grassy 2013 Amarillo hops

[TyTanium]

Sad thread. I just assumed I brewed a bad batch. My 2013 Amarillo definitely fits this description.

 

[stpug]

Thanks mm. From what you say, as well as others, the grassiness is noticeable just from smell the hops themselves. I guess I need to open my bag and transfer to foodsaver just to find out where mine stand. I suspect they'll be the same as most folks

I split a pound of Citra from HD with a friend and when we were splitting the pound I noticed a definite garlic (maybe onion) aroma in them (sulphur I suspect). Haven't used any in a batch yet but I'd be really bummed to have grassy amarillo and garlicy citra.

 

[GOFScooter]

Sad thread. I just assumed I brewed a bad batch. My 2013 Amarillo definitely fits this description.

Same here. I couldn't figure out what was off, this could be it.

 

[beersk]

Did anyone think last year's Chinook was grassy? I sure thought so. All the beers I made with Chinook didn't turn out so well and they smelled harsh/grassier than normal. Could just be me though...

 

[stpug]

I've had no issues with the whole chinook I got from HD last year (2012 crop). I picked up a lb of pellets from farmhouse mid-year but haven't opened those just yet.

 

[tagz]

Thanks mm. From what you say, as well as others, the grassiness is noticeable just from smell the hops themselves. I guess I need to open my bag and transfer to foodsaver just to find out where mine stand. I suspect they'll be the same as most folks

I split a pound of Citra from HD with a friend and when we were splitting the pound I noticed a definite garlic (maybe onion) aroma in them (sulphur I suspect). Haven't used any in a batch yet but I'd be really bummed to have grassy amarillo and garlicy citra.

Anyone else have issues with 2013 Citra? I was about to pull the trigger on some, but I may hold off if it's not up to par.

 

[thadius856]

Damn you all. This was my first year buying Amarillo, and I picked up 1# from Hop Heaven based on the rave reviews the varietal got last year.

I didn't detect anything grassy smelling when placing them into the jar to deep freeze, but I'm super bummed that I'll probably be disappointed with this year's harvest.

 

[aStoutObserver]

Can't wait to find out how my IPA turns out with a fwh of summit and 2013 Amarillo in just about every other step.

 

[Bassaholic]

I recently made a single hop pale ale with Amarillo from Hops Direct, and I have to agree there was definitely a grassy aroma and taste, but after a week or so I am noticing the grassyness less and some orange flavors are coming thru. Overall, I'm still a bit disappointed with this years batch.

 

[beersk]

I'm still waiting for my simcarillo IPA to carbonate, so I'm not sure yet. But initial samples don't seem to be terrible, but maybe a little grassy. I did a blend of simcoe and amarillo, 2oz of each, mostly during the last 10 minutes of the boil. Then dry hopped with the same amount of each for a couple days in the keg. The hops are still in there but the keg is in the kegerator now at 38F. Find out soon...

 

[dobe12]

Damn! Hate to see this. I have an all Amarillo Pale Ale in the fermentor right now. Just dry hopped the other day. Kegging this weekend. Maybe I'll give it a taste and if not good, I'll add a few ounces of something else (Citra, Cent, Cascade).

 

[aStoutObserver]

I recently made a single hop pale ale with Amarillo from Hops Direct, and I have to agree there was definitely a grassy aroma and taste, but after a week or so I am noticing the grassyness less and some orange flavors are coming thru. Overall, I'm still a bit disappointed with this years batch.

Let us know if the grassy flavor fades more, if you have not enjoyed it all.

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[gunmetal]

I got a pound of pellets from HD in mid December. I did not notice a grassy smell when dividing them up. I got an ounce out today and took a good whiff. They smell good with no grassy smell. However, I have not brewed with them yet.

 

[kchomebrew]

Yep. 2013 is stronger grassy for sure. Use more sparingly.

 

[dtwhite]

I brewed my first single hop IPA ever with a 2013 batch of Amarillo, glad to know this thread confirms I'm not crazy. I wasn't very familiar with the taste and aroma beforehand (hence making the single hop beer) and thought maybe it was always like this.

 

[loetz]

Is it safe to say that they are ok for kettle hops, but that one should not dry hop with them?
I have an all-amarillo wheat planned for next month & I'm wondering if I should totally switch out all of the hops or if I should just switch the dry hops.

 

[stpug]

Is it safe to say that they are ok for kettle hops, but that one should not dry hop with them?
I have an all-amarillo wheat planned for next month & I'm wondering if I should totally switch out all of the hops or if I should just switch the dry hops.

