Hopheads

[GuingesRock]

....and any "Hop Heads" here?

Hopheads

According to craft beer’s staunchest self-appointed defenders, “hopheads” are forcing brewers to add more and more hops to craft beer—even though hardly anyone outside their evil minority likes this distasteful plant. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth.

Craft brewers tend to have two priorities: to make beer that they like, and to make beer that others like. No doubt some of them identify as hopheads, and they’re hardly alone: Americans are buying bitter, hoppy styles like IPAs more than any other style of craft beer.

The enjoyment of bitterness is not something that is limited to beer: dark chocolate, Brussels sprouts and kale are all bitter, too—and incredibly popular. Bitterness even plays a large role in other beverages, like coffee and cocktails.

The point is, just because you might not be on board with the bitter trend doesn’t mean that others don’t sincerely love it. Hops provide much more to a beer than bitterness, and a beer’s balance is largely subjective. http://www.craftbeer.com/craft-beer-mus ... nobs-oh-my" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Keith]

I'm a hop head. Love my hops. Can get enough if they aren't used right. Can't get enough if used right. Apa, IPA, DIPA. Bring it, I want it.

[GuingesRock]

I'm a hop head. Love my hops. Can get enough if they aren't used right. Can't get enough if used right. Apa, IPA, DIPA. Bring it, I want it.

Cheers to that.

[Keith]

Yep. Said it twice. Make it a 3rd... Used right. Overly bittered or under hopped beers are shit.

[GuingesRock]

So what's the definition of a Hophead? The books talk about bitterness and the lupulin shift. But for me it's a lot about the late hops/dry hops using new world hops, and showcasing those hops with quality malt and yeast. Have to have the IBU's too, but that's not what we're talking about ...is it? That's what they talk about with the lupulin shift thing I think.

[Keith]

No idea. There is a fine balance between shit beer, good beer and great beer. And IMO it comes down to that first bittering charge

[GuingesRock]

You may have the Lupulin threshold shift going on. Woody's advent beer last year had that effect and it was delicious. It's also an important part of it.

Lupulin Shift.png

[jtmwhyte]

I enjoy the hops as well... To the point that most of my beers are not in style because I double them up, lol

[GuingesRock]

I enjoy the hops as well... To the point that most of my beers are not in style because I double them up, lol

That happens to me often. Judges must get fed up of saying "but too hoppy for style".

[jacinthebox]

Hophead here...love smooth bitterness (shouldn't be bitter for the sake of adding tons of ibu)...lots of hop flavor and tons of aroma.
APA are my favorite, and well done IPA and DIPA like nash makes...the IBUs are there but so smooth

[Woody]

I enjoy the hops as well... To the point that most of my beers are not in style because I double them up, lol

I think I have an addiction. lol

[mckay75]

I enjoy the hops as well... To the point that most of my beers are not in style because I double them up, lol

I think I have an addiction. lol

you do. When I can drink a beer while you are rhyming off your hop additions to your newest recipe...you have a problem. lol

[Woody]

I wear that as a badge of honour Mark. lol So many hops so little time.

[Steeveo]

When I read the title I just knew Woody's name would be contained within. His avatar does have a crown there for his hophead.

[GuingesRock]

Do you hopheaded brewers worry much about the malt bill to go with your hops. Or are you just as happy with domestic 2 row and then hop that up every which way?

If you do, then what kind of malt backbone do you go for? Do you want the malt to stay in the background?

Everyone keeps talking about balance ..the beer is well balanced etc etc. I think that means something different to everyone. If I was really hopheaded, I'd want it the hops to be forward and the malt to be subtle?

[Woody]

For an APA I really like a 2 row base building up the sweetness with Vienna and a little C15L. Maybe 80% 2 row, 17% Vienna and 3% C15l. For an IPA depending on my Mood I'd do Maris Otter 62% , Munich 32%, Carapils 3% and C30L 3%. I only remember numbers when brewing. lol

[GuingesRock]

For an APA I really like a 2 row base building up the sweetness with Vienna and a little C15L. Maybe 80% 2 row, 17% Vienna and 3% C15l. For an IPA depending on my Mood I'd do Maris Otter 62% , Munich 32%, Carapils 3% and C30L 3%. I only remember numbers when brewing. lol

So you like a little sweetness with your hops, and some bready/toasty flavours also.

The sweetness might be like having sugar in your coffee. Do you have sugar in your coffee? how many?

The toasty malt flavours would be like having a toasted sandwich. So many things go well on toast. Someone who really likes stilton or blue cheese, might want to have it on toast or a cracker. They would focus on the flavour of the blue cheese when eating, and wouldn't even think about the toast. Would that be a fair analogy?

What about pairing your hoppy beers. My feeling is don't pair them with anything. Let them stand alone?

[mckay75]

I like a little sweetness in my IPA as well. The last one I recently brewed was 80% 2-row, 14% Munich and 6% Honey malt. This very well maybe my go to recipe...this is the 2nd time around brewing this one...only difference I got my hands on a bunch of Australian hops...and went nuts with it. The gravity sample the other night was delicious.

[mcgster]

I like a little sweetness in my IPA as well. The last one I recently brewed was 80% 2-row, 14% Munich and 6% Honey malt. This very well maybe my go to recipe...this is the 2nd time around brewing this one...only difference I got my hands on a bunch of Australian hops...and went nuts with it. The gravity sample the other night was delicious.

I recently used honey malt in one of my IPAs as well and was impressed with the result. I hadn't heard much about using it in an IPA before.

[Woody]

I enjoy honey malt in my IPA's too. I take my coffee with Milk G-Rock no sugar. I love what Vienna adds and use it allot.