Adding hop taste/bitterness during/after fermentation

[dave-o]

I had a taste of my new stout after boiling, and i was expecting much more bitterness and hop flavour. There is practically none of either. I'm aware that this will change when it ferments, but i always taste after boiling and i can usually taste the bitterness/hops at that stage.

I'm not sure whether i just drastically under-calculated my hop requirements of if perhaps my hops are getting a bit old.

Anyway, I am left with two options;

-Relax and hope that it turns out alright after it's fermented/conditioned
-Add some more hop bitterness/flavour (not bothered about aroma).

Now, if i were to try and add some bitterness/flavour, is this what i'd do:

-Boil about a litre of water on a stove, add the bittering hops, boil for 50 mins, add the flavour hops, boil for 10 mins, cool and add to the FV?

[dave-o]

No-one's been in this situation before?

[mysterio]

You're right, fermentation releases hop aromas in flavours that are created in the boil. Stout recipes tend to be low on hop character because it's primarily a malty beer.

What was your recipe? Prevention is better than cure, use more hops next time! Are you using hops that are vacuum packed, of a recent crop, from a reputable supplier? Are you storing them in the freezer in an airtight container?

Don't know much about hop teas but theres plenty of stuff on Google. I would tend just to steep them in boiling water for 15 minutes then add that. The tea will have plenty of bitterness.

[dave-o]

What was your recipe?

2700g Pale
400g Roast barley
400g Flaked Baley
300g Crystal
300g toasted oats

10g Herkules for 90min (15.6aa)
15g Liberty for 10min (4.5aa)

Quite light on hops but, as you say, stout isn't meant to be very hoppy. The wort tasted lovely and coffeish, but I was still puzzled by its complete lack of hop bitterness or flavour.

Are you using hops that are vacuum packed, of a recent crop, from a reputable supplier? Are you storing them in the freezer in an airtight container?

Not vacuum packed any more. Sealy bag in airtight box in the fridge. This is the only option i have really. Hops were bittering and flavouring fine in a brew i did 3-4 weeks ago.

I would tend just to steep them in boiling water for 15 minutes then add that. The tea will have plenty of bitterness

OK that sounds good. What would you do in the situation? Just see what happens, or get some more in there now?
I suppose i could have a taste after fermentation and before fining, and make my decision then.

[RajBoab]

I used a hop aroma tablet a while ago (that I'd had in the fridge for years). Think they're made by BrewFerm.
I was trying to cover up an unacceptable an off flavour in a beer that fermented far too hot.

I think I put in double the dose (I thought I'd need it to mask the off flavour) and it came out tasting like perfume! I ended up chucking the beer but I'd consider using them again in the future although I'd dose small amounts until I had the required aroma.

You can also get hop aroma oils and isomerised hop extract which may be worth considering!

[mysterio]

I get that to be around 18 - 20 IBUs, assuming the hops are fresh, the alphas may have dropped somewhat if the crop is a year or two old. Are these ebay hops by any chance? So that explains the lack of bitterness. And I think I would struggle to detect 15g of Liberty in a stout.

It's hard to judge bitterness until the beer has completely fermented. Taste it once it's done, and if you're still not satisfied, go with the tea. So relax for now.

[Northern Brewer]

Boil about a litre of water on a stove, add the bittering hops, boil for 50 mins, add the flavour hops, boil for 10 mins, cool and add to the FV?

I once did something very similar to this and it worked out fine.

[dave-o]

I get that to be around 18 - 20 IBUs.

I worked it out as 26.

It's hard to judge bitterness until the beer has completely fermented. Taste it once it's done, and if you're still not satisfied, go with the tea. So relax for now.

Yeah this is what i'll do, thanks.

Are these ebay hops by any chance?

Yes, but i don't think it's fair to blame that. The second brew i made with these (about 3 months ago) is gorgeously hoppy and bitter (too hoppy for some of my tasters). I used about 2/3 that amount in this stout, so was expecting to taste something.

[dogchillibilly]

Boil about a litre of water on a stove, add the bittering hops, boil for 50 mins, add the flavour hops, boil for 10 mins, cool and add to the FV?

I once did something very similar to this and it worked out fine.

+1

[Bribie]

I'd agree that the hop quantities are a bit low for any noticeable bitterness. A 60 minute hop boil with a medium bitter dual/purpose hop such as Challenger or Target in a litre or two of water as suggested above and enough sugar or spray malt (to improve hop utilisation as well as not watering down the stout too much) should produce a hop tea that would definitely boost the stout. The small amount of fermentables should ferment out very quickly. I often use hop teas although more for aroma ( for example some extra Styrian Goldings in a Landlord-style ale ).