Hops

[jackgym]

Hi Brewers

The Coopers Fruit Salad Ale recipe says to make a “hop infusion” by mixing the Cascade and Amarillo hops in a couple of litres of water just taken off the boil and allow it to steep for 30 mins.

Would it be better to steep them in 2L of boiling water and 500g of LDM?

Or would it be better to boil them for, say, 15 minuted in 2L of water and 500g of LDM?

 

[Vini2ton]

Maybe follow their recipe instructions for this brew and try the other ways in subsequent brews. Boiling the hops with the dme would bring out more bitterness from the hops. An infusion presumably would be a mellower addition.

 

[mtb]

Not sure why you're boiling them at all - boiling will introduce bitterness (as Vini2ton said) whereas a hop infusion typically only wants to introduce flavour or aroma. The instructions recommend that you use just-boiled water as it'll be sanitised from the boil, but because it's not boiling the hops, it won't contribute bitterness. Adding LDM without specific instruction from the recipe will increase your OG above what the recipe intends and thus the ABV of the beer.

 

[jackgym]

Maybe follow their recipe instructions for this brew and try the other ways in subsequent brews. Boiling the hops with the dme would bring out more bitterness from the hops. An infusion presumably would be a mellower addition.

It's not a recipe where bitterness is needed, so what you say makes sense. Thanks.

 

[jackgym]

Not sure why you're boiling them at all - boiling will introduce bitterness (as Vini2ton said) whereas a hop infusion typically only wants to introduce flavour or aroma. The instructions recommend that you use just-boiled water as it'll be sanitised from the boil, but because it's not boiling the hops, it won't contribute bitterness. Adding LDM without specific instruction from the recipe will increase your OG above what the recipe intends and thus the ABV of the beer.

Thanks for clearing that up. Follow the recipe is the message. Much appreciated.

 

[butters73]

In 2 lts of water you only need 200grams of ldme