Favorite non-sexy UK hop

[OldSpeckledBadger]

There are plenty of English bitters which use non-English hops such as Styrians and ever since I can remember beers have varied in their colour although the pale ones used to be called Pale Ale which is basically what these trendy blonde ales are.

[BigEd]

'...too American...'

That is rather funny. It does however bring up a very good point.

If I, as an American brewer, wanted to use Cascades or Amarillo in an English-style bitter, people would be coming out of the walls telling me its not traditional. However, if I was an English brewer, and did the same thing, it is still an English bitter. I think it very much has to do with the different peoples. The English really are open to using anything in their beers and still calling them by name. The Americans, with one single hop addition of Cascade, just 'offended' the beer nerds if you try to call that beer anything but American. I've seen this at many many different breweries. I was having an argument with a 'big shot' worldly known beer guy in that he said grapefruity hops have no business in traditional English beers and they would never win anything in English beer events. I then cited all the CAMRA winners that used hops that are quite 'American' if not down right. He said, 'There is no English brewery worth its salt that does that.'

Thats how I got on the whole 'non-traditional' English hops. Some people really just have no clue.

To expand upon and give a little background to my "too American" comment I am in the minority of American craft beer drinkers and homebrewers who does not care at all for the citrusy American hops. The "C" hop extended family of American hops while virtually worshiped by vast sections of the US craft beer population just isn't for me. I cut my beer drinking teeth in the years before those hops came to dominate and my tastes prefer the flavors & aromas of the Old World varieties from the UK and the Continent. The sharp grapefruit qualities, for instance, that are the trademark of Cascade and Centennial hops often seem exaggerated in many modern American brews and to me they fight with malt flavors that I want in the body of my beers. This is often compounded by the fact that many of the Western US brews IMO are sorely lacking in malt body. I understand this is probably by choice and can be exacerbated by the thinly flavored North American malts upon which these beers are built. However, I want a beer to be more than just a hop delivery device.

To make matters worse there has been over the last decade or more a virtual Cold War Arms Race among American craft brewers to see who can make the hoppiest and bitterest beers. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with that per se, but when a beer combines powdery tasting malt with extremely high alpha caustic flavored hops I just don't think it qualifies as good beer. Understand, I am no hop wimp. I brew some beer with IBU numbers well over 100 but they are not without good malt support to at least bring a semblance of balance to the beer.

I realize that a number of brewers in the UK are featuring beers made with American hops and I can certainly understand it from a marketing standpoint. While not my cup of tea some of these brews are quite interesting and I have had the opportunity to taste several at a local real ale festival. http://www.nerax.org/nerax/ When I drink a UK style brew though, I'm sticking with the traditional flavors as long as I have the choice. Cheers!

[booldawg]

Challenger and Progress are my favourites. Not sure if you can call Challenger 'un-sexy' though due to Coniston Bluebird!

[Capped]

In descending order,the hops I use most:
Challenger (when in doubt,get the Challengers out!), Northdown,EKG,Aurora. Others come and go,but they're the staples. Never tried Bramling X,but going by previous comments on here,it's time I did.

[Trefoyl]

I just bought an ounce of Pilgrim, 11% a.a. at my LHBS (all he had)

Here's an online description:
"Has been compared to Target, but much hoppier with a profile similar to "Pioneer"
Great bittering as well as finishing hop." -- <http://www.craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=1072>
I like that, Pioneer ... Pilgrim.

There is a dearth of UK hops at my LHBS, though the owner says nay. Yeah, right. I will use them as aroma or dryhop and see how they taste. Hate to waste them as bittering only.

[Trefoyl]

Bittering hops do make an important contribution. At the end of the boil of an oatmeal stout the single addition of Fuggles and Goldings (both US grown) smelled divine. I can't wait to taste it this weekend when I bottle. I just have to plan ahead and special order UK hops. At least I got a good local price on 25 Kg of Maris Otter!

[pantsmachine]

I can see an international hop swap coming on here!

[Trefoyl]

I'll definitely keep that in mind and perhaps make a request on the board at some time, but first I will see what is available here. Here in the US, pellets seem to be the norm and whole leaf seem more usual in the UK.
After reading that Pilgrim are similar to Target but hoppier, I chose the following schedule for a UK style IPA:

60 minute boil, Final Volume 5 US Gallons

Maris Otter 10 lbs
UK Crystal 60 lovibond 1 lb
mashed at 152 degrees f.

US Northern Brewer 8.5% aa, .8 oz, 60 minutes
UK Challenger, 7% aa, 1 oz, 30 minutes
UK Pilgrim, 11% aa, .5 oz, 10 minutes
UK Pilgrim, 11% aa, .5 oz, 5 minutes

OG. 1.065
ibu 56 (According to Beer Alchemy)

Wyeast Thames Valley

All the hops are pellets and boiled loose.

[Northern Brewer]

Challenger is a good compromise for a bittering hop to companion goldings or fuggles and slighlty more cost effective.

But simply not worth it when you're making beer for less than 35p per pint

I'm completely with you on Fuggles and Goldings. What are your preferred ratios?

[Hawkinspm]

I use Fuggles more than anything else I think, but am already also a big fan of Challenger and Progress, I have also played with Bramling X in a couple of brews and ordered some more as really enjoyed it so think I'll include that as well. Tend not to mix too many as I still want to learn the different characters, so usually blend a max of 2 and sometimes a different aroma hop.

[Bribie]

I love Northdown, won a first in the Queensland State competition this year with a UK Dark Mild which combined Northdown and Styrian Goldings.

[mysterio]

Looks like Challenger is the clear winner to me, possibly followed by Northdown, and the likes of First Gold & Bramling X coming in a distant third.