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

Author Topic: Whole Cone Hops - Substitutions?  (Read 1411 times)

TXFlyGuy

  • Guest
Whole Cone Hops - Substitutions?
« on: February 13, 2020, 05:36:48 am »
Looking to make a nice German Pils...Bitburger, Hofbrau Original, Spaten, etc.
But my first choice (Hallertau) is not available in whole cones.

I do have Saaz. Is there a good substitute for the Noble variety, that is available in whole cone form?

Checked a few suppliers online. It's easy to get pellets in nearly any variety. And there are many varieties of whole cone hops available also, including Saaz, Kent Goldings.

But not the traditional German hop. Or maybe just use Saaz in the German Pils?

Offline BrewBama

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 6078
Re: Whole Cone Hops - Substitutions?
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2020, 05:48:43 am »
This may help you decide: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/how-to-brew/hop-substitutions/


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Offline dmtaylor

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4730
  • Lord Idiot the Lazy
    • YEAST MASTER Perma-Living
Re: Whole Cone Hops - Substitutions?
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2020, 05:56:23 am »
Northern Brewer and Willamette hops are solid choices for this style.

https://www.morebeer.com/category/hops-leaf.html
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.

TXFlyGuy

  • Guest
Re: Whole Cone Hops - Substitutions?
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2020, 06:01:07 am »
Thank You!

Offline hopfenundmalz

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 10687
  • Milford, MI
Re: Whole Cone Hops - Substitutions?
« Reply #4 on: February 13, 2020, 07:34:35 am »
I will just add my own gripe that whole cone hops are harder to find these days.
Jeff Rankert
AHA Lifetime Member
BJCP National
Ann Arbor Brewers Guild
Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

TXFlyGuy

  • Guest
Re: Whole Cone Hops - Substitutions?
« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2020, 08:00:36 am »
I will just add my own gripe that whole cone hops are harder to find these days.

Agree. While there are whole hops available, it is hard to find genuine Noble hops, other than Saaz in whole cone version.
As stated in another thread, we used hop plugs exclusively for years, with great results.

Checked some of the online hop hops, plus those on Ebay. Either whole cones not available, or out of stock for months.
« Last Edit: February 13, 2020, 08:02:53 am by Myron Oleson »

Offline MNWayne

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 447
Re: Whole Cone Hops - Substitutions?
« Reply #6 on: February 13, 2020, 08:02:37 am »
I know I always will want some Saaz and Hallertau at some point during the year, so I always jump on Hop Heaven's pre-season order.  Ted's products are always amazingly fresh and he has an impressive selection of whole cone imports.
Far better to dare mighty things....

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27137
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: Whole Cone Hops - Substitutions?
« Reply #7 on: February 13, 2020, 08:17:16 am »
I have often used Mt. Hood as a Hallertau sub.  Works great.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline ynotbrusum

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4888
Re: Whole Cone Hops - Substitutions?
« Reply #8 on: February 13, 2020, 09:21:29 am »
I gave up looking for whole cone German noble hops and go with pellets in my German lagers (Magnum bittering and Hallertauer types for late addition hops).  I use SS mesh canisters for the boil.  I would prefer whole cone, though, if it were readily available...
Hodge Garage Brewing: "Brew with a glad heart!"

TXFlyGuy

  • Guest
Re: Whole Cone Hops - Substitutions?
« Reply #9 on: February 13, 2020, 09:28:57 am »
Would Mandarina Bavaria hops work for a nice, smooth German Pils? I found them in whole cone.

Offline denny

  • Administrator
  • Retired with too much time on my hands
  • *****
  • Posts: 27137
  • Noti OR [1991.4, 287.6deg] AR
    • Dennybrew
Re: Whole Cone Hops - Substitutions?
« Reply #10 on: February 13, 2020, 09:48:07 am »
I decided maybe 10 years aho that I could get far better quality hops as pellets than as whole hops.  It about killed me since I was a whole hop snob from the PNW.  But I couldn't deny reality.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline hopfenundmalz

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 10687
  • Milford, MI
Re: Whole Cone Hops - Substitutions?
« Reply #11 on: February 13, 2020, 12:24:24 pm »
Would Mandarina Bavaria hops work for a nice, smooth German Pils? I found them in whole cone.

If you want an orange taste.

At Schnitzelbaumer in Traunstein Bavaria My wife got a Mandarina Bavaria Pils in her Sampler. I had to ask real nice to get a sip. I liked it too, even though it wasn't traditional.
Jeff Rankert
AHA Lifetime Member
BJCP National
Ann Arbor Brewers Guild
Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Offline hopfenundmalz

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 10687
  • Milford, MI
Re: Whole Cone Hops - Substitutions?
« Reply #12 on: February 13, 2020, 12:26:12 pm »
I have often used Mt. Hood as a Hallertau sub.  Works great.

I have heard that a blend of Mt. Hood and Liberty can be real close. I forget the ratio, and have not tried doing that.
Jeff Rankert
AHA Lifetime Member
BJCP National
Ann Arbor Brewers Guild
Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Offline chinaski

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 574
Re: Whole Cone Hops - Substitutions?
« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2020, 04:47:53 pm »
I decided maybe 10 years aho that I could get far better quality hops as pellets than as whole hops.  It about killed me since I was a whole hop snob from the PNW.  But I couldn't deny reality.
Homegrown Mt Hood and Liberty- I know they are fresh and they are packed well by me.  Whole cone hop snob from Vermont!

Offline Robert

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4214
Re: Whole Cone Hops - Substitutions?
« Reply #14 on: February 14, 2020, 08:55:31 pm »
I just gave pellets a go for a few batches again.  Nope.  Not gonna do it.  Done.  I now have a good, fresh supply of whole cone Mt Hood from Puterbaugh Farms (Hops Direct) in the freezer, could be all I need this year. (I'm a lager brewer.)  I also can't speak highly enough about the whole cone PNW Saaz I've had from Ted Hausotter (Hop Heaven.)  Either of these is appropriate to European style lagers.  The Mt Hood may resemble Hersbrucker a bit more than Mittelfrüh, and the US Saaz more Tettnang than Czech Saaz, but it doesn't bother me.  I just want the best quality ingredients possible.  Specific variety and point of origin is secondary, so long as I'm in the right neighborhood.
« Last Edit: February 14, 2020, 09:03:25 pm by Robert »
Rob Stein
Akron, Ohio

I'd rather have questions I can't answer than answers I can't question.