Anyone brewing a harvest ale this season?

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Anyone brewing a harvest ale this season?

Postby Lachy » Tuesday Feb 15, 2011 7:16 pm

Well, I've stepped outside to see that my PoR plant is going quite mental. So, I'm planning on using all these lovely fresh hops (yes, I know... PoR!?!) in a double batch of harvest ale. However, I've not used fresh hops before - nor have I used the dreaded PoR. So what's the best - shall I say "safest"? - way to employ these little buggers? I was thinking a 50l batch, split between two fermenters and hops added at the 15min and 5min boil points. At this stage, I'm planning on using the Coopers Australian Pale Ale kit as a base for the recipe. So, is PoR usable in such a brew - and will it add any aroma - when fresh?
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Re: Anyone brewing a harvest ale this season?

Postby drsmurto » Tuesday Feb 15, 2011 7:33 pm

POR has a subtle aroma when compared to US hops like cascade, chinook, amarillo etc

It works well in pale ales, a 15 min and 5 min addition would work well. I've tasted a few all POR beers heavy on the late additions.

I'd suggest going 1g/L for both the additions.
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Re: Anyone brewing a harvest ale this season?

Postby billybushcook » Tuesday Feb 15, 2011 7:37 pm

PoR is a quintessential (spelling) Aussie Hop,
Used in many Typical Aussie beers, personally I love using it,

I have a second year PoR plant but have not achieved a good enough harvest to use my own yet, plenty of growth & flowers but poor quality, My flowers smell like lawn clippings.
Not sure if it is my location or just this particular plant yet?

If yours have that pungent smell then the late additions will go really well with a truly Aussie beer like a Coopers Pale Ale.
As for quantity, that is for you to decide, depending on the quality & potency of your harvest, just give them a few days on a mesh screen, in a warm, well aired place to dry a bit.

Edit:- bugger...Doc beat me to it :oops:

Cheers, Mick.
Last edited by billybushcook on Wednesday Feb 16, 2011 5:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
Home brew my Arse, get that Shit to forensics!
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Re: Anyone brewing a harvest ale this season?

Postby Lachy » Tuesday Feb 15, 2011 8:54 pm

Well, the cones on my plant aren't ready yet, and at this stage the aroma is a bit lawn-clipping like - not that there's much aroma present. I'm hoping this sorts itself out with time as the hops mature.

1g/l, doc? Is that for dried hops? I was planning on doing a true harvest ale, with hops straight from the bine, you see...
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Re: Anyone brewing a harvest ale this season?

Postby SuperBroo » Wednesday Feb 16, 2011 10:02 am

My Cascade were harvested late December, and I now have 2 bines, with a total of about 50 nearly full size flowers again, a second crop.

I will try to throw these into a harvest ale.

I think you need to use about 6 times the amount when using them that fresh, as they are still full of moisture.

+1 for Billybushcook on the drying method, my hops took 2 days on a flywire door in my shed to lose 70% of their weight.

Keen to hear how yours goes if you do this.

Cheers,
Chris
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Re: Anyone brewing a harvest ale this season?

Postby drsmurto » Wednesday Feb 16, 2011 8:04 pm

If using wet hops you need 4-6 times as much by weight depending on how much water they contain. Since you aren't using them for bittering the difference is minimal.

My POR doesn't smell like lawn clippings. Floral with a hint of spice, maybe even a little bit of subtle citrus character.
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Re: Anyone brewing a harvest ale this season?

Postby Lachy » Sunday Mar 06, 2011 4:21 pm

Here's another one... my hops appear to be ready for picking right about now. I'm not ready to brew my harvest ale yet (I don't have a spare fermenter)... so how long will the fresh hops last on the bine, and if I pick them now, what's the best way to maintain their freshness?
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Re: Anyone brewing a harvest ale this season?

Postby drsmurto » Sunday Mar 06, 2011 6:19 pm

If you pick them now you cant retain the freshness, they will lose moisture and dehydrate.

How long before you can brew? 1 week? 2 weeks? What is the weather going to be like during that time?

If its not going to get too hot then you should be fine to leave them on the bine.
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Re: Anyone brewing a harvest ale this season?

Postby Lachy » Monday Mar 07, 2011 3:51 pm

It was 30C today, the rest of the week according to the BOM will be mid-20s. Will hopefully be getting the next batch on in around 8-10 days, work roster permitting.
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Re: Anyone brewing a harvest ale this season?

Postby waggastew » Wednesday Mar 09, 2011 3:40 pm

I am mid way through fermenting my first harvest ale. Ended up putting down the following brew using my homegrown hop 'mix'. Planted my 1st year rhizomes too close together. Will be a mix of Cascade/Chinook/Goldings/My Hood and Saaz.

1 tin Coopers Pale Ale Goo
1kg LDME
500g Wheat Malt
500g Dextrose
200g Medium crystal (steeped etc)
25g homegrown hops (dry) at 30min boil
25g homegrown hops (dry) at 15 mins boil
US05 at 18degC
125g homegrown hops (wet) into primary after 10days

The dry hops were dried on flyscreens for about a week and then stored in ziplock bags in the freezer. They went into the boil and were strained out at the end. The wet hops were chucked straight into the primary on Day 10. Will see how that goes. Have read mixed reports of infections/blocked taps but others have had no problems. So far it is tasting great but it will still be in the fermentor for another 2 weeks. Will hopefully be OK in the long run.
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Re: Anyone brewing a harvest ale this season?

Postby Lachy » Sunday Mar 27, 2011 6:03 pm

Well, I bottled the following today:

Coopers Pale Ale
1kg LDME
70g PoR (wet) @ 15 min
70g PoR (wet) @ 5 min
Kit yeast

Made to 24l.

Even though it was just a basic K&K recipe, and despite being brewed at a slightly elevated temperature (low/mid-20s), the result is a clean, crisp, very clear light coloured ale.

Can't wait to try it once it carbs up...
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