Which of these hops is the one I should avoid?

[Norse John]

I had an Abbot's ale, and hit on the hop taste I really dislike. In an abbot ale clone recipe online I see 3 hops being used - Whole gold, Fuggles and Challenger. The taste I dislike is the one where it tastes like you're eating flowers raw. I noticed the same taste from Ritchie's Gluten free ale kit and ended up chucking out the last few litres because I couldn't stand whichever hop causes this floral, astringent taste.

Anyone have any idea of which one it is, and which other ales use it?

 

[Rodcx500z]

If it's a grassy taste I would say fuggles

 

[The Baron]

well it will not be challenger as that will generally be used as a bittering hop, fuggles is earthy my guess would be goldings but that is just a quick guess

 

[PhilBrew]

Hi John

Was this Abbot Ale from a bottle or in a pub?

I ask because "floral, astringent taste" sounds more like the flavours of beer lines cleaned with cheap detergent and not rinsed sufficiently, more than any of the flavours from Fuggle (earthy), Challenger (herbal, I find minty) or First Gold (citrus, mostly orangey/marmalade)

Cheers, PhilB

 

[terrym]

Just because the Abbott HB clone listed Challenger, 'Whole Gold' i.e probably First Gold and Fuggles doesn't necessarily mean the commercial brewer uses the same hops.
I suggest you look through these typical references and see which best fits the flavours you don't like and then avoid that hop or hops.
http://www.thestoutpalace.com/hops/
https://www.morebeer.com/articles/homebrew_beer_hops
and Crossmyloof who supply folks on our forum
https://www.crossmyloofbrew.co.uk/hop-guide
And be aware that some hops are primarily used for bittering, others dual purpose and others just late or aroma hops the latter two being more responsible for hop taste and/or aroma.
Of all the hops I have used I find Styrian Goldings/Celeia the most flowery but I dont dislike it.

 

[Norse John]

Hi Phil, it was bottled. Must be another hop then not listed. But Now that I google it, the site I've looked at lists fuggles as having a floral taste, sounds like it could be that. Ever since I made the Ritchie's gluten free beer I seem to be very sensitive to that particular taste, which when the brew was young was OK, now it just irritates my tastebuds and gut. Reminds me of living briefly in Australia, not for the taste reason, but I knew after I'd had a draft schooner or jug, I'd be on the bog in 10 minutes. Just something not right for me about it.

 

[PhilBrew]

Hi John

That's the thing about taste, I suppose ... it's, well, "a matter of taste" ... we each taste flavours differently ... in the cooking world no recipe book will ever have described the flavours of fresh coriander leaves as "soapy", but apparently that's how a significant proportion of humans experience it ... and back in the brewing world, none of the hop profile websites describe Nelson Sauvin hops as tasting of burnt rubber but that's how my taste-buds experience it

I guess, the point is all the descriptions are just what those people who wrote the description experience ... in my experience, I've never tasted floral flavours from Fuggles though ... to be sure you're going to have to do the research yourself ... it's tough work but I reckon you're the man for the job ... you're going to have to find and drink beers with those hops ... if you were further up North I'd suggest Black Sheep Best Bitter as a good example tasting of Fuggles, but it's rarely in bottles/cans (Black Sheep Ale is different, that's Goldings) so unless you can find somewhere that has it on cask you might have to find another beer with those flavours

Cheers, PhilB

 

[Norse John]

Hi Phil,

I agree with you completely, each to their own - and you can never truly experience something from the perspective of another unless you live in that person's skin.

I will have to research things as you suggest, there'll be an obtainable beer from somewhere, even this far down saff :).

 

[pms67]

Hi John

That's the thing about taste, I suppose ... it's, well, "a matter of taste" ... we each taste flavours differently ... in the cooking world no recipe book will ever have described the flavours of fresh coriander leaves as "soapy", but apparently that's how a significant proportion of humans experience it ... and back in the brewing world, none of the hop profile websites describe Nelson Sauvin hops as tasting of burnt rubber but that's how my taste-buds experience it

I guess, the point is all the descriptions are just what those people who wrote the description experience ... in my experience, I've never tasted floral flavours from Fuggles though ... to be sure you're going to have to do the research yourself ... it's tough work but I reckon you're the man for the job ... you're going to have to find and drink beers with those hops ... if you were further up North I'd suggest Black Sheep Best Bitter as a good example tasting of Fuggles, but it's rarely in bottles/cans (Black Sheep Ale is different, that's Goldings) so unless you can find somewhere that has it on cask you might have to find another beer with those flavours

Cheers, PhilB

Class reply Phil

 

[St00]

"flavours of fresh coriander leaves as "soapy""

They taste like perfume to me, they are horrible. Also a percentage of the population taste artificial sweeteners as astringent flavours.

I went to a beer tasting once where they gave us strips of paper to put in our mouths 2 or 3 people in the group spat them out stating that it was one of the most bitter thing they've ever tasted. They used it as an example of how not only do people interpret the taste of things differently, they also have different physiological receptors to other people.

If possible I'd suggest searching out some single hop beers or try beers with only one of the hop additions in and see which one you dislike. At best it'll work, at worst it'll be an excuse to drink beer for science!

 

[GerritT]

"flavours of fresh coriander leaves as "soapy""

They taste like perfume to me, they are horrible. Also a percentage of the population taste artificial sweeteners as astringent flavours.

I went to a beer tasting once where they gave us strips of paper to put in our mouths 2 or 3 people in the group spat them out stating that it was one of the most bitter thing they've ever tasted. They used it as an example of how not only do people interpret the taste of things differently, they also have different physiological receptors to other people.

If possible I'd suggest searching out some single hop beers or try beers with only one of the hop additions in and see which one you dislike. At best it'll work, at worst it'll be an excuse to drink beer for science!

Amarillo. I made the Greg Hughes' Amarillo Single hop ale. I managed to drink 'm all, but will avoid Amarillo. Like rinsing with shampoo.

I like cilantro, weirdly enough.

 

[matt76]

Amarillo. I made the Greg Hughes' Amarillo Single hop ale. I managed to drink 'm all, but will avoid Amarillo. Like rinsing with shampoo.

I like cilantro, weirdly enough.

And just to illustrate how tastes vary, if I had to pick a favourite hop mine would be Amarillo!

 

[Clint]

It's funny how taste,smell are different between individuals..
Many years ago in work we had to be face fitted for respirators. To do this a very smelly substance was wafted over the mask and the idea was to adjust or swap mask type until the ideal one was selected.
I couldn't smell the smelly stuff!

 

[Ghillie]

Nelson Sauvignon tastes like white wine; and I hate white wine.

Amarillo is one of my favourite hops as well! That's what makes people interesting, we're all different.

Last two brews both had Amarillo in them, they are carbonating just now; so fingers crossed I still like the taste; or I'll have 38L of yuck to get through...

 

[Norse John]

Interesting...

 

[DavidDetroit]

Just for your original question, it's relatively cheap to do a taste test by steeping each in some water. Buying beers with those is more fun however.