An Introductory Selection Of Hop Pellets

[Dazza_devil]

G'day again Brewers,
What would be a good selection of hop pellets to introduce a noob to the world of hops and how to incoorporate them in the brew.
I'm looking to order around 6 packets of pellets from Craftbrewer. Styles of beer I want to make include Porters, Stouts, Amber and Pale Ales, British Bitters.

Already have a packet of Fuggles and Goldings.

Cheers.

 

[beachy]

for strong/unique flavour and aroma additions in amber/pale ales amarillo,D saaz, motueka(B saaz) and nelson sauvin
are all brilliant and really stand out
i have also heard good things about galaxy but have not used it yet

 

[Stuster]

All those beachy mentioned are good. Target is a good bittering hop for British beers and stouts/porters. Good that you have EKG and Fuggles for those styles as well. EKG is good in a bitter, and Fuggles works well in dark beers IMO. Amarillo is always good for an American Pale Ale. Centennial are another really nice US hop and good for bittering as well. Northern Brewer are a very versatile hop, good for amber ales and bittering for anything. The only hop for a steam beer as well. Tettnang or Hallertau are good if you are looking for something along the German lager lines, which you can make a reasonable imitation of with something like US-05 yeast.

One question though, what kind of pale ales and amber ales were you after? US? UK? Australian? Any particular brand?

 

[Dazza_devil]

One question though, what kind of pale ales and amber ales were you after? US? UK? Australian? Any particular brand?

I've only tried Australian Pale Ales and liked them all, particularly Little Creatures and Coopers, Cascade First Harvest(very nice) and regular Cascade Pale Ale. Some of the IPA's are a little hoppy for me. James Squires Amber Ale would have to be my favourite Amber so far. As far as English and American Beers are concerned I'm looking forward to making the styles so I can compare.

 

[tcraig20]

I've only tried Australian Pale Ales and liked them all, particularly Little Creatures and Coopers, Cascade First Harvest(very nice) and regular Cascade Pale Ale. Some of the IPA's are a little hoppy for me. James Squires Amber Ale would have to be my favourite Amber so far. As far as English and American Beers are concerned I'm looking forward to making the styles so I can compare.

Williamette makes a nice amber ale - its what they make JSAA with.

Im a big fan of green bullet, and would probably get both stryrian and East Kent goldings.

Edit: Oh, and POR flowers if you can get them.

 

[Stuster]

I've only tried Australian Pale Ales and liked them all, particularly Little Creatures and Coopers, Cascade First Harvest(very nice) and regular Cascade Pale Ale. Some of the IPA's are a little hoppy for me. James Squires Amber Ale would have to be my favourite Amber so far. As far as English and American Beers are concerned I'm looking forward to making the styles so I can compare.

Well, Little Creatures is basically an American Pale Ale so I'd go with some Amarillo, Centennial or Cascade. Willamette are good for ambers as JamesCraig says.

 

[samhighley]

+1 on Styrian Goldings for English Bitters. Mmmm, Landlord.

 

[Fourstar]

IMO:

Hops by region:
UK: EKG for anything and everything, fuggles bringing up the rear
Euro: Hallertau, Northern Brewer, Saaz, Tettenang.
USA: Amarillo, Cascade, Simcoe, Chinook.

Hops By style (the few i mainly brew):
Pseudo Lager ales: Northern Brewer, Hallertau.
Pale ales: cascade, amarillo
IPA's: simcoe, cascade, chinook.
American Ambers: Chinook, Simcoe
Aussie Ales: Pride of Ringwood, galaxy
English ales: EKG, EKG, EKG.

Euro light Lagers: Northern Brewer(for bittering only), Hallertau, Saaz
Weizens: Hallertau, Tettenang.
Euro Dark Lagers: Hallertau

 

[Dazza_devil]

Great info thanks.

Here's my long list, needs to be shortened somewhat. Perhaps some of these are similar or need substituting, individuality could possibly be the key.

POR
Galaxy
Cascade
Amarillo
Willamette
D Saaz
Motueka
Target
Styrian
Chinook

I'de luv to buy them all but it's all gettin a bit outa hand. I'll be ordering some speciality grains as well but that's another thread.

 

[samhighley]

If I wanted the list shorter, i'd be culling POR and Chinook.

 

[Cocko]

If you want a great APA don't forget some B SAAZ as a or part as a flavour addition!

