Essential Hops

[Mr Bond]

POR.Challenger.Fuggle/Willamette.Hallertau/Tettnanger.
Augmented with trials of funky newer varieties.

Mah's advice about the simple combo's sounds the goods as well.I have fond memories of AAA that had Simcoe@ 60,POR@ 30(bittering component), and Cascade and Hallertau combined for flava and aroma.Sensational! US 56.

 

[Kai]

Pick a good all-round hops with characteristics that fit a broad group of styles and sub-styles eg Cascade or Amarillo for American ales. Mys suggestions are:

• Cascade for American style ales
• EKG and Fuggle for British ales
• Hallertau for German ales and lagers (except for Alt)

Use these hops for the base for a particular style and then mix some of your other base hops to give complexity. For example Cascade predominantly used in an APA to give the distinctive citrus like quality mixed with Hallertau to give a more rounded and complex flavour profile.

You can do the same with British ales. Predominatly use EKG and Fuggle, but add some Hallertau or Cascade for some more complexity.

Then buy small quantities as needed for specialty beers like Spalt for an Alt or Saaz for a BoPils.

Cheers
MAH

I think this is sound advice. I'll never follow it though, having ridiculous quantities of different varieties on hand is just too much fun.

 

[tangent]

what Kai? You're brewing for fun? Maybe even beer?
What happened to what your mates think and little trophies?

 

[Jazman]

hal and southern cross,,, and few ohtr types

 

[Kai]

It's always been for fun. What my mates think and little trophies just remind me of how much fun I have.

 

[Stuster]

I think this is sound advice. I'll never follow it though, having ridiculous quantities of different varieties on hand is just too much fun.

:lol:

Me too.

 

[haro]

lol, this reminds me of my brews where i line up whatever hops i have on deck and just place them into the boil whenever i feel that i need that hop in there.. i know it sounds stupid and unscientific but it makes it very interesting with your final product

 

[Uncle Fester]

I could not possibly have an APA on tap at all times without a good stock of Amarillo in the freezer.


Having said that, I am fermenting my first Nelson Sauvin Summer Ale, and if any of the reports that have made their way through the forum are accurate, then I may well have the second tap covered.

I got hold of a heap of Sterling hops at a bargain price, and am investigating their versatility in both ales and lagers. Maybe the third tap is covered as well.


On top of that, I always have a stock of Brittish and German hops on hand.


Festa

 

[devo]

I find I'm always keeping a stock pile of the following:

POR
Northern Brewer
Target
Goldings
Hallertau
Tettnang
Cascade
Amarillo

 

[discoloop]

Fridge or freezer, which is better?

 

[Mr Bond]

Freezer

 

[Tyred]

I normally have Saaz, Hallertau, Tettnang, Cascade and Fuggles.

That said, I've run out of Cascade and Fuggles. I'll have to get some more.

 

[discoloop]

Freezer

Righto, hops moved!

 

[facter]

hey guys.. i havnt done any brewing for a few months, last was over xmas or so - I have hops in those 100g bags with foilish stuff, and they've been there in the fridge for two months. ..

how do i know if these are still good? theres a lot of them there
how do i knwo if they are bad?

if they are two months old, should i still use them?

i knew i should have frozen them.

 

[Jye]

I always like to have simcoe, amarillo, liberty and a clean bittering high AA hop like warrior.

 

[Stuster]

hey guys.. i havnt done any brewing for a few months, last was over xmas or so - I have hops in those 100g bags with foilish stuff, and they've been there in the fridge for two months. ..

how do i know if these are still good? theres a lot of them there
how do i knwo if they are bad?

if they are two months old, should i still use them?

i knew i should have frozen them.

They should still be fine as long as they are still in some unbroken foil. They'll probably just have aged a bit faster than in the fridge. When you open them, just give them a sniff, and visually make sure they're a nice bright green. If they are brown with no smell, chuck them. I'd definitely expect them to be fine, but it might be a good idea to have a bag of something else on hand on brew day, just in case. (Good excuse to buy some more too. :lol: )

 

[devo]

I always store in the freezer.

 

[brendanos]

I'm holding atm (and pretty happy with) Amarillo, Cascade (NZ), Cascade (US), EKG, Hallertau (NZ Aroma), Horizon, Nelson Sauvin, Saaz, Saaz B, Southern Cross, Styrian Goldings, Willamette.

I would be be pretty much content if I also had Simcoe, Saaz D, Tettnanger, Hersbrucker, Fuggles, and something debittered/really really old.

Thing's I try never to run out of: Horizon, Nelson Sauvin, Cascade, Saaz.

 

[Belgrave Brewer]

A question like that will get a different answer at this forum from everyone, and probably the reason you asked.

I've got at least 7 different hops at hand at any time. I'm still in a very experimental stage with hops and not necessarily following the trend. Depends if you stick with a certain style or brew the full gamut. The more styles you brew, the more likely you'll want a wider variety of hops in your arcenary.

I generally pick up what I need for my next brew and keep the extra hops for any subsequent brews. I pick up grain each time I brew, so it is easy to buy hops at the same time.

BB