The replacements from YVH are pretty much the same as the originals. The hops from another vendor are definitely greener and have a bit more/nicer aroma than the other two, although it's not a night and day difference as far as the aroma is concerned. I would not have hesitated to use those. But to be honest had it not been for the original post, I might have just used the first batch, hard to say.
These are the first leaf hops I've bought since returning to brewing last August. Previously (17 yrs. a go) I used leaf hops only, but I'm certainly not going to rely on those memories. My point is, from an aroma standpoint it may be inexperience at work and expectations that the leaf hops are going to be as pungent as pellets out of the bag when they won't be. I'm sure more aromatics are exposed once the hops are crushed and pelletized.
After kegging I did have a liter of a R2H56 clone leftover in a pet bottle with a carbonator cap. I tossed 4 or 5 cones from the first batch in and we'll see how they turn out compared to the kegged version which I dry hopped with pellets.
To be clear, YVH said that if I am not happy with the product to let them know and they will send out return labels, I have always been pleased with their service.
