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

Author Topic: flavor contribution from dry hops  (Read 3179 times)

Offline Iliff Ave

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4507
flavor contribution from dry hops
« on: December 23, 2013, 01:15:27 pm »
Dry hopping is primarily related to aroma correct? How much if any flavor contribution is there?

In my most recent pale ale, the flavor from the dry hops seems more noticeable than the aroma if that is even possible...
On Tap/Bottled: IPL, Adjunct Vienna, Golden Stout, Honey Lager
Fermenting: IPA
Up Next: mexi lager, Germerican pale ale

Offline Wheat_Brewer

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 240
  • Bad Bunny Brewing
Re: flavor contribution from dry hops
« Reply #1 on: December 23, 2013, 01:55:07 pm »
Since you aren't conducting any kind of boil to extract the hop oil my understanding is that yes, you are out for the hop aroma and not any hop bitterness. With that said I know a lot of your taste is closely related to smell.  So you may be "tasting" the hops due to the aroma.
AHA Lifetime Member

Offline kylekohlmorgen

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1363
  • Saint Louis, MO
    • The South House Pilot Brewery
Re: flavor contribution from dry hops
« Reply #2 on: December 23, 2013, 01:59:01 pm »
You'll definitely get flavor (and even mouthfeel) contribution from dry hops.

If you're not satisfied with the aroma, but you're seeing flavor contribution, you could pull out the dry hops and add another charge. I'll do this with hoppy beers in the keg immediately before serving to 'reinforce' the dry hop character a bit.

Aroma also isn't as well represented in a flat beer - carbonation will help carry it. It takes a bit of practice to imagine what carbonation will bring to a flat beer.
Twitter/Instagram: @southhousebrew

Recipes, Brett/Bacteria Experiments: http://SouthHouseBeer.com/

Offline Iliff Ave

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4507
Re: flavor contribution from dry hops
« Reply #3 on: December 23, 2013, 02:56:31 pm »
Thanks guys.

My beer isn't even close to carbonated so that could be part of the issue. I took a small sample only two days on CO2. I will wait until it is fully carbed, re-evaluate, and if necessary add some hops to the keg. I think part of the issue may be related to a hops storage problem. They may not have been as fragrant as normal...
On Tap/Bottled: IPL, Adjunct Vienna, Golden Stout, Honey Lager
Fermenting: IPA
Up Next: mexi lager, Germerican pale ale

Offline HoosierBrew

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 13031
  • Indianapolis,IN
Re: flavor contribution from dry hops
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2013, 03:31:49 pm »
+1 to getting flavor from dry hopping - it's significant. The larger the amount of dry hops you use, the more flavor and aroma you get. I don't think it's far off to call it 50/50 flavor/aroma.
Jon H.

coastsidemike

  • Guest
Re: flavor contribution from dry hops
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2013, 08:33:34 pm »
+1 to getting flavor from dry hopping - it's significant. The larger the amount of dry hops you use, the more flavor and aroma you get. I don't think it's far off to call it 50/50 flavor/aroma.

+2;

I really didn't understand how pronounced the effect was until I started splitting my batches to experiment with dry-hopping, one for a single hop and one for a blend of two or more.  IMO, unless it's for a specific traditional style, it's now one of the more important parts of the recipe.  I'll save the more select, fresh hops for it.

I'm just getting into the water quality aspect; they're like two keys for the same puzzle.



Offline mugwort

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 159
  • Baby T Aleworks
Re: flavor contribution from dry hops
« Reply #6 on: December 24, 2013, 12:49:51 pm »
Not to fire up old controversy, but one way to get (too much) flavor from dry-hopping is to hop cold and long.  IME, fridge temp dry-hopping of more than a few days begins to impart tea-like/hay-like flavors along with dryness and astringency.  Chew on part of a hop pellet and you'll know what I'm talking about.

Damaged the flavor of my second most recent IPA with this method, but thankfully the aroma was unscathed.
« Last Edit: December 24, 2013, 12:51:51 pm by mugwort »
Baby T Aleworks | 100% Organic Abode-Crafted Ales | San Gabriel, CA | On tap...

Online dmtaylor

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4724
  • Lord Idiot the Lazy
    • YEAST MASTER Perma-Living
Re: flavor contribution from dry hops
« Reply #7 on: December 24, 2013, 01:03:31 pm »
I agree with most of the above.  You get more than just aroma from dry hopping.  Flavor comes along with it.
Dave

The world will become a much more pleasant place to live when each and every one of us realizes that we are all idiots.

Offline mugwort

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 159
  • Baby T Aleworks
Re: flavor contribution from dry hops
« Reply #8 on: December 25, 2013, 09:06:33 am »
I really didn't understand how pronounced the effect was until I started splitting my batches to experiment with dry-hopping, one for a single hop and one for a blend of two or more.

Splitting is a nice idea to compare different hops and hopping rates but it might also be nice to compare to the base beer.  Because you never can fully know just how much a dry-hop charge has changed the character of your batch unless you do a side by side tasting.

Along this line, I'll be splitting a 6 gallon batch of thoroughly hop-bursted ipa into two 3 gallon kegs, one that I leave alone and carb and one that I dry-hop once or twice.  I'd like to see if there's as much aroma as I think there is resulting from the hopstand that the wort receives and then recognize exactly what the dry hops added.
Baby T Aleworks | 100% Organic Abode-Crafted Ales | San Gabriel, CA | On tap...

Offline philm63

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 171
  • Agis Quod Adis!
Re: flavor contribution from dry hops
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2013, 06:20:07 am »
Assuming you're going to adjust your dry-hopping post-packaging; if you've already carbonated your kegged brew, shouldn't you de-gas it before adding the new hop charge (shake-purge-shake-purge...)? I'm imagining dropping the hop-sock in and immediately seeing this volcanic reaction, lots of screaming, mops...
AHA Member

On Tap: APA - 1st brew on the new system!
On Deck: Kolsch, IPA

Offline mugwort

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 159
  • Baby T Aleworks
Re: flavor contribution from dry hops
« Reply #10 on: December 27, 2013, 08:22:18 am »
Assuming you're going to adjust your dry-hopping post-packaging; if you've already carbonated your kegged brew, shouldn't you de-gas it before adding the new hop charge (shake-purge-shake-purge...)? I'm imagining dropping the hop-sock in and immediately seeing this volcanic reaction, lots of screaming, mops...

Not too much of an issue usually.  Foam out only happened once when I had the keg really really full.  Normally, pellet hops just out of the freezer go in a mesh bag with some marbles into the keg with little fuss, even at full carb.
Baby T Aleworks | 100% Organic Abode-Crafted Ales | San Gabriel, CA | On tap...

Offline HoosierBrew

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 13031
  • Indianapolis,IN
Re: flavor contribution from dry hops
« Reply #11 on: December 27, 2013, 08:29:43 am »
Assuming you're going to adjust your dry-hopping post-packaging; if you've already carbonated your kegged brew, shouldn't you de-gas it before adding the new hop charge (shake-purge-shake-purge...)? I'm imagining dropping the hop-sock in and immediately seeing this volcanic reaction, lots of screaming, mops...

Not too much of an issue usually.  Foam out only happened once when I had the keg really really full.  Normally, pellet hops just out of the freezer go in a mesh bag with some marbles into the keg with little fuss, even at full carb.

+1.  I've never had an issue doing it. i just add the hops in a fine mesh, weighted bag, purge a few times a few minutes apart and call it good.  No volcanic or otherwise seismic events.
Jon H.