Do high alpha acid hops work for you?

[Naich]

I've used high alpha hops for bittering and had some fairly poor results. The huge alphas that are given often turn out to be nothing like what they are actually like. I'd estimate that some are only actually 1/2 what they are supposed to be or less. Whether they were originally high alpha and storage has not been kind to them, I don't know. I keep them in their vac packs in the freezer, so they should be OK.

[zgoda]

I'm using high alpha hops only to boost IBUs, like 10g Target + Challenger to desired level. Same applies to other ha varieties, Magnum, Northern Brewer, the like. Anyway recently got fantastic result with Spalt Select in my German Pils so dumped all 2011 Magnum I bought in October specially for bittering lagers.

[jonewer]

I think one of the reason people get disappointed by high alpha hops is that they have been bred to have low cohumulone.

Way back when, someone hinted that cohumulone may give beer a harsher and more astringent bitterness. This subsequently entered brewing lore and is taken for granted these days. Only thing is, theres no evidence its true and lots of evidence it isnt.

Plus cohumulone isomerises much more easier than humulone, so you have a high aa hop but its very hard to isomerise the aa's!

[coatesg]

All in all, rather a kick in the teeth for those that say that it doesn't matter which bittering hop you use. There are high-alpha clean hops like Magnum & Horizon that won't give you such a harsh bittering effect. Additionally - this adds some credence to doing hop-bursting (which works exceptionally well for US style ales - load of hop flavour but (faiirly) restrained bitterness).

[TC2642]

I love em, use them for bittering, aroma and dry hopping, Citra and Green Bullet are my favourites at the moment.

[WishboneBrewery]

All in all, rather a kick in the teeth for those that say that it doesn't matter which bittering hop you use. There are high-alpha clean hops like Magnum & Horizon that won't give you such a harsh bittering effect. Additionally - this adds some credence to doing hop-bursting (which works exceptionally well for US style ales - load of hop flavour but (faiirly) restrained bitterness).

In regard to Hop-Bursting, after hearing that Okells Brewery in the IOM only boil for 20 minutes, I'm thinking I should try some 20min boils with hop additions starting at 20-15mins, a third of my regular boil time which would be handy some days when you just want to do a quick no fuss brew.
I also want to see if this short boil could be made to work at work too as it could help squeeze more time out of the day.

[Kev888]

Interesting point, I'd be very interested to hear how it works out if you try it. I'm sure it would work for hops, but theres also the hot break - I'm definately still seeing it formed way after 20mins - but I don't know how much that matters in practice.

Cheers
kev

[Rookie]

At what point are hops considered high AA? 10%? 12%? 15%?
I just did a 1.042 bitter using a combo of target at 10.7% and pioneer at 10.8% and like the results. A few months ago I did a 1.044 amber using summit at 17% and simcoe at 12% that turned out great.
There are a lot of higher AA hops out there with some that are very different, so you may not have tried the one(s) that would suit you yet.

[WishboneBrewery]

I think 'High Alpha' has changed a fair bit lately, anything over 7-8% is probably high by older standards.

[Spud395]

All in all, rather a kick in the teeth for those that say that it doesn't matter which bittering hop you use. There are high-alpha clean hops like Magnum & Horizon that won't give you such a harsh bittering effect. Additionally - this adds some credence to doing hop-bursting (which works exceptionally well for US style ales - load of hop flavour but (faiirly) restrained bitterness).

In regard to Hop-Bursting, after hearing that Okells Brewery in the IOM only boil for 20 minutes, I'm thinking I should try some 20min boils with hop additions starting at 20-15mins, a third of my regular boil time which would be handy some days when you just want to do a quick no fuss brew.
I also want to see if this short boil could be made to work at work too as it could help squeeze more time out of the day.

I just done a 15 min boil IPA with all pacific Gem 17.5%.
Now there was a lot of other variables in this brew as well (it was the grain left after a big Belgian which I cold sparged and then fermented with no temp control).
It's early days but looks and tastes very good so far, clear as a bell, but not chilled it.
Worth experimenting with this approach I reckon

[guypettigrew]

I just done a 15 min boil IPA with all pacific Gem 17.5%.
Now there was a lot of other variables in this brew as well (it was the grain left after a big Belgian which I cold sparged and then fermented with no temp control).
It's early days but looks and tastes very good so far, clear as a bell, but not chilled it.
Worth experimenting with this approach I reckon

Do you mean you only boiled for 15 minutes?

Guy

[Spud395]

Thats what I said Guy, not saying it's the way to go, just experimenting a bit