Underwhelming Willamette

[Beer O'Clock]

After reading many raves about Willamette on these very pages I took the plunge and tried some. 100g late (10 min) in a pale of 4.5%.

I have, admittedly, become obssessed with Pride of Ringwood, Nelson Sauvin, Amarillo, NZ Cascade, Galaxy and Simcoe of late. But Willamette just doesn't rate I'm afraid. I have no idea what everybody was raving about. This is sooo disappointing. A beer for guests, maybe ?

Oh, well. I comfort myself with the knowledge that there are plenty of other Hops to choose from.

[jimp2003]

Hi!

What were you expecting from the willamette? I have not used it myself but was going to order some to try out as I like the idea of something a bit blackcurranty. I was only expecting a subtle flavour however...

[Beer O'Clock]

Hi!

What were you expecting from the willamette? I have not used it myself but was going to order some to try out as I like the idea of something a bit blackcurranty. I was only expecting a subtle flavour however...

Therein lies the issue. I was expecting, from the comments, a BIG flavour (like I get from Amarillo etc). This just wasn't the case. It's not unpleasant, just underwhelming. Maybe I was expecting too much, but from the comments posted, I got the impression it was another giant US style mouthfull.

[jimp2003]

I was thinking of trying Galena with or as an alternative to willamette as I have heard that it has a good blackcurrant flavour/aroma...has anyone tried that one?

[barney]

I have recently purchased Willamette for use in a Red Hook clone. After some research I had it down as Earthy, resin and spice. with little fruit aroma or flavour. Some Americans even calling it the "Dirt Hop".

I had in my head a fuggle type hop and for use in bittering the beer rather than finishing.

[Spud395]

Cheers for the heads up Beer'o I had the same impression as you.

Go for 100g extra NZ hops on the next order so

[gregorach]

I have, admittedly, become obssessed with Pride of Ringwood, Nelson Sauvin, Amarillo, NZ Cascade, Galaxy and Simcoe of late. But Willamette just doesn't rate I'm afraid.

Ah, I see the problem - you've bludgeoned your taste buds to death.

[weiht]

I have, admittedly, become obssessed with Pride of Ringwood, Nelson Sauvin, Amarillo, NZ Cascade, Galaxy and Simcoe of late. But Willamette just doesn't rate I'm afraid.

Ah, I see the problem - you've bludgeoned your taste buds to death.

Exactly! why even bother trying willamette or any other noble or english hop? Willamette is a fuggle strain, and list fuggles n EKG as substitudes, not cascade or any other C hop. I think that would already tell u what ur in for.

I love this hop, for that subtle blackcurrant like taste and it works well in my stouts at 15 mins. Its never gg to be a hop bomb like any of those listed above, n in fairness none of the threads here claim to be, and I'm pretty certain of that. I reckon that u may have stumbled on the properjob or tribute threads that rave abt this hop, but if u tasted the beers b4 then u would know what to expect. It works well as an addition to other hops for an added complexity, but it doesnt shout LOUD like amarillo, and i dont know where u got that from here.

its a hop for brewers who appreciate the complexity in the subtle notes. Its like cooking with salt, when used right it adds and brings out flavour to the food, but if u can say that its salty then u used it wrongly...

U may like it one day

[alfie09]

i made a single hop willamette @ 3 weeks conditioning i like what i am tasting. its not in your face. but i never expected it. i have certainly taste it in commercial beers

[haz66]

i made a single hop willamette @ 3 weeks conditioning i like what i am tasting. its not in your face. but i never expected it. i have certainly taste it in commercial beers

Willamette is used in Moorhouse`s Blond Witch as the aroma hop.