[erockrph]

How much was the Nelson?  I was in Northern Brewer in Minnesota last week because hops are a lot cheaper in the US so I was stocking up and I wanted to get some NS but they were $5.50 per ounce compared to $2.50 or less for others.  I skipped them.

Austin Homebrew Supply has Nelson for $1.99/oz (plus flat-rate shipping).

So, I went a little crazy. I picked up the following, and what I'm thinking of making with them:

Motueka - blonde or pale lager?
Pacific Jade - APA?
Rakau - dry-hopped wheat (maybe rye)
Green Bullet - bittering?
Super Alpha - bittering?

And I picked up some more Nelson Sauvin so I can rebrew the Nelson Brut I made last year.

Any suggestions?

I'm really enjoying Motueka right now. I was using Amarillo/Columbus/Ultra as my house combo for my hoppy beers, but I'll be using Motueka in place of Ultra from here on in. It's got a real nice lime zest/lemongrass herbal-citrus thing going on that I'm loving. I think it will be great in a blond, pale lager or a saison.

As far as Rakau goes, I'm still making up my opinion on it. I had a bit of palate fatigue when I tasted it the other night, but it didn't really strike me as anything special. Still, I think you're making the right call with the wheat/rye idea. The cinnamon note I got plus the sweet fruit would probably accentuate a Hopfenweiss-style beer pretty well.

[nateo]

I'm really enjoying Motueka right now. I was using Amarillo/Columbus/Ultra as my house combo for my hoppy beers, but I'll be using Motueka in place of Ultra from here on in. It's got a real nice lime zest/lemongrass herbal-citrus thing going on that I'm loving. I think it will be great in a blond, pale lager or a saison.

As far as Rakau goes, I'm still making up my opinion on it. I had a bit of palate fatigue when I tasted it the other night, but it didn't really strike me as anything special. Still, I think you're making the right call with the wheat/rye idea. The cinnamon note I got plus the sweet fruit would probably accentuate a Hopfenweiss-style beer pretty well.

Have you ever used Crystal? It sounds a lot like Motueka. Noble with a citrus kick, only with more of an orange marmalade citrus-type character. I got a pound last year and I've worked my way through most of it. I got a pound of Vanguard too, but it's much more restrained and with a typical "noble" profile.

[erockrph]

Have you ever used Crystal? It sounds a lot like Motueka. Noble with a citrus kick, only with more of an orange marmalade citrus-type character. I got a pound last year and I've worked my way through most of it. I got a pound of Vanguard too, but it's much more restrained and with a typical "noble" profile.

I haven't tried Crystal yet, but I'll have to add it to my list of hops to try when this year's crop is ready. I really like the complexity that comes from combining noble-type hops with "C"-type hops.

[nateo]

I haven't tried Crystal yet, but I'll have to add it to my list of hops to try when this year's crop is ready. I really like the complexity that comes from combining noble-type hops with "C"-type hops.

Crystal was one of Hal Aunold's USDA breeding program hops. Crystal, Mt. Hood, Ultra, and Liberty were all Hallertau M.f. hybrids. They did Santiam (Tettnanger / Hallertau hybrid) and Sterling (Saaz) too. BTW I just learned that hops called "US Tettnanger" are actually Fuggles.

[kmccaf]

So, I went a little crazy. I picked up the following, and what I'm thinking of making with them:

Motueka - blonde or pale lager?
Pacific Jade - APA?
Rakau - dry-hopped wheat (maybe rye)
Green Bullet - bittering?
Super Alpha - bittering?

And I picked up some more Nelson Sauvin so I can rebrew the Nelson Brut I made last year.

Any suggestions?

I was actually just thinking that Rakau might be nice in a pale lager. It has a rough quality to it that fades over a couple of months to give a nice fruity aroma. I do not the ability to lager, so I was thinking of doing a faux lager this winter with it.

Pacific Jade would make a great APA. I think it blends well with Crystal and Columbus. It also makes a really good rye and amber. I was thinking of making a saison with it soon.

[mpietropaoli]

Here's a good guide from hop union

http://www.countrymaltgroup.com/downloads/zythos.pdf

I personally don't care for Nelson sauvin, I feel like they impart a weird vinous, tart, almost astringent character.  My buddy did a saison with them exclusively and I thought he had a process flaw.  Bought a sixer of anchor humming, and found out that my buddys process was just fine.  I do like Galaxy quite a bit though.

[nateo]

I personally don't care for Nelson sauvin, I feel like they impart a weird vinous, tart, almost astringent character. 

No, that's why they're great. I never got the vinous thing from those hops until I picked up a bottle of NZ Sauvignon Blanc, and it's really striking how similar they are.

[brewmasternpb]

I had bought a lb of Pacific Jade from NB, and it was very peppery, almost jalapeno like...

[mpietropaoli]

I personally don't care for Nelson sauvin, I feel like they impart a weird vinous, tart, almost astringent character. 

No, that's why they're great. I never got the vinous thing from those hops until I picked up a bottle of NZ Sauvignon Blanc, and it's really striking how similar they are.

Yeah, it could be one of those things that its just offensive to my palette personally, because everyone else who had a Humming ale liked it a lot @ my house.  Blech though for now.  I like Sauvignon blanc too. 

[tygo]

Just picked up 4 ounches of 2012 Galaxy and 6 ounces of 2011 Nelson from Nikobrew.  I've never used the Galaxy before but I made a really nice late hopped pale ale with NS last year that was a big hit at a club meeting.

[maxieboy]

Just picked up 4 ounches of 2012 Galaxy and 6 ounces of 2011 Nelson from Nikobrew.  I've never used the Galaxy before but I made a really nice late hopped pale ale with NS last year that was a big hit at a club meeting.

Love Galaxy, almost 2 lbs. in the freezer still... Makes a great single hopped IPA IMO.

[hopfenundmalz]

Here's a good guide from hop union

http://www.countrymaltgroup.com/downloads/zythos.pdf

I personally don't care for Nelson sauvin, I feel like they impart a weird vinous, tart, almost astringent character.  My buddy did a saison with them exclusively and I thought he had a process flaw.  Bought a sixer of anchor humming, and found out that my buddys process was just fine.  I do like Galaxy quite a bit though.

I had trouble drinking Alpine Nelson due to the cheap white wine taste. One of my brewing buddies loved it. It is a love it or hate it hop.

[nateo]

I had trouble drinking Alpine Nelson due to the cheap white wine taste. One of my brewing buddies loved it. It is a love it or hate it hop.

Anyone not satisfied with their Nelson is welcome to send them to me. I will properly dispose of them.

[hopfenundmalz]

I had trouble drinking Alpine Nelson due to the cheap white wine taste. One of my brewing buddies loved it. It is a love it or hate it hop.

Anyone not satisfied with their Nelson is welcome to send them to me. I will properly dispose of them.

I have never bought any, after the first exposure to Alpine Nelson. That was enough for me. Sorry. 

[nateo]

Finally got around to brewing with the Motueka. I did a pale lager, 30% rice, 70% bo-pils. I only did late additions, for about 15 IBU. I think I did a -15min and a flameout addition. 2oz in the kettle, and then 4oz dry-hop for 2 days. It's carbing up right now, so I'll report back in a few days when it's ready. The sample I took at bottling was pretty good, so I have high hopes for this one.