is catty a compliment?

[fluketamer]

in brewing that is.

i recently made an ale with citra mosaic and galaxy and my friend said it smells like cat pee. i kind of like it tho.

is catty a good thing in a beer? is it a matter of taste or is it generally considered a flaw?

he said the beer is really good btw but his first reaction def threw me off.

 

[Pennine]

No I find it disgusting and undrinkable. Lately I have been noticing a diesel aroma from mosaic that is not good either.

You may like it though.

 

[Snuffy]

I guess it could depend on the cat.

 

[day_trippr]

I use a crapton of Citra and Mosaic, used to use a lot of Galaxy as well until the 2022 crop was a phenol bomb and switched to Idaho 7 and Strata. I don't get catty character - but I don't do early Citra additions, either, where they are known to cause that catty thing...

Cheers!

 

[fluketamer]

I use a crapton of Citra and Mosaic, used to use a lot of Galaxy as well until the 2022 crop was a phenol bomb and switched to Idaho 7 and Strata. I don't get catty character - but I don't do early Citra additions, either, where they are known to cause that catty thing...

Cheers!

thanks that might be it !

 

[Whisky River]

I guess it could depend on the cat.

OTOH if I had a cat that peed Citra Mosaic and Galaxy I might have to reconsider several of my brewing choices.

 

[worlddivides]

I think the hop quality you're talking about can be either positive or negative. If it's described as "dank," that's positive. If it's described as "catty," that is negative. I mean, who wants to drink something that reminds them of cat pee? At least with "dank," you're getting resinous and earthy characters. Personally I love beers I'd describe as "dank," but I hate beers I'd describe as "catty."

 

[Brewsmith]

I use a crapton of Citra and Mosaic

Is that an imperial, metric, or US crapton? I believe the imperial is just slightly bigger than the metric. I know the US crapton is about 10% smaller than the metric

 

[dmtaylor]

It's a compliment to some, a diss for others, but more than anything else it IS an accurate descriptor. For those who have cats, you know what I am talking about. In low levels I don't mind it. But I'll never say "yum this smells like a good IPA!" when I'm cleaning the litterbox, but conversely I DO often say "ick this IPA smells like a litterbox". That's catty. And when it's like STALE BOBCAT PISS IN YOUR MOUSTACHE then I hate it. All subjective I suppose... but accurate for certain. If someone calls a beer catty, ask them if they have cats. If they don't, then it might be a compliment. If they do, they probably don't enjoy the beer.

 

[mac_1103]

when it's like STALE BOBCAT PISS IN YOUR MOUSTACHE then I hate it

I can honestly say that I've never had a bobcat piss on my moustache.

 

[IAmPistolPete]

It's also a common trait in Sauvignon Blanc wines.
From my wine textbooks:
"This aroma is due to a chemical compound called 4-MMP (4-mercapto-4-methyl-2-pentanone). This compound is a type of thiol, a sulfur-containing molecule that is naturally present in Sauvignon Blanc grapes. While not everyone picks up this "cat pee" aroma, it's a characteristic that is commonly associated with the grape variety, particularly in wines from cooler climates. This "cat pee" aroma is a natural characteristic of the grape and not a defect in the wine. Many wine enthusiasts find it intriguing and appealing. "
Hops that are also high in 4-MMP : Citra, Simcoe, Eureka, Summit, Apollo, Topaz, Mosaic, Eukanot, Galaxy, and Nelson Sauvin. Water stress in the plant is known to affect the levels of these compounds and "tropical" aromas.

 

[JohnDBrewer]

I served a Session Citra IPA at a festival recently and it was interesting to see some folks faces when they tasted it. A low percentage really made that cat piss face, but didn't really say anything. Until a lady made a noise and "the face." The guy behind her in line saw her reaction and asked her what she tasted. She couldn't, or wouldn't, say what she tasted, but he tossed out catty and she readily agreed. Then he asked if she thought kale was bitter/sour too and she said yes. He also tossed out a couple more items, I can't remember what they were. He indicated it genetic and some folks are more sensitive to bitterness. I guess I didn't know cat piss was bitter.

 

[Willy]

I can honestly say that I've never had a bobcat piss on my moustache.

You might wanna check with @Bramling Cross - he just made a batch of Panther Piss beer (search for panther piss, lots of posts).

Not sure if that would be similar to the bobcat piss / moustache issue. Ha.

 

[mac_1103]

I am familiar with the Panther Piss project and am quite confident that it tastes nothing at all like any urine one might care to compare it to. OTOH, who would actually get into a fight with a large wild feline that wanted to piss on them? Valor, discretion and all that.

 

[bike2brew]

It's also a common trait in Sauvignon Blanc wines.
From my wine textbooks:
"This aroma is due to a chemical compound called 4-MMP (4-mercapto-4-methyl-2-pentanone). This compound is a type of thiol, a sulfur-containing molecule that is naturally present in Sauvignon Blanc grapes. While not everyone picks up this "cat pee" aroma, it's a characteristic that is commonly associated with the grape variety, particularly in wines from cooler climates. This "cat pee" aroma is a natural characteristic of the grape and not a defect in the wine. Many wine enthusiasts find it intriguing and appealing. "
Hops that are also high in 4-MMP : Citra, Simcoe, Eureka, Summit, Apollo, Topaz, Mosaic, Eukanot, Galaxy, and Nelson Sauvin. Water stress in the plant is known to affect the levels of these compounds and "tropical" aromas.

