The Great Chinese Hop Buy 2009

[FNQ Bunyip]

So with a SMASH brew , grain to brain in 7 days ,, we should have first results ( fermenter taste) say , Thursday arvo ???

 

[altstart]

Feedback so far is that all the hops have a musky hay like character. My feeling is that if they are indeed this seasons crop the cone drying conditions may not have been ideal. The Marco Polo have been processed through a smaller die & are moist & highly aromatic (certainly my favourite) but the Saaz & Cascade are pale & dry by comparison.
We have had the same problems with some crops from NZ (eg Styrians in 07) so its not a unique problem.

The real proof will be in the trial beers - Marco Polo Summer ale going down this weekend.

Cheers Ross

ross the Bulk buy of the Qld stir plates should arrive about the same time your summer Ale is on tap. I have no objections to personally delivering your stir plate and would be only to willing to offer my expert opinion of this beer just let me know what tap its on.
Cheers Altstart

 

[winkle]

I'll be brewing a batch of UXB on Tuesday, might have to double up with a Marco Polo SMASH now.
Now to go and drink a pallet of XXXX heavy (Xmas party) don't shout at me tomorrow please.

 

[sinkas]

What does SMASH stand for? is it Boganese for hop-burst?

 

[townsville]

Feedback so far is that all the hops have a musky hay like character. My feeling is that if they are indeed this seasons crop the cone drying conditions may not have been ideal. The Marco Polo have been processed through a smaller die & are moist & highly aromatic (certainly my favourite) but the Saaz & Cascade are pale & dry by comparison.
We have had the same problems with some crops from NZ (eg Styrians in 07) so its not a unique problem.

Good feedback mate. This of course could be a number of things. The first thing of course is they are slack hop farmers. Equally, as these are totally different regions the hops are grown in, different farm managers may have different procedures in place how they do things, which can reflect quality.

BUT the one thats probably truer to the mark is I know one of the two hop regions suffered a drought during the growing season, and this may have affected the quality of those hops grown in that region. Thats looking like Saaz and Cascade at this stage.

Whats great is we know the varieties dont come from all over China, Like Europe, each region specialises in certain varieties (which means consistant unique and stable flavours) This explains why at this stage the Marco Polo is the standout.

I think this sort of feedback is excellent, and I will be passing on ALL feedback, good and bad back to China. That way we may get even BETTER hops thru the years to come.

Craftbrewer
Graham L Sanders
Skype "Craftbrewer"
http://radio.craftbrewer.org

 

[winkle]

What does SMASH stand for? is it Boganese for hop-burst?

Get with the program - Single malt & hop .

 

[Bribie G]

I was reading that the Chinese industry still has a lot of 'legacy' equipment from when the Commo comrades from Czechoslovakia helped them set up in the 70s, and one of the issues is kilning (oasting?) of the cones which they are striving to improve so they can make premium beers. Maybe the Marco Polo were kilned in a newer facility.

 

[kram]

Maybe more people are regretting not getting Marco Polo now. It is still early days though

 

[Batz]

Photo's of the booty boys...

Whoa look at that!

That's going to put a dent in some hop sales here for a while.

Batz

 

[Batz]

The real proof will be in the trial beers - Marco Polo Summer ale going down this weekend.

Cheers Ross

Too true Ross, will hold off brew day till later in the week.

Batz

 

[MarkBastard]

Maybe more people are regretting not getting Marco Polo now. It is still early days though

I'm certainly regretting it.

 

[Steve]

Maybe more people are regretting not getting Marco Polo now. It is still early days though

Yeah, I think I swapped the Marco Polo for Cluster? Cant remember. Any news on the cluster?
Cheers
Steve

 

[Bribie G]

SMASH - Single Malt And Single Hop

SMASHSHA - (Pronounced "smasha" - Single Malt and Single Hop, Single Hop Addition ......... e.g. something like Carlton Draught, Pale Pilsener, POR one addition 90 mins.

 

[kram]

I did the exact same I think. So I hope the Cluster, as well as the other hops are good haha.

I'll get a good sniff of them all tomorrow

 

[chappo1970]

I did the exact same I think. So I hope the Cluster, as well as the other hops are good haha.

I'll get a good sniff of them all tomorrow

Just swap them over when no one is looking.... h34r:


Don't be surprised if you find one of these in you mailbox? Tehehehehe

 

[bradsbrew]

Anyone on packing duties tmorrow want to swap 100g of cluster or saaz for 100g of Marco polo??

 

[InCider]

Was that Butters amongst the hops in your pics Chappo?

 

[clarkey7]

Just got back from holiday and checked AHB for Chinese Hop updates.......Wohoo. :beerbang:
Great to see the hops are in.

I'll be there tomorrow for the packing at 10am for as long as you need me.

PB

 

[kram]

Anyone on packing duties tmorrow want to swap 100g of cluster or saaz for 100g of Marco polo??

I can easily accommodate that!

 

[marlow_coates]

Sorry to say Chappo, and others, that I will not be making it tomorrow for the packing.
Turned out to be a killer day today at work, and tomorrow is looking worse. Won't finish up till after 3pm.

Hope it all goes OK. Glad I sent a satchel just in case,

Cheers in advance for all the effort,

Marlow