You may or may not have heard the term Noble hop before. Well, Saaz is one of the four main Noble hops alongside Hallertau, Spalt and Tettnang. The characteristics of all these hops are low in bitterness and high in aroma, making these hops ideal to brew up a European lager or pilsner, and is one of the headline hops in Stella Artois.
As this edition is all about British homebrewing ingredients we’ve chosen the classic British hop Fuggle as our hop of the issue. Bred first in the UK in 1875 by Mr Richard Fuggle from Kent, the Fuggle hop has been the backbone of British since its creation.
Directly descended from Brewer’s Gold, Galena was one of the first hops we planted on our farm. They’re now in their third year (has it been that long?!). We imported these hops from America and they’ve thrived in our rich Devon soil.
Your Prime Time Companion
I love old classic cars. I’ve even attempted to restore a couple. As a kid, I fell in love with the Ferrari 308 GTS – an iconic vehicle of its time, but what truly secured it in history was the equally iconic (you know where I’m going with this) Magnum P.I.
All grain American IPA recipe by Home Brewtique.
Originating from Germany in the 1980’s, Magnum provides deliciously clean and crisp bitterness to any beer, but it works especially well in a Pale Ale where clean flavours are called for. Adding at First Wort has the added benefit of a smoothness that helps reduce any perceived harsh overtones, complementing the huge hop burst of an American IPA.
This SMaSH (Single Malt and Single Hop) Pale Ale is a great way to showcase the full flavour and aroma profile of any hop.
Centennial was one of the first hops we purchased for the farm. We had mixed success getting the hop established at first, but it’s now well rooted and we’ll be looking to expand it next season. When growing, Centennial hops definitely stand out – they have very distinct red shoots and dark vines.