[erockrph]

I've never had a wet hopped beer that had me excited for wet-hop season. I've had some enjoyable ones, but nothing mind-blowing. If I never had another one, I'd be perfectly fine with it.

I've never had a cabbage that has me excited for cabbage season. That doesn't make cole slaw or sauerkraut "B.S." Or "Scatterbrained" does it? In a way I think growing your own hops and not experimenting with a portion of it is kinda not in the homebrewing spirit.

I've done the wet hop thing myself as well. It was fine. Once I checked it off the list I didn't feel a real need to try it again. But that's just my tastes. I can barely fit enough hops in my kettle when they're dried, let alone 5 times as much when they're wet...

[a10t2]

If Celebration is a wet hopped beer, then I can say that 100% of the wet hopped beers ive tried, I have enjoyed. If its not, then forgive me.

If memory serves, SN calls it "fresh" hopped, and that means dried to them.

But I couldn't agree more about wet-hopped beers. Haven't had one that didn't make me think, "You know what they should have done with these hops? Dried them, then made a beer."

[klickitat jim]

If Celebration is a wet hopped beer, then I can say that 100% of the wet hopped beers ive tried, I have enjoyed. If its not, then forgive me.

If memory serves, SN calls it "fresh" hopped, and that means dried to them.

But I couldn't agree more about wet-hopped beers. Haven't had one that didn't make me think, "You know what they should have done with these hops? Dried them, then made a beer."

It's probably true that they are fresh dried. The amount of wet hops they need would probably catch fire by the time the truck got to Weed.

[Joe T]

Thanks to Pete B for posting his process and results so we can get an idea of the right way to use wet hops. Can some of the naysayers please post their process and results so we can gain some insight on what not to do?
I've been brewing for 20 years and it seems to me that the "because I can" attitude has always been part of the spirit of homebrewing! Besides, it's just hops! They're supposed to be in beer! Unlike stuff like cabbage and mushrooms and crystal malt!
Has anyone dry hopped with wet hops?

[pete b]

We've all had beer styles and foods we thought we didn't like because our first example was a bad one. I suspect that the grassy taste comes from wet hops in the boil or "dry hopping" with "wet hops". I'm assuming the more volatile aroma compounds are extracted almost immediately and that the vegetal flavors take longer. That's why my beer doesn't have grassy flavors but does have hop character that is distinct from dried hops and quite wonderful, even before any aging. If you have ever taken a whiff of freshly picked hops vs freshly dried or smelled hops drying you know that there is something your losing. The smell of drying hops is the smell of hops aroma leaving your hops. What homebrewer who has already dried and frozen enough cascades for the season couldn't resist taking a chance at capturing that freshness? I also made an extract with 100 proof extract that I use to freshen up a boring IPA or put in soda water for a tasty drink.

[denny]

If Celebration is a wet hopped beer, then I can say that 100% of the wet hopped beers ive tried, I have enjoyed. If its not, then forgive me.

As far as the fun of wet hopping, I suppose its like skinny dipping. Those who dont get it probably arent missing much. Fyi, I dont get it either, but I'm just trying to remember what its like to be young

Celebration is not a wet hopped beer, I assure you.  I've seen the hops going in.

[chumley]

I have a wet hop beer fermenting right now, using the process Pete B. described. The smell from the fermentors is incredible, so I think I am on the right track.

I think, done right, they can be very good.  I have brewed 3 wet hopped ales thus far, and while the first one was terrible, the other two were pretty darn good.  The first one I used wet hops for bittering that ended up giving a terrible grassy flavor.

I had one in October 2002 at the now defunct Yakima brewery that was excellent. The wet hops gave a kind of licorice-y flavor to the beer. I'm hoping for the same with my fresh Cascades.

[chumley]

And, just to add to that, wet hops can't be any worse than all the other crap people are putting in their beer.  Just scroll down the list of topics in this Ingredients category of this forum. 

[erockrph]

Thanks to Pete B for posting his process and results so we can get an idea of the right way to use wet hops. Can some of the naysayers please post their process and results so we can gain some insight on what not to do?
I've been brewing for 20 years and it seems to me that the "because I can" attitude has always been part of the spirit of homebrewing! Besides, it's just hops! They're supposed to be in beer! Unlike stuff like cabbage and mushrooms and crystal malt!
Has anyone dry hopped with wet hops?

Just to be clear, I've never found anything "bad" with wet-hopped beer. They were certainly fun to brew, and if I start growing hops again I'd probably brew more wet-hopped beers for the fun of it. But I don't find much "special" about them that makes me want to run out to buy them.

