbus wouldn't be in the top 15-20.

 

[MattHollingsworth]

Columbus is a good but pretty boring bittering hop IMO, and there aren't many beers I'd use it for anything other than bittering; Magnum, Glacier, and other hops are just as good at that role. There is absolutely no hop role where Columbus is the best choice, and even for what it's good at it's a pretty limited option.

Northern Brewer is good for bittering and also makes a great aroma/flavor hop-unlike Columbus, it has its own unique character and can be used in many different ways.

Basically, Columbus is okay for one thing but it's a one-trick pony and isn't even the best at that one trick. Northern Brewer is incredibly versatile and can be used in a lot of ways, and isn't replaceable for most of them.

It's really no contest between the two to me; Northern Brewer hands down. Hell, you can't make a true Cali Common without Northern Brewer; it's #1 with a bullet for brewing that style, and in the top 3-4 for most British pale ales. Losing Northern Brewer means you've almost completely lost one of the BJCP styles. There's absolutely no beer style where losing Columbus would even mean you lost one of the top 5 or so hops for the style

Without commenting on Northern Brewer, in my personal experience, your comments on Columbus are totally inaccurate. Columbus is great as an aroma/flavor hop as well. Further, it's used in a ton of commercial beers in that very role so it can be sampled. Lots of American styles of beer use it for aroma/flavor, IPAs, APAs, American Ambers, Browns, Barleywines etc etc. I can't remember all the specific beers as I haven't lived there in a while, but look to the West Coast and you'll see Columbus present in a lot of beers and not just as a bittering hop. It works great with the other C hops, Chinook, Cascade, Centennial, Crystal, but Columbus has some unique spicy character that it adds to the mix. I've used it in at least 20 batches myself and think what you've said above is totally wrong. It obviously sounds like you don't like it. But it's not a one trick hop. It's a true dual use hop whether you like its aroma or not. Some people hate Chinook too, but it sounds like Columbus is fulfilling that role for you.

edit: Look at the July/August issue of Zymurgy on page 21 for Pliny the Elder recipe by Vinnie Cilurzo of Russian River Brewing as an example. He uses Columbus along with Simcoe and Centennial. But he does use Columbus also for dry hopping.

 

[Brew-boy]

I would go with Columbus it is very versatile,

 

[Brewdouche-RuBrew]

You guyz are all wrongzorz

With all due respect yall messed up, but......
vegas20s pay attention to everything these gays have said, but if U want to buy a bulk hop that U will want to brew a lot with.... U will have to research some recipes, and the styles of beer U want to drink.

Utimatly so you are happy.

Yes I ment to write guys but now it looks funny and I aint changen

 

[Walker]

Without commenting on Northern Brewer, in my personal experience, your comments on Columbus are totally inaccurate. Columbus is great as an aroma/flavor hop as well.

+1 there.

I like the flavor and aroma of columbus so much that I actually feel it's almost a waste to use it for bittering.

 

[rayg]

How well is it in a stout?

There is no reason to use Northern Brewer in a true stout because
stouts are not supposed to have hop flavor/aroma, just use bittering
hops. I use Northern Brewer as a flavoring hop in my porter. It has
a unique spicy flavor with another flavor sometimes characterized
as berry but I would say tastes like grape.

Ray

 

[jldc]

I haven't brewed it in a while, but my IPA recipe actually used a generous amount of NB.

2 oz of NB and 2 oz of cascade mixed together and divided into a half dozen additions during the last 30 minutes.

So, I do like it in an IPA for sure.

However, I still vote for the columbus as a more general purpose variety. My Santa Maria house ale uses only columbus hops.

This is essentially the hop schedule I'm brewing as I type. It's an american brown.

 

[prosper]

I don't really care for Columbus as bittering. It has a distinct character there, I suppose the best adjective I could use would be 'harsh,' but that's not really very descriptive. Columbus does make a marvelous aroma/dry hop addition, though - very intense, reminds me of pineapple, but not as sweet.

NB is a better 'all-rounder' IMO, it works for lagers (especially as a bittering addition), English and european ales of all sorts, and (apparently), American ales as well (though I don't personally have any experience with it there).

 

[Frank99]

You could get both and just freeze them. However, Columbus is one of my favorites!

 

[lumpher]

i still have about 1/2 a lb of NB ( i don't have any columbus ). when it runs out, i'll get more NB. that's my stronger hop of choice

 

[artguy]

I'm still a total newbie so input is more than welcome. FYI the only reason I'm even thinking of buying so much at one time is it's SOOO much cheaper than LBSH. $1/oz vs $2.50-$3/oz.

​

At the risk of seeming to endorse one specific vendor when there are many good options out there, here's an idea that will allow you to try 4-8 oz. of both and still get you under $1/oz.:
http://www.farmhousebrewingsupply.com/scripts/hopsList.asp?idCategory=21

 

[vegas20s]

At the risk of seeming to endorse one specific vendor when there are many good options out there, here's an idea that will allow you to try 4-8 oz. of both and still get you under $1/oz.:
http://www.farmhousebrewingsupply.com/scripts/hopsList.asp?idCategory=21

Thanks 4 the tip!

 

[robtotten]

I personally love Northern Brewer as a bittering (and sometimes flavor) hop for any brown ale, which is about 2/3 of what I brew.

 

[robtotten]

Brewer's Gold is great as well, I probably use that even more then NG.

 

[vegas20s]

I was also thinking of East Kent Gold and North down. I might just go ahead get all for and brew 4 single hop stouts, with very little changes to the grain bill to see which is going to give me the flavor I like best. I do know that the true brew kit I brewed last came with UK gold and since I boiled and oz longer than the instructions said it came out quite hoppy. But the problem is UK gold is not soothing one can find in a list of hop verities.