Top 5 must have hops

[Willy]

Never tried Mittelfrueh... Need to check it out. What styles is that hop best used?

 

[worlddivides]

Never tried Mittelfrueh... Need to check it out. What styles is that hop best used?

It's one of the four noble hops, possibly the most famous. You could call it the "original" Hallertau since, as far as I'm aware, all other Hallertau variants descend from Hallertau Mittelfruh. It's mainly used in all German styles of lager, but it gets quite a bit of use in ales too (altbier as just one example, but I've used it in Berliner Weisse quite a few times).

 

[Willy]

Thanks - I looked it up and wondered if I had used it since I often use hallertau but that's all they call it. Hallertau... (A nobile traditional hop)... Or is that a different hop?

 

[user 246304]

Thanks - I looked it up and wondered if I had used it since I often use hallertau but that's all they call it. Hallertau... (A nobile traditional hop)... Or is that a different hop?

Hallertau is a region, and there are several varieties that come from there. It's in German, but google translates pretty well.

https://www.hopfenland-hallertau.de/die-hallertau/hopfen-und-bier

Which types of hops are there in Hallertau?​

Around 25 different types of hops are grown in Hallertau, and they play a major role on the world market. Newer varieties have become particularly popular because they produce higher yields, are more resistant to diseases and pests when grown, or add special flavors to the beer:

• The “Herkules” hop variety is the most sought-after hop variety in the world.
  A variety - bred by the Hüll Hop Research Center - that is mainly used to add bitterness to beer.
• The hop variety “Perle” is also a cultivated variety, known for its slightly fruity and woody-spicy character.
• The “Hallertauer Tradition” , another cultivated variety, has a citrus-fruity, slightly floral aroma.
• The “Hallertauer Mittelfrüh” is the original local variety of Hallertau, spicy and somewhat fruity in aroma, with light citrus notes.
  

Several types of hops are usually combined to make beer. For example, “Herkules” for the bitterness and an “aroma variety” such as “Hallertauer Mittelfrüh” or “Hallertauer Tradition” for the typical hop aroma in the beer. In addition to the classic “bitter varieties” (or “high alpha varieties”) and “aroma varieties”, so-called “flavor hops” such as “Mandarina Bavaria” or “Callista” are increasingly being bred and grown in Hallertau. These are mainly used for “craft beers” , especially those with a strong hop aroma.

 

[Willy]

Hallertau is a region, and there are several varieties that come from there. It's in German, but google translates pretty well.

https://www.hopfenland-hallertau.de/die-hallertau/hopfen-und-bier

Thanks!

 

[MaxStout]

Magnum (bittering)
Citra
EKG
Hallertau Mittelfruh
Saaz

 

[worlddivides]

Thanks - I looked it up and wondered if I had used it since I often use hallertau but that's all they call it. Hallertau... (A nobile traditional hop)... Or is that a different hop?

Generally when it just says "Hallertau," that's specifically Hallertau Mittelfruh. When it's another kind, they usually add the clarification such as with "Hallertau Tradition" or "Hallertau Blanc."

 

[Willy]

Generally when it just says "Hallertau," that's specifically Hallertau Mittelfruh. When it's another kind, they usually add the clarification such as with "Hallertau Tradition" or "Hallertau Blanc."

If so... Than I use mittelfrüh quite often. Love it. .. also use hallertau blanc sometimes late in the boil or as an aroma hop

 

[Brian66]

Citra
Strata
Cascade
Hallertau Mittelfru
Idaho 7

 

[WestMichiganSteelheader]

Citra
Mosaic
Centennial
Zappa my favorite for bruts
Amarillo

 

[G_robertus]

Tough one. I like complexity in many styles so I could probably get you multiple sets of five depending on the style or region I get inspiration from.

Mosaic
Sabro or Simcoe
EKG
Hersbrucker or Northern Brewer (DE)

Nugget/Millennium as my spammable bitter hop. Basically anything with 12+ AA that is cheap and not magnum.

Honourable mentions to Simcoe, Styrian Goldings/Fuggles, I7, S. Wolf, Galaxy, CTZ, Liberty/Mittelfrüh, Jester and Harlequin. They find their way in many beers as well with good results, or I've had good commercial examples.
I'm less thrilled about Citra and Talus.

