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Author Topic: What's your favorite American "noble" type hop?  (Read 8517 times)

Online majorvices

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What's your favorite American "noble" type hop?
« on: November 24, 2013, 05:47:48 am »
Northern Brewer? Mount Hood?

I used to really like crystal (and still do for some applications) but it seems to have gotten more citrusy, or maybe I'm getting more sensitive.

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: What's your favorite American "noble" type hop?
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2013, 05:59:10 am »
Mt. Hood for the Hallertau Mittelfrueh derivatives. I also like the rest; Liberty, Crystal, Ultra, Vangaurd. Agree that Crystal is citrusy, but I like that one to make a lager with an American twist.

Sterling is nice if you want a spicy noble derivative, it is from Saaz.

Played a little with Santium, it is a Tettnanger derivative.

Northern Brewer? Never heard that called Noble and it was bred in England.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2013, 06:58:32 am by hopfenundmalz »
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Re: What's your favorite American "noble" type hop?
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2013, 06:19:03 am »
I realize Northern Brewer was bread in England but it is mentioned for a Hallertau sub frequently which is why I asked. I don't have much experience with it, personally. I've used Mt. Hood with good results recently. Thanks for the feed back!

Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: What's your favorite American "noble" type hop?
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2013, 06:52:09 am »
I like Sterling, Liberty, and Mt Hood pretty well.
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Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: What's your favorite American "noble" type hop?
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2013, 06:57:59 am »
I realize Northern Brewer was bread in England but it is mentioned for a Hallertau sub frequently which is why I asked. I don't have much experience with it, personally. I've used Mt. Hood with good results recently. Thanks for the feed back!
I can't remember seeing it as a Hallertau (which one?) sub. It is grown in England, US, and Germany. The German one would be the one to try if you are subbing, terroir and all that. NB was one of the parents of Perle IIRC.
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Offline dbarber

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Re: What's your favorite American "noble" type hop?
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2013, 06:59:38 am »
I've used Mt. Hood a lot as a sub for Hallertauer and sterling in my belgian beers.
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Offline erockrph

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Re: What's your favorite American "noble" type hop?
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2013, 07:07:13 am »
I like Sterling a lot, but I get a lot of citrus out of it too. I like Ultra quite a bit as well. It has some Saaz in its lineage, and I definitely pick up some of that. I've gotten Ultra in the 7+ AA% range the past few years which is quite a bit higher than its published typical AA range.

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Offline troybinso

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Re: What's your favorite American "noble" type hop?
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2013, 09:18:15 am »
I used to really like crystal (and still do for some applications) but it seems to have gotten more citrusy, or maybe I'm getting more sensitive.

Funny thing with Crystal. I think it fits better with the other "C" hops in an IPA than in a traditional lager. I am not sure how it came to be so citrusy, but I really like it in an IPA.

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Re: What's your favorite American "noble" type hop?
« Reply #8 on: November 24, 2013, 09:28:34 am »
I used to really like crystal (and still do for some applications) but it seems to have gotten more citrusy, or maybe I'm getting more sensitive.

Funny thing with Crystal. I think it fits better with the other "C" hops in an IPA than in a traditional lager. I am not sure how it came to be so citrusy, but I really like it in an IPA.

I agree! It's one of my "secret hops" in my IPA.

Offline reverseapachemaster

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Re: What's your favorite American "noble" type hop?
« Reply #9 on: November 24, 2013, 09:44:43 am »
Sterling and Mount Hood. It's too bad that group of hops fell out of favor. It seems like they are getting rediscovered by some of the west coast brewers.

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Offline klickitat jim

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Re: What's your favorite American "noble" type hop?
« Reply #10 on: November 24, 2013, 10:24:42 am »
Mt Hood and Willamette are two biggies for me. Looking fwd to trying Sterling too.

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Re: What's your favorite American "noble" type hop?
« Reply #11 on: November 24, 2013, 12:13:42 pm »
I've read someplace that the perfect substitute for Mittelfrueh is a 50/50 blend of Mt. Hood and Liberty; however, my only experience is with Mt. Hood and I know it comes very very close all by itself.  Hallertauer is my favorite hop and I use it in almost every beer I make.  I always keep ample supply on hand, but in a pinch I would certainly run to Mt. Hood before anything else.  Or maybe Liberty just to try it out.
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Offline Thirsty_Monk

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Re: What's your favorite American "noble" type hop?
« Reply #12 on: November 24, 2013, 01:13:35 pm »
Us Saaz that is Herertau bases. No Saaz in there at all.
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Offline kmccaf

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Re: What's your favorite American "noble" type hop?
« Reply #13 on: November 24, 2013, 06:57:19 pm »
Northern Brewer? Mount Hood?

I used to really like crystal (and still do for some applications) but it seems to have gotten more citrusy, or maybe I'm getting more sensitive.

I love me some crystal, so I would put that as my favorite. While I do also get a little citrus from it, I still get mostly that delicious spice from it. Mt. Hood would be my second. Vanguard comes in third, with its really nice woody aroma. Crystal and Mt. Hood may just be my favorite hops. I feel I can use them in just about anything.

Looking forward to using some Santium, and Sterling this year. I have a Landbier and Czech Dark Lager coming up that I am looking to put a lot of noble derivatives in.
Kyle M.

Offline anthony

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Re: What's your favorite American "noble" type hop?
« Reply #14 on: November 24, 2013, 08:53:29 pm »
I think Vanguard and Sterling both have a harshness to them. Back in the bad old days of the hop shortages I tried to use both of them as subs/replacements for Czech Saaz/Hallertau and they just weren't right. I think it might have something to do with the oil ratios. The total oils and the levels of Myrcene are both quite different versus true "noble" hops.

At my brewery I've kind of vacillated back and forth between hops like Mt. Hood and true noble hops like Hallertau/Saphir... I always come back to the true noble hops. They have a softness and a spiciness that I really enjoy in the beers I use them in.