Nelson Sauvin hops in a RIS?

[tooldudetool]

So I've brewed one all grain Russian Imperial Stout, which is about 6 months in the bottle now, and I'm really enjoying it. It's been aging under my house at around 50 degrees in bottles, after sitting in the secondary for 2 months at room temp. Anyway, I'm trying to plan ahead and brew it again so I'll have something for next winter. As I was tasting it last time I was thinking that maybe an ounce of Nelson Sauvin at flameout might add an interesting white wine / tropical fruit flavor and aroma that might complement the oaking I'm planning on doing this time as well. White wine / oak / chocolate /coffee, why not? I know that the hop character will fade quite a bit after 6 months in the bottle, so the change will be slight, but I think it might add another level of complexity to the brew. Any opinions on this? Anyone tried using New Zealand hops in a RIS with success? Here's the recipe (sorry the formatting is a bit weird with Brewtarget):

Batch Size 6.000 gal Boil Size 8.250 gal
Boil Time 60.000 min Efficiency 80%
OG 1.102 FG 1.020
ABV 10.6% Bitterness 54.0 IBU (Tinseth)
Color 56.8 srm (Morey) Calories (per 12 oz.) 340

Fermentables

Total grain: 24.500 lb
Name Type Amount Mashed Late Yield Color
Simpsons - Maris Otter Grain 11.500 lb Yes No 81% 3.0 srm
Pale Malt (2 Row) US Grain 8.500 lb Yes No 79% 2.0 srm
Black Barley (Roast Barley) Grain 1.500 lb Yes No 55% 500.0 srm
Briess - Extra Special Malt Grain 1.000 lb Yes No 73% 130.0 srm
Caramunich Malt Grain 8.000 oz Yes No 72% 56.0 srm
Chocolate Malt (UK) Grain 8.000 oz Yes No 73% 450.0 srm
Oats, Flaked Grain 8.000 oz Yes No 80% 1.0 srm
Pale Chocolate Grain 8.000 oz Yes No 73% 350.0 srm

Hops

Name Alpha Amount Use Time Form IBU
Bravo 14.0% 2.000 oz Boil 60.000 min Pellet 43.8
Styrian Goldings 5.5% 2.000 oz Boil 15.000 min Pellet 8.5
Nelson Sauvin 12.4% 1.00 oz Boil 1.000 min Pellet 0.8
Styrian Goldings 5.5% 2.000 oz Boil 1.000 min Pellet 0.7

 

[eastoak]

i love NS hops but i wonder if they would hold up after 6 months. i'm making a Nelson pale ale tomorrow morning.

 

[TheZymurgist]

I would think most hops in a RIS after six months or a year would have faded. Why don't you age it in secondary for longer, then dry hop it a week before you bottle it?