In my (grassy) cascades, I have noticed that kettle hops seem fine - the grass doesn't come through. It tends to be the dry hopping that puts off so much grassiness. I haven't experimented with the Amarillo yet though.

 

[mtnagel]

I'm making the Wookey Jack clone that has a bunch of amarillo hops. I just smelled my half used bag and I get nothing I would describe as grassy. Maybe I'm not sensitive to it though I do smell fresh cut grass when I mow the lawn and I don't get that smell.

Here's the lot I have:

 

[ledbed6b]

I should add my experience to this.

I bought 2 pounds of pellet and one pound of leaf from hops direct. Around the same time my neighbor who brews did as well. He mentioned to me that he made an all amarillo beer that tasted like onions. So being paranoid I opened all my amarillo hops. Sure enough they were very strong garlicky/oniony/burnt rubber smelling. One pound nearly made me gag it smelled so bad and the other pound was just the same smell just not as strong. These hops smelled so bad that they stunk up my whole house from being open for an hour or so, I had to air it out. I contacted hops direct and ended up sending the hops back to them. They agreed they were bad and refunded my money.

I then bought some amarillo from mainbrew and they smelled fine, maybe not as good as the 2012 hops but much better.

Overall I feel like hops direct took very good care of me, I've had no problems with my citra hops from them or any of the other 10 lbs of hops I got.

 

[america]

Just ordered a pound of pellets from nikobrew today... this thread has me worried now though... any one have experience with them this year?

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[dobe12]

I've had my all Amarillo pale ale kegged for a few weeks but a tap just opened up last night. I'll be tasting tonight and see what I get. Report back tomorrow.

 

[Ryfi]

I brewed two batches of an extra hoppy (grassy) Amarillo Cascade pale ale. The smell was not what I was expecting when I opened the bag on the first batch. I wish I had stopped there. I am picking up what I would say chewing on a grapefruit rind would taste like mixed with diesel fuel. I am still working on drinking the last batch, about a gallon left in the keg, the aroma fades eventually but the horrid taste does not. Next time I smell something bad in a bag of hops they are going in the trash.

Happy Brewing!

 

[dobe12]

Yes, definitely not a great Amarillo crop. The Amarillo flavors are there, but masked by another flavor. Maybe grassy is a good description. I'm not sure. But I am sure I'm not very happy with my Amarillo pale ale.

 

[CadillacAndy]

I brewed two batches of an extra hoppy (grassy) Amarillo Cascade pale ale. The smell was not what I was expecting when I opened the bag on the first batch. I wish I had stopped there. I am picking up what I would say chewing on a grapefruit rind would taste like mixed with diesel fuel. I am still working on drinking the last batch, about a gallon left in the keg, the aroma fades eventually but the horrid taste does not. Next time I smell something bad in a bag of hops they are going in the trash.

Happy Brewing!

I've had Amarillo described as "diesel fuel" before on a scoresheet. I haven't opened my 2013 bags yet, but I'll report back when I do.

 

[america]

Turns outs my batch is from 2012... will those still be good?

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[ledbed6b]

Turns outs my batch is from 2012... will those still be good?

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yes, the last of my 2012 still smell great, way better than the best 2013 I have found so far

 

[beersk]

My simcarillo IPA doesn't seem to be too grassy. It was a 4 gallon batch, finished with 4 ounces (blend of 2oz simcoe and amarillo), hopstand for 30 minutes, then dry hopped in keg for a week or so with the same blend.
Maybe I'm doing something wrong

 

[america]

yes, the last of my 2012 still smell great, way better than the best 2013 I have found so far

Thanks, good to know.

 

[sdugre]

Wish I would have seen this thread before I blew through 6 oz in an IPA. Mine seems worse than grassy. Super vegetal with an almost pumpkin flesh flavor. Do you think these would be OK to bitter with in small quantities? I still have 10oz, but I don't want to ruin any more beers.

 

[kchomebrew]

Wish I would have seen this thread before I blew through 6 oz in an IPA. Mine seems worse than grassy. Super vegetal with an almost pumpkin flesh flavor. Do you think these would be OK to bitter with in small quantities? I still have 10oz, but I don't want to ruin any more beers.

Yeah. I think it's fine. Just go light on the Amarillo in any quantity for any addition. IMO. Btw I've noticed it does mellow out a bit.


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