Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Hops for Pilsner  (Read 9116 times)

Offline montanagray

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 39
Hops for Pilsner
« on: April 10, 2012, 04:37:21 pm »
Ok......Just need some advice and please dont beat me up on this post.  :-\
What hops would you recommend for an all grain pilsner? 

Gregg
Greggrey Flood

Offline garc_mall

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 858
  • [1892.9, 294.9deg] AR Lynnwood, WA
Re: Hops for Pilsner
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2012, 04:43:19 pm »
Saaz is the obvious choice for Bohemian Pils.

I also like Tettnang, but that would be more German pils.

Offline montanagray

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 39
Re: Hops for Pilsner
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2012, 04:52:44 pm »
thanks garc
Greggrey Flood

Offline erockrph

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 7795
  • Chepachet, RI
    • The Hop WHisperer
Re: Hops for Pilsner
« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2012, 05:28:13 pm »
+1 to the Saaz and Tettnang suggestions. Mt Hood, Liberty and Ultra will work nicely as well if you want to branch out.
Eric B.

Finally got around to starting a homebrewing blog: The Hop Whisperer

Offline jeffy

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4223
  • Tampa, Fl
Re: Hops for Pilsner
« Reply #4 on: April 10, 2012, 05:36:55 pm »
I like Sterling and Perle for flavor and bittering, but I usually use Hallertauer Hersbrucker or Mittelfruh late, for aroma in a German Pils.
Jeff Gladish, Tampa (989.3, 175.1 Apparent Rennarian)
Homebrewing since 1990
AHA member since 1991, now a lifetime member
BJCP judge since 1995

Offline Pinski

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1943
  • Portland, Oregon
Re: Hops for Pilsner
« Reply #5 on: April 10, 2012, 06:42:13 pm »
Love the classic Saaz. I've got ten gallons lagering that was done with all Mt. Hood.  The sample I tried last weekend when I kegged had a bit more bite than I expected. Hopefully it mellows nicely in the keg while it carbonates.
Steve Carper
Green Dragon Brewers
Clubs: Oregon Brew Crew & Strange Brew
BJCP Certified

narvin

  • Guest
Re: Hops for Pilsner
« Reply #6 on: April 10, 2012, 06:50:40 pm »
I like the German style with Tett and Hallertau.  A little Saaz in there can be good, too, like Prima Pils.

Offline hopfenundmalz

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 10686
  • Milford, MI
Re: Hops for Pilsner
« Reply #7 on: April 10, 2012, 07:04:54 pm »
Use what you will for bittering (Magnum, Tradition, Vanguard). I like Tettnanger for flavor. Hallertau Mittelfrueh for aroma, and a good amount of it.

Czech Pils = All Saaz.
Jeff Rankert
AHA Lifetime Member
BJCP National
Ann Arbor Brewers Guild
Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Offline pyrite

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 443
  • Davis, CA
Re: Hops for Pilsner
« Reply #8 on: April 10, 2012, 07:44:44 pm »
Lately, I've been using New Zealand Organic Hallertau Hop Pellets for Pilseners.  It's rather tasty in Pilsners.
If you don't get in over your head, how are you ever going to know how tall you are.

Offline richardt

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1227
Re: Hops for Pilsner
« Reply #9 on: April 11, 2012, 08:00:25 am »
Just curious (and a little rebellious)--has anyone made a good pilsner using "C" hops? 
Or does it come across more like a blonde ale if "C" hops are used?

Offline hopfenundmalz

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 10686
  • Milford, MI
Re: Hops for Pilsner
« Reply #10 on: April 11, 2012, 08:04:53 am »
Just curious (and a little rebellious)--has anyone made a good pilsner using "C" hops? 
Or does it come across more like a blonde ale if "C" hops are used?

It might be more of an American Pale Lager, unless the C hop was Crystal.
Jeff Rankert
AHA Lifetime Member
BJCP National
Ann Arbor Brewers Guild
Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Offline bluesman

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8825
  • Delaware
Re: Hops for Pilsner
« Reply #11 on: April 11, 2012, 08:16:21 am »
Use what you will for bittering (Magnum, Tradition, Vanguard). I like Tettnanger for flavor. Hallertau Mittelfrueh for aroma, and a good amount of it.

Czech Pils = All Saaz.

+1

Bittering and Flavor... I use Mittlefruh for German Pils and Saaz for BoPils.  :)
Ron Price

Offline erockrph

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 7795
  • Chepachet, RI
    • The Hop WHisperer
Re: Hops for Pilsner
« Reply #12 on: April 11, 2012, 09:32:05 am »
Just curious (and a little rebellious)--has anyone made a good pilsner using "C" hops? 
Or does it come across more like a blonde ale if "C" hops are used?

I don't think the taste would be recognizable as a pilsner, but I like where you're headed. To me, aside from the distinct pilsner malt flavor, pilsners are all about that spicy/herbal/floral noble hops. Plus, to my tastes, I think the "C" hops really don't come across right (at least for bittering) without some hardness in the water, where your typical BoPils likes really soft water.

Of course, you could split the difference and brew a noble-hopped Pils, then dry hop with some Cascade or Centennial. If you do experiment with this, let us know how it turns out. I've been thinking of brewing a lawnmower beer with a nice hop kick myself and I'm not sure how I want to hop it yet. Been waffling between Saaz and Chinook.
Eric B.

Finally got around to starting a homebrewing blog: The Hop Whisperer

Offline jmcamerlengo

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 625
Re: Hops for Pilsner
« Reply #13 on: April 11, 2012, 12:18:49 pm »
Just curious (and a little rebellious)--has anyone made a good pilsner using "C" hops? 
Or does it come across more like a blonde ale if "C" hops are used?

I don't think the taste would be recognizable as a pilsner, but I like where you're headed. To me, aside from the distinct pilsner malt flavor, pilsners are all about that spicy/herbal/floral noble hops. Plus, to my tastes, I think the "C" hops really don't come across right (at least for bittering) without some hardness in the water, where your typical BoPils likes really soft water.

Of course, you could split the difference and brew a noble-hopped Pils, then dry hop with some Cascade or Centennial. If you do experiment with this, let us know how it turns out. I've been thinking of brewing a lawnmower beer with a nice hop kick myself and I'm not sure how I want to hop it yet. Been waffling between Saaz and Chinook.

Saaz and CHinook? Thats an interesting place to waffle lol. Id be interested in this also!
Jason
-Head Brewer, Brewtus Brewers in the Shenango Valley. Hopefully opening a brewpub/nano brewery in the next couple years.

Offline nateo

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2336
Re: Hops for Pilsner
« Reply #14 on: April 11, 2012, 01:17:10 pm »
I've done some light psuedo-lagers with all Vanguard and all Crystal. They turn out pretty well. Any of the domestic Hallertau mimics should work fine. I prefer to buy domestic when I can (not that I think German hop growers should starve).
In der Kürze liegt die Würze.