Some random questions...

[Minimasher]

Hello all, I'm preparing a few batches to offer as Christmas presents to some friends who have enjoyed what I have made so far... Here are a few random questions that I have been mulling over...

Has anyone used organic ingredients? Are they available and did they make any difference to the end product?

Has anyone ever made an ale without adding any hops at all? I fancy giving this a try and wondered if anyone else had.

Finally, two of the batches are going to be variants on GWs Theakstons Old Peculier and Black Sheep Riggwelter but I have masses of target hops and thought about using these (obviously adjusting for alpha acid/ EBU)? Is this a bad idea or will I still end up something worth drinking?

Cheers and thanks to everyone for making this such a great forum!

[MightyMouth]

Hello all, I'm preparing a few batches to offer as Christmas presents to some friends who have enjoyed what I have made so far... Here are a few random questions that I have been mulling over...

Has anyone used organic ingredients? Are they available and did they make any difference to the end product?

I have never used organic and dont know if they are available but there are so many other variables I doubt there would be any difference and in fact organic ingredients in general are of poorer quality than standard so that would probably hold true for brewing ingredients also.

Has anyone ever made an ale without adding any hops at all? I fancy giving this a try and wondered if anyone else had.

A beer without hops would be terrible, If you have ever made a yeast starter you would know what I mean.

Finally, two of the batches are going to be variants on GWs Theakstons Old Peculier and Black Sheep Riggwelter but I have masses of target hops and thought about using these (obviously adjusting for alpha acid/ EBU)? Is this a bad idea or will I still end up something worth drinking?

No reason why it wouldn't work as long as you get the IBU's right, just dont expect it to taste like the brew you are cloning.

[Dennis King]

I believe golden promise malt is supposed to be organic.

[jubby]

Has anyone ever made an ale without adding any hops at all? I fancy giving this a try and wondered if anyone else had.

It's been said before I think, but Green King have been doing it for years

[MightyMouth]

Has anyone ever made an ale without adding any hops at all? I fancy giving this a try and wondered if anyone else had.

It's been said before I think, but Green King have been doing it for years

See, it fits perfectly with what I said, a beer without hops would taste terrible.

[Subsonic]

At the dixie cup the other year one of the competition beers was for a beer without hops. People used all sorts of other ingredients like heather and stuff to get the 'bitterness'. So it can be done...

[Zatoichi]

These beers use Heather, Scots Pine and Spruce Sprigs. instead of hops.

http://www.williamsbrosbrew.com/histori ... ?id=30#top

http://www.williamsbrosbrew.com/histori ... ?id=44#top

LOL! love the Green King comment truly priceless!!!!!

[MightyMouth]

I took the no hops comment to mean malt and grains only. Not replace the hops with something else.