APA's:
B Saaz
Casacde
Chinook - bittering only
Amarillo

ESB's
EKG
Styrian - an awesome flavour and/or aroma addition
Fuggles

Thats all I know....

Oh, and D SAAZ for a Pilsner, if you can brew Lagers + good for a Wit style...

As all IMO

Jump in and try 'em and you will soon have your own list! :icon_cheers:

2c

 

[JonL]

Being fairly new to all this and being a fan of American style IIPA's , last time I tried Amarillo, Cascade, Chinook and Saaz (they all smelt right) and it seemed to work.

 

[chappo1970]

Well, Little Creatures is basically an American Pale Ale so I'd go with some Amarillo, Centennial or Cascade. Willamette are good for ambers as JamesCraig says.

+1 add BSaaz IMHO

IMO:

Hops by region:
UK: EKG for anything and everything, fuggles bringing up the rear
Euro: Hallertau, Northern Brewer, Saaz, Tettenang.
USA: Amarillo, Cascade, Simcoe, Chinook.

Hops By style (the few i mainly brew):
Pseudo Lager ales: Northern Brewer, Hallertau.
Pale ales: cascade, amarillo
IPA's: simcoe, cascade, chinook.
American Ambers: Chinook, Simcoe
Aussie Ales: Pride of Ringwood, galaxy
English ales: EKG, EKG, EKG.

Euro light Lagers: Northern Brewer(for bittering only), Hallertau, Saaz
Weizens: Hallertau, Tettenang.
Euro Dark Lagers: Hallertau

Did you miss any hops there 4star? LOL

 

[cdbrown]

From looking at what I've used in various brews (pale ale, golden ale, pils, stout, wheats)

US Cascade (golden ale)
Amarillo (JSGA)
Tettnang (weizens, german pils)
UK Goldings (irish red)
UK Fuggles (irish red)
Challenger (irish red)
Northern Brewer (irish red)
NZ Saaz B (pils) - used the most of this
PoR (Coopers PA)

Ones I bought but haven't used at all yet are green bullet, hersbrucker, GR hallertau

 

[Fourstar]

Did you miss any hops there 4star? LOL

Thats only 10 types of hops in so many different uses. Even still i think im lacking in my post tongue.gif
Just listened to 'can you brew it' podcast for Green Flash IPA.... mmmmmm talk about hops.
Below are the notes ive taked down from the recipe.... talk about hop droool icon_drool2.gif

Green Flash IPA

OG 1.069
FG 10.14
8.8 SRM
7.4 ABV
93 IBU

92% Pale Malt
4% Crystal 40L
4% Carapils

14.17g Simcoe 90Min
7g each Simcoe/Columbus 60min
7g each Simcoe/Columbus 30 Min
20g each Simcoe/Columbus 15 Min
30g Cascade 10 min
Flamout 14g each Simcoe/Columbus
14g each amarillo, centennial, simcoe, cascade Dry Hop

Mash 67deg Mash 60 Min.
Mashout 76 deg

Wyeast 1056 - 20deg

Water - Increase Calcium and sulfate.

 

[Bizier]

My Take on 6 hops

UK Ales
EKG
Challenger
Target (or Newport for highAA & low$$)

Amber
Willamette

US Ales
Simcoe
Cascade

You could mix this combo:
Willammette in a US pale ale or UK bitter
EKG or Challenger in an amber
Cascade to make a US amber
Challenger or Target/Newport as a late accent in a US pale ale.

I have chosen Target/Newport and Simcoe because you will get your money's worth in the bittering dept, so you can also add remaining portions as late hops, just remember to use reasonably accurate scales if you are shooting for a specific IBU with 60min additions.

Also I am biased to UK styles, if you are biased towards US styles, get amarillo rather than challenger, but only use it for US styles.

 

[manticle]

It really depends on a balance of the styles you have planned and the amount you want to spend.

Pick the next 2 or 3 brews you think you want to make and find which hops are recommended. Some can double up or be used for several styles.

You could simply buy one from each group.

EG: saaz/sterling/liberty (lagers, pils, european style pale light clean etc), fuggles/goldings (stouts, ales, porters) and some higher alpha type hop like northern brewer for general bittering.

Start with one type for each style, get to know how they work and taste and smell and then start expanding from there.

If you're not entering competitions or trying to impress your hop expert friend or AG microbrewing principal you will make some nice beers and learn the characteristics. That's exactly what I'm doing at the moment.