Single Hop Beers

[Jonnyv]

I recently brewed a simple beer with pale malt, tiny bit of crystal to add colour and used EKGs for bittering, flavour & aroma, It's definitely the best beer I've brewed and I love the EKG floral flavour.

When I started brewing AG I favoured towards clone beers as 'tried & tested' recipes but now I'm thinking I should continue the single hop beers to learn and understand about individual hops characteristics.

So my question is, what hop should I try next? My first mini-mash AG was with Fuggles and that turned out great but seemed to need an age to mature properly but it was good. I'm thinking more English varieties to start with...

 

[Wez]

to learn and understand about individual hops characteristics

This is the only way to do it, I 100% agree!

If you can try a First Gold beer - I enjoyed the one that I brewed recently a lot :

An all Challenger brew is also a great beer, I believe Prodigal2 is a fan

 

[Jonnyv]

Thanks - I had thought about First Gold - I've not used that hop before. Orange & zesty?

I read somewhere Badger First Gold is a good example of this hop? Maybe I'll pop to the shops tomorrow to see if I can pick up a bottle.

 

[Wez]

This my my 50L batch of "Thirst Gold"]

11000.00 gm Pale Malt (2 Row) UK (3.0 SRM) Grain 97.35 %
300.00 gm Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 2.65 %
50.00 gm First Gold [8.00 %] (60 min) (First Wort Hop) Hops 19.7 IBU
100.00 gm First Gold [8.00 %] (15 min) Hops 19.7 IBU
80.00 gm First Gold [8.00 %] (0 min) (Aroma Hop-Steep) Hops

Based on 70% efficiency

 

[A T]

I recently did a single ek goldings brew and it turned out amazing, my favourite hop however is Nelson Sauvin. I gave Wez a pack about 12 years ago :lol: i'd imagine he'll use them soon IMHO i think they're a great summer hop that are best used in a pale ale with honey to prime any bottles

 

[Wez]

Chill, i'll use them : :thumb: :lol:

 

[A T]

Chill, i'll use them : :thumb: :lol:

no rush :lol: :lol:

 

[Aleman]

I've got to agree with AT, I've been trying to get my hands on some NS for a while as I think they will be excellent in a Summer golden ale . . . and I bet they will add a different dimension to a crisp pilsner.

No luck getting any though, I'll just have to get some from Craftbrewer.

 

[A T]

Aleman they're due to come in here very soon, i just got notice from Bugno (my local hbs) that he's expecting them in soon

 

[Vossy1]

I'm thinking I should continue the single hop beers to learn and understand about individual hops characteristics.

Ti's a great way to learn
If you want to let someone do the work for you ..the Pictish brewery do a full range of single varietal ales.
I've tried a lot of them, most are great, but the Bobek really didn't win me over my styrian addiction :lol:

 

[Jonnyv]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Strangely enough I found an unopened pack of First Gold in the freezer last night - not sure how that got there! :wha:

My weekend brew shall be Wez's Thirst Gold :

 

[MEB]

This is what i done with a few brews.
Nelson Sauvin-so easy to get here i'm getting bored with them. I now use them for my 'house' IPA. Which i call NZPA as i use NZ Hops in this. For a 25L batch i add 50G Nelson S to Steep for 20 mins at 80C. This gives a great floral, slightly white wine kinda aroma with hints of berries.

But my favourite brew is my Green Bullet Best. Based on ringwood best grainbill but exclusive use of GB hops. I first wort hop with some, use them for bittering and then bung in a handfull to steep for 20 mins. It definately needs conditioning for a month but then it's a joy to drink. Too easy really as a cornie struggles to last 5 days around here... :whistle:

 

[Jonnyv]

This my my 50L batch of "Thirst Gold"]

11000.00 gm Pale Malt (2 Row) UK (3.0 SRM) Grain 97.35 %
300.00 gm Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 2.65 %
50.00 gm First Gold [8.00 %] (60 min) (First Wort Hop) Hops 19.7 IBU
100.00 gm First Gold [8.00 %] (15 min) Hops 19.7 IBU
80.00 gm First Gold [8.00 %] (0 min) (Aroma Hop-Steep) Hops

Based on 70% efficiency

I accidentally brewed this today :whistle:

Underestimated my evaporation rate and undershot the gravity by 6 points 1.044 @ 23 litres into the FV.

However, the orange citrus smell from the FWH was amazing :thumb:. So really looking forward to drinking this when it's ready

 

[Wez]

Thats great JV 1.044 is going to be a lovely session drink :drink:

This was a great beer, it's on my brew again list, let us know how it turns on.

By the way, how can I slip an accidental brewday past Mrs Wez :wha: :hmm:

 

[A T]

By the way, how can I slip an accidental brewday past Mrs Wez :wha: :hmm:

Oh who weighed those hops :wha:
Well better use them so :lol:

 

[Buzz]

By the way, how can I slip an accidental brewday past Mrs Wez :wha: :hmm:

I normally say that I've got some yeast/hops/malt nearing it's best before, so there's no option but to brew..

 

[Vossy1]

By the way, how can I slip an accidental brewday past Mrs Wez

Put a big sack of malt in the living room, cause there's no where else for it.
Explain the only way to get rid of it, is to brew with it :party:

 

[Jonnyv]

The S04 I chose to use was doing it's thing in a matter of hours - always a good sign - if the yeast loves it, I'll love it!

By the way, how can I slip an accidental brewday past Mrs Wez :wha: :hmm:

I was 'off sick' so waited till she went to work

 

[Ian]

With 3 AGs under my belt (and some with Benmcben) I like the idea of making up my own recipe from scratch, and like the single hop idea for the reasons mentioned above.
What I realised is I don't understand how to calculate how much aroma hops to add in a recipe. I can calculate the IBUs of course, so it's easy working out bittering hops, but how much do you add at, say, 15 mins before the end of the boil? There's probably a really obvious answer but I can't think of it right now :?

 

[Jonnyv]

Not sure I can answer that question - I've always gone with about 30-40g per 5 gallons for 15min/flame out additions. Seems to be a good amount to get a decent aroma.

With regards to yesterday's brew - I've decided to rename it 'Gold Rush' since I was under pressure with time constraints when brewing and the yeast has almost done it's job in 24 hours, it's down to 1014 already :shock: (and it'll make for a good label )