 

[tracer bullet]

Definitely needed a poll! These are the ones I use the most by far:

Centennial for my Americans
EKG for my British
Saaz for my lagers
Mosaic for my hazies
Magnum for bittering - I could go without if needed but I do use it a lot

 

[Wigglebutts Brewery]

Fuggles
EKG
Citra
Hallertau
Magnum

 

[MaxStout]

Citra
Mosaic
Centennial
Zappa my favorite for bruts
Amarillo

I bought a pound of Zappa and have used some of it for late boil additions in a couple brews. I like the unique flavor--it's really growing on me.

 

[AlexKay]

Magnum
Boadicea
Saaz
Northern Brewer
Nectaron

Those are the ones I would ask for. The other ones (Contessa, Sybilla, Lubelski, Phoenix, First Gold, Pilgrim, Cashmere, Lotus, HBC1019) I would smuggle by any means necessary. Keister 'em if I had to.

 

[eliastheodosis]

Strisselspalt
CZ Saaz
Mittelfrueh
EKG
Chinook

 

[pdxal]

Magnum
Mt. Hood
Sterling
Cascade or Centennial
Nelson Sauvin

 

[bwible]

Three classic American C's
Cascade
Centennial
Chinook

And two classic English hops
Fuggle
EKG

I like this response. You won’t be making any German lagers but figure your deserted island probably doesn’t have a lagering fridge anyway

 

[worlddivides]

I like this response. You won’t be making any German lagers but figure your deserted island probably doesn’t have a lagering fridge anyway

I mean, if you're gonna go that route, it's also probably in the 90s all year round and doesn't have electricity or any way to prevent wild yeast or bacteria from getting into your salt water.

 

[mac_1103]

There's a fresh water lagoon. And you've got the professor along for the ride. He can build almost anything out of almost nothing, but for some reason he can't fix the damned boat.

 

[Willy]

There's a fresh water lagoon. And you've got the professor along for the ride. He can build almost anything out of almost nothing, but for some reason he can't fix the damned boat.

That said, the professor did make a glycol chiller out of bamboo and fermented dodo guano. Pretty amazing and you know how Mary Ann loosens up after a few lagers.

 

[CascadesBrewer]

I like playing around with new hops in IPAs, but I could make most of my beers with:

• Centennial
• Citra
• Columbus (or Warrior)
• East Kent Goldings
• Styrian Goldings

(I do need to simplify the amount of hops I keep on hand and try to stop myself from purchasing 1 lb bags of hops because they seem fun to try and are on sale. Probably not just 5, but maybe 10.)

 

[Velnerj]

I like playing around with new hops in IPAs, but I could make most of my beers with:

• Centennial
• Citra
• Columbus (or Warrior)
• East Kent Goldings
• Styrian Goldings

(I do need to simplify the amount of hops I keep on hand and try to stop myself from purchasing 1 lb bags of hops because they seem fun to try and are on sale. Probably not just 5, but maybe 10.)

@CascadesBrewer isn't going with cascade?

 

[tdf]

(I do need to simplify the amount of hops I keep on hand and try to stop myself from purchasing 1 lb bags of hops because they seem fun to try and are on sale. Probably not just 5, but maybe 10.)

But I just know I’m going to open that 1lb bag of 2021 Belma soon .

My list:

• Chinook
• Citra
• Northern Brewer
• Saaz
• Willamette

 

[bwible]

There are so many new ones and a whole bunch I never tried.

I brew mostly British styles like bitter that are hard to find for me. I like to brew imperial
Stout, blonde ale, sometimes a red ale. I don’t brew Belgians, hazies, or sours.

- Centennial (usually 10% +)
- Northern Brewer (usually 7% +)
- First Gold (Usually 6% +)
- Perle (usually 6% +)
- Tettnanger (usually 4% +)

First Gold is my favorite British hop. I think I could make alot of beers with these hops - from barelywine to ipa to pale ale to stout to bitter to cream ale, lagers too. But I wouldn’t want to have to do it.

 

[Miraculix]

1. EKG
2. Chinook
3. Mittelfrüh
4. Saaz
5. Simcoe

 

[BeerAndTele]

Centennial
Simcoe
Chinook
Mittelfruh
Magnum

 

[JAReeves]

Cascade
Citra
Mosaic
EKG
Motueka

 

[HM-2]

Centennial
Citra
First Gold
Motueka
Strata

 

[jdubdvdt]

@CascadesBrewer isn't going with cascade?

hahaha touche.
I mean centennial is super cascade, but we could just ask a mod to change their handle to centennialbrewer.

I am still developing my top 5 because there are so many that I would say I love.

Hallertau Mittelfruh is my #1, I can say that without a doubt.