New Zealand Pilsner

[ntempleton]

Okay, Brewers. My wife asked me to make a New Zealand Pilsner. The Pilsner part I've got down, the hop combo I'm not as confident. Here are the NZ hops I've got, what would you use, and preferable why?

Peacherine - 2024	T90	8.6%
Nectaron - 2023	T90	9.80%
Galaxy - 2023	T90	19.60%
Nelson Sauvin 2024	T90	16.3%

 

[worlddivides]

I just made a New Zealand Pilsner with Nectaron and Motueka. It had a really nice lime, lemon, peach, and pineapple kind of character to it.

Galaxy is an Australian hop, but I thought I'd like to combine it with Nectaron (Of those 4 hops, Galaxy is the only one that isn't from New Zealand, but it's considered "within style" to use Australian hops in combination with New Zealand hops).

I had an idea of doing a New Zealand Pilsner / West Coast Pilsner hybrid with 2 New Zealand hops and 2 American West Coast hops, but I ended up just doing New Zealand hops. I'll probably revisit it in the future.

Peacherine and Nectaron could be a nice combo for the similar peach/nectarine character. Personally I might just go with Nectaron and Galaxy, though.

 

[jdauria]

Made one a few years back that scored very well in comps, a few 45's here and there. A small charge of Magnum upfront then then several additions of Nelson Sauvin and Motekua late in boil and in whirlpool. 42 IBUs total. With what you have, I would maybe bitter with Galaxy to 15-20 IBUS up front and Nelson and Nectaron at 10 mins, again at 5....then again in whirlpool/hop stand for 20 mins or so. Just my thought.

 

[Broothru]

Nectaron - Mash hop, 1.7 IBU
Nectaron - FWH, 9.6 IBU
Motueka - :10 min., 9.6 IBU
Pacifica - :10 min., 7.4 IBU
Nelson Sauvin - :10 min., 11.3 IBU

The beer literally blew me away. It also disappointed me dearly. I drank it sparingly at first, trying to make it last, but it really faded in taste and aroma quite quickly. After a short, sweet "life" of about two months in the keg, I tried to revive it with a dosing of Nectaron terpenes. It was a valiant attempt but ultimately failed to bring the victim back to its original glory. I entered it into a comp anyway as a Specialty Beer (Provisional Category X5), to which the judges said, "Meh. Third Place."

Man, was it great in its youth. If you brew it, drink it fast.