Feral War Hog is an outstanding Australian DIPA with 97/100 on ratebeer, and I'm surprised there hasn't been much discussion about how to brew a clone!
I'd consider this beer the Australian equivalent of Golden Road's Wolf Among the Weeds IIPA, which is super similar in style in terms of a big emphasis on fresh, tropical aroma underpinned by a light malt base. Both are super sessionable and are great IPAs for a hot day.
I had a chat to the Melbourne Feral beer rep, and he explained to me that the Cat/War Hog (same beer) as supposed to be the bigger versions of the earlier versions of hop hog. In the same vein, Feral Tusk is supposed to be a bigger version of the Feral Cat. So, I guess we can assume that at least the hops used are going to be similar.
I find that both the War Hog and Tusk have predominately passionfruit and citrus aromas. My sense is that this points to a combination of Galaxy and Cascade, with Topaz or perhaps Ella or Enigma.
In terms of bitterness, even though we are looking at at least 80 IBUs, the hops used must have a low co-humulone content because it comes across as being very smooth. Wolf among the weeds uses warrior, which is about 24%.
In my experience, galaxy isn't a great bittering hop, and most other Australian hops have higher co-humulone content then galaxy.
Helga has the same co-humulone content as Warrior. However, Alpha acid content in Helga is low, making it a poor economical choice to be using as a bittering hop. However, I remember reading an interview with the Feral's head brewer that they like to use hallertau for bittering, and Helga does tend to have a slightly higher AA content than mittlefruh.
Super Pride is a good bittering hop, and has very similar alpha acid, co-humulone and beta acid composition to Warrior. So, my sense is that this would impart the most desirable bittering addition.
So, here's my first draft.
5.75kg 2-row
0.75kg rye malt
0.75kg golden promise
0.4kg dextrose at whirlpool
60g super pride 60mins
40g cascade 10mins
20g topaz 10mins
20g galaxy whirlpool
20g topaz whirlpool
40g galaxy dry hopped three times, 1 day each.
I'd consider this beer the Australian equivalent of Golden Road's Wolf Among the Weeds IIPA, which is super similar in style in terms of a big emphasis on fresh, tropical aroma underpinned by a light malt base. Both are super sessionable and are great IPAs for a hot day.
I had a chat to the Melbourne Feral beer rep, and he explained to me that the Cat/War Hog (same beer) as supposed to be the bigger versions of the earlier versions of hop hog. In the same vein, Feral Tusk is supposed to be a bigger version of the Feral Cat. So, I guess we can assume that at least the hops used are going to be similar.
I find that both the War Hog and Tusk have predominately passionfruit and citrus aromas. My sense is that this points to a combination of Galaxy and Cascade, with Topaz or perhaps Ella or Enigma.
In terms of bitterness, even though we are looking at at least 80 IBUs, the hops used must have a low co-humulone content because it comes across as being very smooth. Wolf among the weeds uses warrior, which is about 24%.
In my experience, galaxy isn't a great bittering hop, and most other Australian hops have higher co-humulone content then galaxy.
Helga has the same co-humulone content as Warrior. However, Alpha acid content in Helga is low, making it a poor economical choice to be using as a bittering hop. However, I remember reading an interview with the Feral's head brewer that they like to use hallertau for bittering, and Helga does tend to have a slightly higher AA content than mittlefruh.
Super Pride is a good bittering hop, and has very similar alpha acid, co-humulone and beta acid composition to Warrior. So, my sense is that this would impart the most desirable bittering addition.
So, here's my first draft.
5.75kg 2-row
0.75kg rye malt
0.75kg golden promise
0.4kg dextrose at whirlpool
60g super pride 60mins
40g cascade 10mins
20g topaz 10mins
20g galaxy whirlpool
20g topaz whirlpool
40g galaxy dry hopped three times, 1 day each.
