[erockrph]

I just brewed another round of single-hopped beers today. Most of these hops had some really nice aroma to them, and I'm really looking forward to tasting the beers in a month or so. I didn't really like how my last batches came out using steeped CaraHell, so I went back to my original recipe of 13 oz Light DME (2 1/3 cups by volume) and 5 oz Munich LME (1/3 cup by volume) in 1 gallon preboil volume. Hops were between 40-45 IBU (calculated as a 20-minute addition) added after the extract dissolved, 15 minute boil, 0.25 oz flameout hops and each will get 1/2 oz of dry hops.

Here's the list of hops for this series of beers:

Vic Secret - a new hop from NZ Australia
Enigma - another new hop from NZ Australia
Armadillo Experimental - an experimental hop available from Yakima Valley Hops
HBC 438 (aka "Ron Mexico") - a new hop from HBC, that is currently only available to homebrewers.
X-17 - a new experimental hop from The Oregon Hophouse, who were kind enough to send me a sample to review. I am really excited about these.

Here are links to my past years' tasting notes:
2012
2013
2014

Gratuitous hop porn:



Edit - I have a bad habit of assuming all Southern Hemisphere hops come from new Zealand

[HoosierBrew]

I look forward to your impressions of these, Eric. I have most of these on my radar.

[Iliff Ave]

A local brewery just did a Vic secret single hopped ipa. I am interested to try it and here your impressions of that variety.

[erockrph]

A local brewery just did a Vic secret single hopped ipa. I am interested to try it and here your impressions of that variety.

The two NZ hop pellets had really distinct aromas to them. I picked up a big anise note in the Vic Secret with some floral and apricot. I get a hint of anise from other hops (EKG in particular), but this was like opening a box of Good & Plenty. You never know how that translates to the finished beer, though.

[hopfenundmalz]

I did a Ron Mexico clone of the RR NHC beer. Will write up once I am home and it is carbed up.

[denny]

You got some X17!  I hope to brew with mine soon so we can compare notes!

[brewinhard]

Won an "insiders" tour at FX Matt Brewing in Utica (Saranac) from a competition I entered last year.  Got a chance to smell some new experimental hops and the one that stood out the most was Vic Secret.  Loved its aroma, just wish I could've nabbed a few ounces to dry hop a  beer with. 

[erockrph]

Won an "insiders" tour at FX Matt Brewing in Utica (Saranac) from a competition I entered last year.  Got a chance to smell some new experimental hops and the one that stood out the most was Vic Secret.  Loved its aroma, just wish I could've nabbed a few ounces to dry hop a  beer with.

Farmhouse has it in stock from the spring harvest.

[erockrph]

You got some X17!  I hope to brew with mine soon so we can compare notes!

I exchanged a few emails with Pat at Oregon Hophouse, and its obvious how much passion he has for what they're doing over there. I have high hopes for the X-17. They were some really high quality cones.

[norcaljp]

Is it just the picture, or are those Vic Secret hops really that brown? From the picture, if someone gave me those, I'd assume they're ancient and stored improperly and probably wouldn't use them. Very interesting color.

[erockrph]

Is it just the picture, or are those Vic Secret hops really that brown? From the picture, if someone gave me those, I'd assume they're ancient and stored improperly and probably wouldn't use them. Very interesting color.

Good eye! I noticed the exact same thing about the two NZ hops compared to the HBC 438 pellets. The thing is, the aroma was fantastic on those two - every bit as potent as the HBC, if not more so. There seemed to be less grassiness to them as well. I can't help but wonder if there's something going on with the processing on those. I've gotten plenty of import hops from Farmhouse, and they have never disappointed in their potency. I'll have to keep an eye out with other hops to see if I notice a difference.

[homebrew212]

Anyone played around with a Azzaca in a single hopped beer? I've got a full pound that I'm trying to find a style that they will work in. I've heard they don't play well with the more dominant IPA hops (Simcoe, Mosaic, Columbus, etc.) as Azzaca is more subtle.

[HoosierBrew]

Anyone played around with a Azzaca in a single hopped beer? I've got a full pound that I'm trying to find a style that they will work in. I've heard they don't play well with the more dominant IPA hops (Simcoe, Mosaic, Columbus, etc.) as Azzaca is more subtle.

Yeah, I love it in APA as a single hop. Works well in an IPA blend, too, you just have to match its intensity with stronger hops. As a reference I think it's on a par with Centennial in terms of intensity, if that helps.

EDIT - The simplest way to balance with a stronger hop is obviously to use more of the weaker one, or less of the stronger one. Like 2 Azacca : 1 Simcoe or Columbus. It's good stuff.

[homebrew212]

Would you mind sharing your Azzaca single-hop APA recipe?

[HoosierBrew]

Would you mind sharing your Azzaca single-hop APA recipe?

Sure.

OG 1054
FG 1.010
IBU 41-ish

86% 2 row
17% Maris Otter
7% C40

41 IBU Azacca - 60 mins
4.5 oz Azacca - added after cooling wort to 175F. Steep for 25 mins, stirring occasionally, then finish cooling.
3 oz Azacca - dry hop 5 days, room temp

WY 1056

Mash 152F - 60 mins
Mash pH 5.4
200-225 ppm sulfate