ALLEGEDLY...
Last year Brewdog released a range of four single-hopped IPAs designed to showcase individual hop varieties at their best. It was successful enough last year to repeat the experiment again with four different hops, namely Challenger, HBC, Galaxy and Motueka. Brewdog weren't the first with this concept, but its done well, the same base beer is kept simple to allow the hop to shine through whilst balancing the bitterness kept at 75 for all hops for fair comparison. Hops are added during the boil, at flame-out and in the conditioning tank (dry hopping) to impart as much flavour and aroma as possible. This year the ABV has been reduced to 6.7% from 7.5%, a smart move because it's slightly more amenable to drinking all four in one sitting for comparison purposes plus takes away some alcohol from the flavour allowing the hops to do the talking alone. There's still a small number of sets available to purchase here (service has improved hugely with the shop overhaul) Read on to find out my thoughts. |
| Four bottles lined up and ready to go |
I started in the UK by choosing challenger as it seemed as good a place as any. Challenger is a dual purpose hop (used for both bittering and aroma). The beer pours a dark amber with a fluffy beige head that collapses to a lacing after a few minutes.Gives a hint of pineapple on the nose
then redcurrant comes strongly. Getting green tea in the flavour,
alongside tropical fruits, the caramalt comes to the fore in the middle
and a long grassy bitter finish. Its like a hoppy green tea and tastes great.
HBC (342) is an experimental new variety from the US. Pours a darker amber than the others. This has a strong mango and passion fruit
aroma. Up front its quite soapy but this is soon replaced by mango
yoghurt and a fairly boisterous bitterness. Its a bit unbalanced this
one but still quite enjoyable.
Galaxy is a Perle Cross.This one is more subdued than the others on the nose, spicy white pepper
notes and a touch of peach. A dominant lime peel note tramples over the
slightly muddy malt and none of the peach i usually associate with this
hop. A touch thin and perfumed in the finish. I was a bit disappointed with this.
Motueka is a New Zealand descendent of saaz. Fairly sweet smelling pineapple nose. Fairly pithy melon bitterness, some orange peel. long pithy finish. I seem to have saved the best until last and I'm unsurprised as I really love New Zealand hops.
At ~£2.80 a bottle they're an okay price and would recommend for the challenger and Motueka alone. I have a second pack; so hope to try out some blending experiments next month, and I'll report back then!
Sounds a great idea - I see some online shopping in my future...
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame they don't do a set with exclusively UK hops, that would be fascinating.
It would be fun if they did the same thing with exclusively noble hops: Saaz, Tettnang, Hallertauer....
ReplyDeleteYeah, they've not done any with those yet...perhaps they tried and didn't like it?
DeleteThey did Bramling cross last year. Some of the larger brewers have done it before with UK hops (Hopback off the top of my head)and I think its MArstons that have a single-hop range this year.
ReplyDeleteAah interesting, that's the variety Pete's bought and planted at home, earlier this month!
Deleteooh look forward to hearing how that goes! I'd like to try hop growing when I have a real garden.
DeleteReally liking the use of UK hops alongside new world varietals, showing that using a UK hop interestingly can be just as good as the more fashionable hops used commonly these days. I do love a new world hop, but I think its great to see Brew Dog making use of UK hops, when they're often considered passée. NorthcoteBeers.
ReplyDeleteI've also bought two packs and am really looking forward to trying them but I wasn't that impressed with the four they did last year because they all seemed a bit thin, still very excited to see if they've improved and am especially looking forward to the Motueka!
ReplyDeletei liked the bramling cross last year but wasn't too keen on the others.These are better. Gutted they didn't bottle the simcoe one tho!
DeleteMe too! I was gutted they only served it in their bars, didn't get to try any.
Deleteso want to try these, especially the Motueka as it's one of the very best hops I've brewed a single hop IPA with, I got a lot of lime citrus with my brew.
ReplyDeleteIntrigued by the HBC sounds nice.
Only had the Challenger so far and I was very impressed by it... won't suggest what I did on Twitter as it might get me hung, drawn and quartered ;o)
ReplyDeleteI've had Arbor Ales' single hop version of Motueka so that's the next one I'm gonna sample next...
Cheers
landells
probably my favourite hop variety, but challenger a fave in these beers.
DeleteI tried these on draft at The North Bar in Leeds during the launch. I certainly wasn't impressed by any of them but if I had to choose a favourite blend it would have to be Motueka and Galaxy. Im not as excited as I used to be about anything Brewdog, I know they posted a blog about their quality issues but still I cant find any consistency in any of their brews.
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame. I haven't seen anything of the poor quality some people have reported on Punk, though yes, some batches didn't taste quite at their best. The only ones I really haven't been able to enjoy were the bottled prototypes last year.
DeleteTis a shame but as they saying goes "I guess you just cant please every person out there!" Didn't feign any interest in those prototypes after talking to some of the local bloggers in Leeds just seemed as a bad investment. Will we be seeing you at EBBC???
DeleteIf you keep your nose clean ;)
Delete...yeah of course, am in leeds from weds eve with my girlfriend too :) Where will you be?
Not picked these up yet - but loved the first batch. A good experiment and yearly occasion from BD. I agree re : Challenger, a good hop that's not heralded enough, I think.
ReplyDelete