REAL HOPS - How??

[Grinder12000]

A new acquaintance as offered to let me have some of his home grown cascade Hops

OK - any good links out there that will instruch me how to use them? I'm a Mini Masher so this is a new thing for me.

 

[RICLARK]

uhhhh.... You use them like any other cascade hops. Do you know the AA%?

 

[MikeFlynn74]

you really can only use home grown for flavoring as the AA wont be standard.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

you really can only use home grown for flavoring as the AA wont be standard.

Standard? what is standard? even commercial hop vary year by year.

The ONLY difference between HG hops and Commercial hops is that the commercial hops were tested to quantify AA%. Big deal!

Cadcade hops have a 10 year range from 5.1% to 8.5% EVEN in commercial yards. So I suggest you take the average of this and just try them. Yes, even as bittering if you want.

Pre- GC and HPLC technology NOBODY knew the alpha ratings of hops and THEY STILL MADE GOOD BEER WITH THEM!

 

[MikeFlynn74]

While entirely true- its just possible for you to over/under bitter a beer with homegrown

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

While entirely true- its just possible for you to over/under bitter a beer with homegrown

Yes. That is a true statement as well and I will give you that IF you will concede that even with a stated AA the same is possible (given that calcs are merely an approximation).

It just "urks" me when people blanket HG hops as only useful for flavor and aroma cause it ain't true. You just have to be willing to make an "off" batch to get a baseline.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Mod Edit:OT comments deleted

Have you EVER tried brewing with HG hops or are you simply regurgitating what you have read here or elsewhere?

I have brewed with HG hops and I'd say that those batches have been the best I have made. And yes I used those hops for bittering. Sure the fisrt few were a chance trial but by using the average method they came out just fine. Do I know the actual AA of the beer, no. But then, neither do you with your "tested" hops. The reality is that even with "tested" hops the calculations are flawed but do give us a quantifiable baseline for perceived bitterness.

I suspect that if you try an unknown hop, even with a quanitified AA, you;d make an adjustment on the next attempt at the same batch to nail the bitterness to your palate. So then what/where is the difference?

And I am done!

 

[MikeFlynn74]

I live in AK. You cant tell me the 18hrs of sun and soil composition wont give me a different hop and AA than Oregon?

I am just quoting the hundreds of things Ive read- I have not brewed with HG hops. So I will concede any "real" knowledge of HG hops to my book knowledge.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Okay, so I will add this. If the hop plants are less than 3 years old the chance that the AA will mature is great. After the third year the plant achieves a harmony with it's climate and conditions and the AA and otherwise will stabilize.

As with any plant if the climate is unstable then the plants yield will be affected but, with supplemental fertilization and irrigation the effect can be minimalized.

This is where homegrown has the advantage of commercial crops. The homegrower has the "ability" to irrigate and fertilize more cost effectively than the commercial yard.

 

[MikeFlynn74]

Mod edit. O/T
Take it to PM if you must. All related posts deleted.

 

[Kauai_Kahuna]

First of all, that is a really cool new acquittance, I would just thank them, give them a few brews, invite them to dinner, and ask them if they have an estimate on the AAU's.
Second, Depending on how much I have had to drink I'll call out anyone on anything that I am 100% certain I know nothing about. I'm sure I'll learn something from it!
I will also agree that even using "lab tested" hops it is still a best guess for the IBU's, the more I have read about it, it starts to look like the "MPG for SUV's". Reality just does not seem to match with what your told. Since this shortage of hops, I have been using every variety of substitution I can think of. Some have been pleasant surprises, some have not been that great.
You live and learn, or at least you stay alive day to day, or not. Take your choice.
I am absolutely certain I am me, but even then I'm sure someone will argue about that, and depending on my mood I might agree.

 

[denimglen]

When I use my HG hops I just use a neutral, high AA hop for bittering, and then whatever AA value is loaded into beersmith for the other additions.

This is NOT because I don't know/trust/dismiss or whatever my HG hops, simply I'd rather use them for flavouring and aroma than waste them on bittering, especially in a hop shortage like this and with the amount of time I've spent (and enjoyed) growing them.

And to the OP - you can use them as you would any other leaf hop (if they are dried). If you only use pellets you may want to increase the amount of the HG hops by about 10% over what you would usually use - due to less surface area. If the hops have not been dried you can either make something to dry them with - usually on a screen from a window laid horizontally and left somewhere away from light and moisture. If you don't want to dry them you can use them 'green'.

Most hop growing websites will be able to expand on this info in much more detail, a quick google search will bring them up.

Hope that helps a little.

 

[Orfy]

Please keep post in the technical forums on topic.
I've tried to clean this thread up.

If you want to start a back and forward session with another member please use PM's
Debating is fine but please keep it un-personal.
If you don't agree with what some one posts then don't get personal just stick to the facts.