How to "know" homegrown hops.

[Johntodd]

I'm a new brewer, but an excellent gardener, and an experienced winemaker.

I'm expecting a Cascade rhizome soon, and it'll grow like gangbusters in my nuclear-powered soil I've prepared for it.

But how do I know what it'll do in the beer? Certainly my Cascade would be similar to any other Cascade. But do hops pick up different flavors/aromas based on soil and growing conditions the way wine grapes do?

Is there an adjustment factor - or just general advice - for the newbie hops grower/brewer?

Am I overthinking it?

Thanks!
-Johntodd

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I'm a new brewer, but an excellent gardener, and an experienced winemaker.

I'm expecting a Cascade rhizome soon, and it'll grow like gangbusters in my nuclear-powered soil I've prepared for it.

But how do I know what it'll do in the beer? Certainly my Cascade would be similar to any other Cascade. But do hops pick up different flavors/aromas based on soil and growing conditions the way wine grapes do?

Is there an adjustment factor - or just general advice - for the newbie hops grower/brewer?

Am I overthinking it?

Thanks!
-Johntodd

Yes. Hops do take on character from soils. And, they vary from year to year as well.

General advice is to just "play" with them. Start by using them as finishing hops, or brew a series of small batches to get a perception of bittering potential. Or, send a sample in for testing. This can be spendy.

You are overthinking. But, every new grower does.

 

[TeeJo]

Do a couple small batches, gallon or two, of what are called SMASH beers. Stands for Single Malt And Single Hop. Do some reading on them.

I would say that splitting a batch and doing one with commercial known qty hops and one with your own, would also be a way to get a feel for what differences YOUR hops are bringing to the table, if any.

TeeJo

 

[thaymond]

Do a couple small batches, gallon or two, of what are called SMASH beers. Stands for Single Malt And Single Hop. Do some reading on them.

I would say that splitting a batch and doing one with commercial known qty hops and one with your own, would also be a way to get a feel for what differences YOUR hops are bringing to the table, if any.

TeeJo

^This. This will give you some of the nuance to your hops. Do a smash with commercial cascade in one brew and homegrown cascade in the other. Keep all other variables the same. I would buy a lb of leaf hops just to keep it comparable. I would do an easy brewing grain like a golden promise or Maris Otter and a clean yeast like s05. Keep all your variables as close as possible.

Mine taste more subtle than commercial cascade, but still taste like cascade. I get some of the citrus character from it, but it's not as strong as a commercially available hops. Otoh, my chinook is super fruity with hints of pine, while I'll get the opposite from commercial hops. It definitely personalizes your beer. Literally, only you can brew it. Your hops don't grow anywhere else.

 

[Johntodd]

OK, I planted a Cascade rhizome today.

Thanks for the help!
-Johntodd

 

[Calder]

Don't expect much the first year. I got 3 ozs dry off 3 plants last year.