Heady Topper Malt Flavor

[stickyfinger]

I have been enjoying many Heady Toppers over the last couple months, thanks to a couple trips up to VT from NY State. Every time I have one, I am left wondering how much of the flavor is due to the malt and how much due to the hops.

Obviously there is a ton of very rich, resinous hop flavor in HT. However, it also seems to have this very intense malt flavor that comes across as kind of like hay or straw or something but in a very good way. I've used Pearl Malt before. Is the Pearl Malt that important for this character, the caramalt?

Maybe I am confusing some of the hop flavors with malt flavors? I've noticed that the Focal Banger, HT and Crusher all have this character that I am referring to as "malty" (hay or straw like but in a good way.) Does anyone have any insight on this?

 

[Dcpcooks]

There is tons of speculation on this and other aspects of HT and the rest of the line. There are a few you tube videos where John kimmich talks about his experiences, this one is interesting.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdfySDN2mF0[/ame]

I just made a Focal banger clone from Zymurgy over the summer and I used pearl malt. I really enjoyed the grain profile and more importantly I loved the beer. I just killed the last of it yesterday!

I do think pearl malt adds a nice unique malt flavor that's worth experimenting with in the future. I just ordered a sac of it and I think I'm going to brew that recipe again. I used a huge pitch of omega DIPA yeast and cryo hops.

I think all of their beers are balanced across the board. He kinda sorta tells you a lot in the video I posted. He has a deep understanding of what he wants to produce and he has that water!

 

[stickyfinger]

Thanks! I'll listen to that. Let me know if you have any other good sources on what he has to say.

I have read through the HT forum on HBT, but it's nice to actually watch a video where he might lay down some knowledge.

 

[stickyfinger]

Is this the Zymurgy recipe you used?

https://www.homebrewersassociation....oint-inspired-by-the-alchemists-focal-banger/

I would love to try that with some cryohops as well. I have a nice batch of Blonde ale fermenting now that I can harvest Omega Conan from.

 

[Dcpcooks]

Yes that is the one. I used Thomas faucet pearl malt and weyerman floor malted pilsner.

I substituted cryo hops for the pellets and just cut the amount by about half. The cryo hops are strong so you need less. I also did a huge pitch of Dipa yeast from omega. It was two packs per 5 gallons in a 5 l starter. It finished fast and had a great fruit profile.