NZ Kohatu Hops

[johnmac22]

Has anyone used these? I ordered them from YVH and want to use them in an IPA. Here is the description from the YVH website. Thoughts?

Aroma/Flavor: Pineapple, Pine needles, lime, and classic Hawaiian Punch flavors.

 

[m00ps]

Ive used them in a black IPA with simcoe and chinook. Description is pretty close to what I got from them. I used all 4oz in a hopstand and got a lot of pine and citrus. Not so much hawaiin punch. Not as bitter as their aa% would suggest...

 

[johnmac22]

Ive used them in a black IPA with simcoe and chinook. Description is pretty close to what I got from them. I used all 4oz in a hopstand and got a lot of pine and citrus. Not so much hawaiin punch. Not as bitter as their aa% would suggest...

How were they with Simcoe? I only ordered a small amount to use with some Nelson that I ordered but will buy more to pair with Simcoe if it's worth it. Where did you use the Kohatu in your boil and more importantly...would you use Kohatu again?

 

[m00ps]

It went very well IMO. I'd use them again, but its not something that really wowed me. Theres a number of other newer hop varieties id buy first

All of mine went into a hopstand after the flame was out

 

[FatDragon]

How were they with Simcoe? I only ordered a small amount to use with some Nelson that I ordered but will buy more to pair with Simcoe if it's worth it. Where did you use the Kohatu in your boil and more importantly...would you use Kohatu again?

I just bottled an IPA with Kohatu and Nelson about a week ago. Smelled AMAZING going into the bottles. I would normally be impatiently tasting the first bottle around this point, but a bout of strep throat has me holding off on the beer for a few days, so I can't give any further tasting or aroma notes, just the general impression from bottling day that Kohatu and Nelson make a lovely couple.

 

[johnmac22]

I just bottled an IPA with Kohatu and Nelson about a week ago. Smelled AMAZING going into the bottles. I would normally be impatiently tasting the first bottle around this point, but a bout of strep throat has me holding off on the beer for a few days, so I can't give any further tasting or aroma notes, just the general impression from bottling day that Kohatu and Nelson make a lovely couple.

NICE!!! This is what I was hoping for! Sorry about the strep throat though...I have an all Cascade PA kegged right now that I'm having to delay because of a cold. Keep me posted on how your beer tastes when you feel better!

 

[FatDragon]

I've opened a couple now and the aroma and flavor are both excellent. I used maybe 55/45 Nelson/Kohatu because that's all the Kohatu I had. Nelson being such a strong hop, it dominates the flavor and aroma of the beer, but the Kohatu plays an excellent second fiddle to the Nelson flavors. The result is a beer with pronounced white grape flavor and aroma underpinned by a more broad-spectrum tropical fruit base - the mellow "Hawaiian Punch" flavor of the Kohatu.

Mind you, my palate basically recognizes two flavors - "good" and "bad" - so I may be overselling my ability to distinguish the flavors and aromas in this particular beer. All I can really say is that the Nelson stands out but there's more to it than just Nelson, and it's very tasty.

 

[m00ps]

Yeah nelson is much more assertive than kohatu despite it having less aa%

 

[johnmac22]

Mind you, my palate basically recognizes two flavors - "good" and "bad" - so I may be overselling my ability to distinguish the flavors and aromas in this particular beer. All I can really say is that the Nelson stands out but there's more to it than just Nelson, and it's very tasty.

I hear ya here. I only have 4 oz so I may try it with Nelson first and then with Simcoe when this years crop is available. I had planned on pairing the Kohatu 1:1 with Nelson...do you think that would overpower the Kohatu to the point where you wouldn't detect the Kohatu?

 

[FatDragon]

I hear ya here. I only have 4 oz so I may try it with Nelson first and then with Simcoe when this years crop is available. I had planned on pairing the Kohatu 1:1 with Nelson...do you think that would overpower the Kohatu to the point where you wouldn't detect the Kohatu?

I feel that with a bit more Nelson than Kohatu the Nelson dominates the flavor and aroma, but the Kohatu provides a nice subtle undertone. I feel like this makes for a great pairing, but if you want to highlight the Kohatu in this brew, you might want to skew the ratio in its favor. Nelson's a punchy, in-your-face hop, while Kohatu is milder and more laid-back, so a 1:1 ratio is still going to be Nelson's party.

However, using my palate to make hop pairing decisions is like using an axe to trim your hedges. It might work, but it's not really the right tool for the job.

 

[johnmac22]

However, using my palate to make hop pairing decisions is like using an axe to trim your hedges. It might work, but it's not really the right tool for the job.

Hahaha! I love Nelson so I don't mind it taking over I just dont want to to dwarf the Kohatu completely. If it compliments the Nelson at all then I'll be happy. Might scale is back a bit though just because. Thanks for the advice!

 

[FatDragon]

Yeah nelson is much more assertive than kohatu despite it having less aa%

My Nelson was 11.6% while the Kohatu was 8.1%, unless you mean lower AA% hops are more assertive in the flavor and aroma department.

 

[m00ps]

Oh maybe I got the bittering potential of kohatu mixed up with waimea. I got both of them at the same time and They left similar impressions. Good but not assertive or too distinctive

 

[FatDragon]

Oh maybe I got the bittering potential of kohatu mixed up with waimea. I got both of them at the same time and They left similar impressions. Good but not assertive or too distinctive

Got it. Yeah, I chose Kohatu specifically for its moderate AA% so I could use a bit more of it late in the boil or in the whirlpool without blowing up the IBU's. Now that I'm chilling to 180 before beginning the whirlpool it's not as much of an issue, but I used to whirlpool right after flameout and get big bittering that wasn't always welcome.

 

[deadphish]

Love Kohatu. They have great flavor and aroma but not too strong so I pair them with Citra in my house IPA. Thinking about adding some Wakatu as well.

 

[johnmac22]

Love Kohatu. They have great flavor and aroma but not too strong so I pair them with Citra in my house IPA. Thinking about adding some Wakatu as well.

I have a lot of Citra left over from last year...maybe I should have ordered more than 4oz of the Kohatu. Do you get much of the Hawaiian Punch flavor from it? How about the Pine needles?

 

[deadphish]

I have a lot of Citra left over from last year...maybe I should have ordered more than 4oz of the Kohatu. Do you get much of the Hawaiian Punch flavor from it? How about the Pine needles?

I can't say I really got any Hawaiian Punch at all. I've never used it solo, only with the Citra, but it really just accents and adds to it, with a little pine kick.