New Hop - “Fresh tropical citrus, with a hint of wafting joint smoke from around the"

[Steelers77]

When will Amarillo be back in stock? I have money I want to give you.

In Stock

 

[Ike]

Awright... ya got me. 4oz on the way, should be enough to do a nice little SMASH to see what it's all about. I actually enjoyed the Columbus SMASH I did over the summer, so I'm expecting I'll dig this one as well, if the description fits.

 

[Ike]

Gonna duplicate the SMaSH I did with Mosaic recently (AA values are really close). The rough cut:

7.5 gallon boil, 60 min boil
13.5# Maris Otter
0.5# Carapils (yeah, I know not a SMaSH, really)
2% acid malt

Water: followed Brewer's Friend "light and hoppy" profile

~ 40 IBUs (I keep it light so the aroma and flavor of the hops can show)

1 oz @ 20
0.5 oz @ 15
0.5 oz @ 5
1 oz dry hop for one week after primary is done
1 oz in 1 liter hop tea (160deg for 30mins) at kegging

I know the hop schedule seems boring to real IPA fans, but the Mosaic/Maris Otter version (called "yer M.O.M." with an identical hop schedule) was probably the best brew I've ever made.

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

That is pretty light on the hops. The APA I made had almost the same hopping schedule. 1oz @ 15, 1oz @ 5, 2oz dry hop, ~30 IBU, .91 IBU/SG. The hops are there but the beer is very well balanced.
For what your doing I'd probably go 2oz @ 15 and 2oz dry hop or you'll end up closer to an English IPA. FWIW here's the APA I brewed...

Batch size - 5.25gal
OG - 1.048
IBU - 30
Yeast - Nottingham

Grain Bill - single infusion mash, 60min @ 152

4.25# Fawcett MO
4# Weyermann Vienna
8oz White Wheat
8oz Crystal 60

Boil

1oz @ 15
1oz @ 5

Dry hop - 2oz for 3-4 days

 

[Ike]

That is pretty light on the hops.

I dig it, and really don't disagree. I think the hop tea is pretty much cheating: that massive dose of hop oil and aroma without isomerization right before bottling/kegging just CRANKS it up. I've tried it so far in SMaSHs of Columbus and Mosaic, both with awesome results. I had a buddy who is a "non hoppy beer" drinker try one and it was so hoppy to him that he couldn't finish it.

SO, I'll see how it goes. Worst case, if it's not hoppy enough, or if it's TOO dank and REALLY needs another hop added to be drinkable, I can pop the top on the keg and add another dose of tea.

 

[Ike]

Gonna duplicate the SMaSH I did with Mosaic recently (AA values are really close). The rough cut:

7.5 gallon boil, 60 min boil
13.5# Maris Otter
0.5# Carapils (yeah, I know not a SMaSH, really)
2% acid malt

Water: followed Brewer's Friend "light and hoppy" profile

~ 40 IBUs (I keep it light so the aroma and flavor of the hops can show)

1 oz @ 20
0.5 oz @ 15
0.5 oz @ 5
1 oz dry hop for one week after primary is done
1 oz in 1 liter hop tea (160deg for 30mins) at kegging

SO, I just dropped this in the keg, and am sipping on the hydro sample as I type.

Call this stuff "The Notorious D.A.N.K."

I'm not a beer judge, and it's only just lately that I've been paying attention to the hops that are in a recipe and started using SMaSHs to try an educate my taste buds. Because of this, I must admit that I lack the experience and vocabulary necessary to really express the taste. But, I'll try.

So far, it seems more like Columbus than anything else I have tried. Heavy and dank: strong odor and taste. This stuff is NOT light, not citrusy. It's not the 150 pound hipster in tight jeans sitting at the bar swirling his brew in a glass (call this guy Centennial or Cascade). This stuff is the scary lookin' biker dude with scabby knuckles and the thick gray beard that doesn't give a S*IT about what anyone else says, sitting alone at the bar and DARING someone to ask him to move.

I followed my above recipe; the only thing that worries me is I didn't take a big swig of the hydro sample before adding the tea. I know others have mentioned that my recipe is hop-light; but for my taste this is easily going to be hoppy enough if not a bit too heavy after the tea, given its punch.

NONE of this is a vote against the strain. It definitely packs a punch and it's definitely worth trying out! That said, even my untrained taste tells me it needs another hop to balance it out a bit. I probably won't make another SMaSH with this, but would love to find a good hop mix to make it shine. ...Something to be the Murdoch to its Mr. T., if you will.

I'll holler back in 2-3 weeks when I tap the keg, and let you know how the finished product turned out!

 

[singybrue]

I just kegged a Rye Pale Ale using Columbus to bitter with 2oz X331 for a 20 minute flameout steep and 2oz X331 for a 3 day dry hop.
The hydrometer sample was Uber DANK yet fruity. Really nice!
I'm really looking forward to the carbonated version! Too bad my CO2 tank was empty when I went to hook it up.

 

[donk5]

X-331 is officially now called Strata.

 

[bmobley07]

I see a recent trademark filing under the name of Strata for Indie Hops, which I believe make the X331. However, I can't locate anything else indicating the X331 has been assigned a name or name of Strata. donk5, can you clarify how you know this?

 

[donk5]

I see a recent trademark filing under the name of Strata for Indie Hops, which I believe make the X331. However, I can't locate anything else indicating the X331 has been assigned a name or name of Strata. donk5, can you clarify how you know this?

https://www.brewbound.com/news/worthy-brewing-launches-stratasphere-ipa

 

[Ike]

Ok, WOW. Now that it's spent a few weeks in the keg and is fully carbed, this stuff is awesome. Now, I totally get much more of the "fruity" side that others have mentioned. The title of the thread says "tropical citrus" but for me it's much more "tropical fruity" and not much citrus at all. It's not at all like a grapefruit IPA or anything like that. The fruitiness is much more palatable and not pucker-generating.

I admit: after tasting the hydro sample, I was afraid that the hop tea addition was going to end up making an undrinkable beer. I'm VERY happy to say that this stuff is going to be gone in no time!

Good stuff!

 

[flugelizor]

I am excited to try Strata (X-331).
Will you carry it this year, Steelers77?

 

[Brew_G]

I am excited to try Strata (X-331).
Will you carry it this year, Steelers77?

http://www.farmhousebrewingsupply.com/strata-1lb-2017-new-crop/

 

[Steelers77]

Thanks Brew_G