The resulting aromas and perceived flavor are acquired taste. I was put off by "catty" as applied to Simcoe hops, in one of my earlier beers but after brewing several other batches have found the acquired taste. Similarly, I have found the acquired taste for Chinook hops in one of my other IPAs.

 

[Beer-lord]

I don't like it all the time but sometimes I do. My friends and I call it, 'hippy chick, armpit'!

 

[dmtaylor]

I can honestly say that I've never had a bobcat piss on my moustache.

If you've consumed more than a few IPAs then you've likely had many of the same chemical compounds in your mouth as the quote.

 

[bike2brew]

I dated girls like that back in the 70's

 

[bike2brew]

I have a Chinook IPA in our clubs competition as we speak. I am curiously awaiting the feedback and wondering if the flavor is going to be disqualifing.

 

[MaxStout]

Hopefully I won't encounter this from my next hops order.

 

[Willy]

Yes ... I often have a local craft IPA and my mind wanders back, 45 years +, to my college days, and a hippy chick armpit aroma with Lynyrd Skynyrd playing oooo oooo that smell on the radio. If she was really cool - the hair was braided.

 

[Pennine]

Duvel has their Citra triple hops series that is straight up cat piss to me. It is so bad I couldn't even get a sip down. Just in case anyone is curious... It's like Limburger cheese in a way for me.

 

[Broken Crow]

 

[fluketamer]

It's also a common trait in Sauvignon Blanc wines.
From my wine textbooks:
"This aroma is due to a chemical compound called 4-MMP (4-mercapto-4-methyl-2-pentanone). This compound is a type of thiol, a sulfur-containing molecule that is naturally present in Sauvignon Blanc grapes. While not everyone picks up this "cat pee" aroma, it's a characteristic that is commonly associated with the grape variety, particularly in wines from cooler climates. This "cat pee" aroma is a natural characteristic of the grape and not a defect in the wine. Many wine enthusiasts find it intriguing and appealing. "
Hops that are also high in 4-MMP : Citra, Simcoe, Eureka, Summit, Apollo, Topaz, Mosaic, Eukanot, Galaxy, and Nelson Sauvin. Water stress in the plant is known to affect the levels of these compounds and "tropical" aromas.

damn- all the good ones.

 

[Pennine]

damn- all the good ones.

Why they say to bitter with Magnum.

 

[day_trippr]

Or Chinook - all of my hazies and most of my WCIPAs use Chinook at 60.
Citra/Mosaic/Simcoe et all don't see the kettle until 5...

Cheers!

 

[bwible]

I think the hop quality you're talking about can be either positive or negative. If it's described as "dank," that's positive. If it's described as "catty," that is negative. I mean, who wants to drink something that reminds them of cat pee? At least with "dank," you're getting resinous and earthy characters. Personally I love beers I'd describe as "dank," but I hate beers I'd describe as "catty."

“Dank” and “juicy” are 2 of the most over used words whenever anybody talks about hops, and personally I can’t stand either word. Dank to me means pot or cannabis. I’m not a pothead and I don’t want that in my beer. If you want juicy go buy some juicy juice and drink it out of the little box through your little plastic straw.

Seriously, there are so many new hops that so many of us have never tried. The word descriptions don’t help. Its time we found some new words.

 

[firerat]

I don't like it all the time but sometimes I do. My friends and I call it, 'hippy chick, armpit'!

 

[worlddivides]

“Dank” and “juicy” are 2 of the most over used words whenever anybody talks about hops, and personally I can’t stand either word. Dank to me means pot or cannabis. I’m not a pothead and I don’t want that in my beer. If you want juicy go buy some juicy juice and drink it out of the little box through your little plastic straw.

Seriously, there are so many new hops that so many of us have never tried. The word descriptions don’t help. Its time we found some new words.

I'm not a pothead either and I hate the smell of cannabis, though I do understand why they use the description "dank" for those kinds of hops. It has a slight similarity, perhaps due to hops and cannabis being related, but not to the extent that I'd hate it.

I can't really see where you're coming from on "juicy," though. By the same logic, you could apply that to anything:
If you want grapefruit, go buy some grapefruit juice and drink it straight out of the carton.
If you want spicy, go buy a black pepper shaker and pour its contents down your throat.
If you want herbal, go buy an Italian herbal mix and munch on them until you feel sick.
If you want floral, go buy a bouquet, sit down with your cat, and start shoving pedals in your mouth.
If you want piney, go pick up some pine cones in the forest and munch on them until you get sent to the emergency room.

 

[bwible]

I'm not a pothead either and I hate the smell of cannabis, though I do understand why they use the description "dank" for those kinds of hops. It has a slight similarity, perhaps due to hops and cannabis being related, but not to the extent that I'd hate it.

I can't really see where you're coming from on "juicy," though. By the same logic, you could apply that to anything:
If you want grapefruit, go buy some grapefruit juice and drink it straight out of the carton.
If you want spicy, go buy a black pepper shaker and pour its contents down your throat.
If you want herbal, go buy an Italian herbal mix and munch on them until you feel sick.
If you want floral, go buy a bouquet, sit down with your cat, and start shoving pedals in your mouth.
If you want piney, go pick up some pine cones in the forest and munch on them until you get sent to the emergency room.

In about 500 years of beer history, where have you ever heard “juicy” before?