[gordonstrong]

Ya know, I keep hearing about how bad Summit hops are and the onion/garlic thing, and I've even tasted it in some beers.  But I get a great tangerine flavor and aroma from them.  Maybe I got a good batch.....

I've heard about the tangerine thing too, but I've never tasted it.  If someone has made one that has that character without the stankiness, I'd love to try it.  And I've tried them from people who really know how to brew.  If Nathan Smith gives me an IPA of his and I don't like it, then I know I don't like those hops.

[denny]

Maybe he put his feet in it....

I've heard rumors that the character is crop dependent.  That certainly doesn't do us much good since you have to know if you're buying from a good crop.

[hopfenundmalz]

There is a sulfur compound, dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS), that is responsible for the Garlic and Onion. It will vary from year to year, and gets higher if the hops are harvested late.

I am not a fan of Summit. The DMTS will boil off, so those can be used for bittering without making a Garlic and Onioin beer.

Scroll to sulfur compounds in each of these.
http://beersensoryscience.wordpress.com/2010/11/15/chemistry-of-beer-aging/
http://www.byo.com/stories/article/indices/18-brewing-science/853-hop-chemistry-homebrew-science

[Alewyfe]

This is an interesting situation.....opposing viewpoints from two people I hugely respect. As Gordon has nailed my
tasting experience with the "stanky feet" commentary and given it a  perfect descriptor, I'm going to steer clear of the Summit hops for this batch. I'll see if I can nab an ounce or two to do a little experiment and determine if Summit is the reason I am repulsed by some beers I have tasted that I believe are using it. Thanks for your input everyone......and Keith, am I to take away from this that you are NOT fond of Summit.

[majorvices]

I have had only ever had commercial beers made with the hop. Never had one that I liked. You'd think if it was crop dependent I would have found one I liked. OTOH I have stopped trying those beers now.

[Alewyfe]

Just as a matter of interest, what comm'l beers are readily available that use Summit hops? I'd like to try a couple.

[denny]

Just as a matter of interest, what comm'l beers are readily available that use Summit hops? I'd like to try a couple.

The one I always think of is Green Flash IPA.  I've definitely gotten onion/garlic notes from that, as well as the tangerine.

[hopfenundmalz]

Just as a matter of interest, what comm'l beers are readily available that use Summit hops? I'd like to try a couple.

Gubna is one. Founders Devil Dancer was an onion bomb last year. They have changed to Apollo this year, no Onion.

[hopfenundmalz]

This is an interesting situation.....opposing viewpoints from two people I hugely respect. As Gordon has nailed my
tasting experience with the "stanky feet" commentary and given it a  perfect descriptor, I'm going to steer clear of the Summit hops for this batch. I'll see if I can nab an ounce or two to do a little experiment and determine if Summit is the reason I am repulsed by some beers I have tasted that I believe are using it. Thanks for your input everyone......and Keith, am I to take away from this that you are NOT fond of Summit.

Some guys in out club like to make the Griffon Spit. I get onion and garlic, they said they don't.

Might be like Simcoe - the wife gets cat pee, I get pine and fruit.

[hoser]

Just as a matter of interest, what comm'l beers are readily available that use Summit hops? I'd like to try a couple.

The one I always think of is Green Flash IPA.  I've definitely gotten onion/garlic notes from that, as well as the tangerine.

Green Flash IPA is mostly columbus, simcoe, and amarillo (I had one two last night at a matter of fact). Not as good in the bottle as on draft.  More pine and fruit on draft.  More garlic and onion in the bottle The Green Flash IIPA uses summit, but I don't get as much garlic or onion as I thought I should.  Stone quit using summit do to the BO factor   I know Nathan Smith likes summit and uses it in his North Oakland and Dankness IPAs with good success.

[denny]

I'm gearing up to brew sometime next week.  I think I'll use some Summit to verify my impressions.  Maybe even do Griffin Spit.

[gordonstrong]

This is an interesting situation.....opposing viewpoints from two people I hugely respect.

You must be confused.  Like I said, Denny and I agree on everything. 

[erockrph]

How convenient that today was 10% off day for me at Austin Homebrew supply I'm doing a series of 1 gallon single hop pale ales next month. Looks like I'll be adding Summit to the list.

[majorvices]

Gubna is the primary one I detest with Summit. That new Deviant Dale's is another - if it doesn't have summit in that beer that someone stuck their (censored) in it. Nasty!

I'm not a huge fan of the Oskar Blues beers anyway, but the Gubna is truly wretchable in my book. BLECK!!!!

If Green Flash IPA has summit in it it is very restrained because I taste centennial mostly in that one, maybe amarillo, too.

[ccfoo242]

Both.  One of my all time favorite recipes is a past Big Brew recipe called "Griffin Spit" (it's in the wiki).  Uses all Summit hops, all at 20 min. or less.  Wonderful tangerine aroma/flavor.

I, too, like Summit. I used it in an amber with hallertau mittelfrueh and loved the tangerine flavor. No hint of stinky feet.