hello
is it better, if you were after a very hoppy beer (aroma / "flavour"), to add a vast amount of low AA hops late in the boil (a lot more grammage wise vs high AA) to get your bitterness and achieve more hop characteristics?
is it as simple as high AA hops have only more bitterness and NOT aroma characteristics then lower AA varieties?, or are high AA varieties "heavy hitters" across the whole spectrum (aroma / "flavour" wise also) ?
thanks!
newb question - does AA simply relate to "bitterness"?
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scuppeteer
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Re: newb question - does AA simply relate to "bitterness"?
Simply no.
It depends enormously on what varieties you are planning to use. Some high Alpha hops also have great aroma and flavour, these are generally termed as dual purpose. I have done a couple of trial brews recently with supposed bittering hops, Target and Admiral, with very pleasing results.
You will generally use more hops of any type to get the required flavour and aroma when adding late in the boil, so they do not have to be low alpha you just have to know what sort of flavours they may give or an idea at least so you don't over do it... mind you I don't think you can over do it!
So basically if you know your alpha content you can pretty much use any hop for bittering, it's just the amounts will vary. You could use 50g of one or 30g of another to achieve the same IBU. Small amounts of flavour will be imparted but not that noticeable compared to the late additions.
Hope this helps and you get what I am rambling about.
It depends enormously on what varieties you are planning to use. Some high Alpha hops also have great aroma and flavour, these are generally termed as dual purpose. I have done a couple of trial brews recently with supposed bittering hops, Target and Admiral, with very pleasing results.
You will generally use more hops of any type to get the required flavour and aroma when adding late in the boil, so they do not have to be low alpha you just have to know what sort of flavours they may give or an idea at least so you don't over do it... mind you I don't think you can over do it!
So basically if you know your alpha content you can pretty much use any hop for bittering, it's just the amounts will vary. You could use 50g of one or 30g of another to achieve the same IBU. Small amounts of flavour will be imparted but not that noticeable compared to the late additions.
Hope this helps and you get what I am rambling about.
Dave Berry
Can't be arsed to keep changing this bit, so, drinking some beer and wanting to brew many more!
Sir, you are drunk! Yes madam, and you are ugly, but in the morning I shall be sober! - WSC
Can't be arsed to keep changing this bit, so, drinking some beer and wanting to brew many more!
Sir, you are drunk! Yes madam, and you are ugly, but in the morning I shall be sober! - WSC
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simon50
Re: newb question - does AA simply relate to "bitterness"?
thanks!, that makes perfect sense.
i was tinkering with beer engine and trying to keep the IBU lowish whilst cranking the grammages up and boiling time down @ only 20, 10 and 0 minutes.
i was hoping this would be the best method to pack the hop flavours in.
...guess i will have to do more hop profile research
i was tinkering with beer engine and trying to keep the IBU lowish whilst cranking the grammages up and boiling time down @ only 20, 10 and 0 minutes.
i was hoping this would be the best method to pack the hop flavours in.
...guess i will have to do more hop profile research
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boingy
Re: newb question - does AA simply relate to "bitterness"?
Yeah, huge quantities added very late is what you need for hoppy without being mouth-puckering. Also, have a play with dry hopping.
There are no hard and fast rules. I've used "aroma" hops for bittering and vice versa. There are some hop combinations that are firmly established but don't be scared to experiment. I recently got hold of some Citra which, despite having a %AA of 13 are described as aroma hops. Naturally I ignored that guidance and brewed an all-Citra beer and it was excellent.
Couple of links:
www.wellhopped.co.uk/Variety.asp
www.simplyhops.co.uk
There are no hard and fast rules. I've used "aroma" hops for bittering and vice versa. There are some hop combinations that are firmly established but don't be scared to experiment. I recently got hold of some Citra which, despite having a %AA of 13 are described as aroma hops. Naturally I ignored that guidance and brewed an all-Citra beer and it was excellent.
Couple of links:
www.wellhopped.co.uk/Variety.asp
www.simplyhops.co.uk