My SOP for wet-hopped beers has been my typical procedure for other hoppy ales. I use a neutral hop like magnum at 60 minutes for bittering, then use my wet hops for my late/flameout additions. Hopstand as well, if you like.

As far as wet hops for dry-hopping, you'd have to have access to another batch of hops that were picked wet when it's time to dry-hop, which presents a challenge. Your wet hops from brewday won't still be "wet" 5-10 days later when you go to dry hop.

[HoosierBrew]

Just to be clear, I've never found anything "bad" with wet-hopped beer. They were certainly fun to brew, and if I start growing hops again I'd probably brew more wet-hopped beers for the fun of it. But I don't find much "special" about them that makes me want to run out to buy them.

My SOP for wet-hopped beers has been my typical procedure for other hoppy ales. I use a neutral hop like magnum at 60 minutes for bittering, then use my wet hops for my late/flameout additions. Hopstand as well, if you like.

+1.  I've never had an objectionable wet hopped beer. They were all good, but not earth shattering by any means. And like you said, the amount I'd need to equal what I put in a typical IPA in pellet form would be LARGE, and absorb a buttload of wort along the way.

[erockrph]

Just to be clear, I've never found anything "bad" with wet-hopped beer. They were certainly fun to brew, and if I start growing hops again I'd probably brew more wet-hopped beers for the fun of it. But I don't find much "special" about them that makes me want to run out to buy them.

My SOP for wet-hopped beers has been my typical procedure for other hoppy ales. I use a neutral hop like magnum at 60 minutes for bittering, then use my wet hops for my late/flameout additions. Hopstand as well, if you like.

+1.  I've never had an objectionable wet hopped beer. They were all good, but not earth shattering by any means. And like you said, the amount I'd need to equal what I put in a typical IPA in pellet form would be LARGE, and absorb a buttload of wort along the way.

Right. It would look something like this:

[HoosierBrew]

     Yup.

[pete b]

Just to be clear, I've never found anything "bad" with wet-hopped beer. They were certainly fun to brew, and if I start growing hops again I'd probably brew more wet-hopped beers for the fun of it. But I don't find much "special" about them that makes me want to run out to buy them.

My SOP for wet-hopped beers has been my typical procedure for other hoppy ales. I use a neutral hop like magnum at 60 minutes for bittering, then use my wet hops for my late/flameout additions. Hopstand as well, if you like.

+1.  I've never had an objectionable wet hopped beer. They were all good, but not earth shattering by any means. And like you said, the amount I'd need to equal what I put in a typical IPA in pellet form would be LARGE, and absorb a buttload of wort along the way.

I don't think an IPA is as good for a match as a pale ale. I consider what I made an APA with a very distinct hop aroma and flavor. It had a very modest bittering addition (1 oz fresh dried galena for 60 minutes). I'm not sure the wet hops would sop up that much more wort because they go in closer to already being saturated.
I don't think anyone is saying this is the greatest thing ever. What I'm trying to say is that I went in skeptical and it turns out this is a legitimately tasty and refreshing beer that is different and worth repeating next year. I also think that there may not be any commercial examples that are as good as what can be made at home. Commercial enterprises have a lot of advantages over homebrewers but as a homebrewer I have one big advantage which is I don't need to make a profit so I can do something time consuming like pick hops during the boil or put 85# of homegrown organic peaches in a 20 gallon batch of mead.

[HoosierBrew]

I don't think an IPA is as good for a match as a pale ale. I consider what I made an APA with a very distinct hop aroma and flavor. It had a very modest bittering addition (1 oz fresh dried galena for 60 minutes). I'm not sure the wet hops would sop up that much more wort because they go in closer to already being saturated.
I don't think anyone is saying this is the greatest thing ever. What I'm trying to say is that I went in skeptical and it turns out this is a legitimately tasty and refreshing beer that is different and worth repeating next year. I also think that there may not be any commercial examples that are as good as what can be made at home. Commercial enterprises have a lot of advantages over homebrewers but as a homebrewer I have one big advantage which is I don't need to make a profit so I can do something time consuming like pick hops during the boil or put 85# of homegrown organic peaches in a 20 gallon batch of mead.

No arguments on homebrewing being about experimenting. Totally agree. And I'm not a wet hop hater - as I said, I like the ones I've had, for the most part. If I had a bunch of fresh ones, I'm sure I'd work them in a beer. I just think the wet hopped beer craze is a little over blown.

[denny]

No arguments on homebrewing being about experimenting. Totally agree. And I'm not a wet hop hater - as I said, I like the ones I've had, for the most part. If I had a bunch of fresh ones, I'm sure I'd work them in a beer. I just think the wet hopped beer craze is a little over blown.

OTOH, sometimes an experiment doesn't give you the results you hoped for.