Frustrating Fuggles

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Frustrating Fuggles
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Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 06 4:56 pm Post subject: Frustrating Fuggles

My last two batches of beer have been very disappointing and I've used Fuggles hops from two different sources. I like commercial real ales that use Fuggles but my beers never seem to resemble them and just taste unpleasant. I'm halfway through another batch that uses all the same ingredients but I'm only using Goldings hops and this one's much, much better. Has anyone else had problems with Fuggles or is there some way they should be treated that I've missed?

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46347
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 06 5:58 pm Post subject:

fug, gol or hallertau .experiment and try other peoples brews .
the shape and of the vat changes the taste as does the water used as does temperature etc etc etc .
practise write down methods and ingredients and repeat the ones you like .
i dont any more but i did for years ,i might again .
it took me a few years to get to good commercial quality , if you can drink it that is good when you are learning .
tetleys have been at it for years and it tastes like canal to me

enjoy , it is cheap and safe enough to have a few mistakes unlike skydiving .
volume affects flavour and so does maturation conditions .
experiment until you find what work with your kit and tastes .
enjoy .even the compost heap ones .

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 06 9:29 am Post subject: Re: Frustrating Fuggles

Treacodactyl wrote:

My last two batches of beer have been very disappointing and I've used Fuggles hops from two different sources

Some of the ones we've (well, you've) made before have been good with Fuggles in though, haven't they? It really is odd; unless it was just a coincidence with both that something else went wrong.

The next one is certainly looking more promising

mark

Joined: 14 Jul 2005
Posts: 2191
Location: Leeds

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 06 9:52 am Post subject:

fuggles aren't a very exciting hop!

In times gone buy they used to be mixed with Goldings in lots of stuff but it was the goldings that provided the flavour!

In my mind fuggles are a good blending hop but not to be used on their own!

remember too that you need to use more of the traditional fuggles and Golding varieties than modern high alpha acid hops

I personally frequently do Goldings only brews but i do still add a few fuggles for depth of flavour and a rememinder of times gone bye (as well as other hops)

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 06 9:54 am Post subject:

mark wrote:

modern high alpha acid hops

What do you mean by that please Mark?

Sarah D

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 06 10:08 am Post subject:
I love my Fuggles........ Apart from the fact they are intent on taking over the top half of Dorset

mark

Joined: 14 Jul 2005
Posts: 2191
Location: Leeds

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 06 10:29 am Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

mark wrote:

modern high alpha acid hops

What do you mean by that please Mark?

Alpha acids are bittering compounds found in hops that are extracted when hops are boiled with wort. The alpha acid "rating" on hops describes how much of the weight of the hop is made up of alpha acids.
Hops with a higher alpha acid content will contribute more bitterness than a low alpha hop when using the same amount of hop.

Homebrewers use 3 different system s for working out this bitterness!

Hops vary a lot in bitterness - some vaieties have mnore alpa acids than others - and they vary a lot from grower to grower and year to year. The amount of hops should really be adjusted accordingly!

Fortunately lots of homebrew supplier now label hops to tell you how much alpha acid they contain (esp those foil packs)

AAU ( Alpha Acid Units - lot of UK recipes) One Alpha Acid Unit is the amount of Acid contained in 1 oz. of 1% alpha acid hops.

HBU ( Home Bittering Units - mainly US recipes)

For a Five Gallon Batch- Multiply the ounces of hops used for Bittering by there Alpha Acid Number. For Example: 2 ounces of Kent Golding Hops at 5% apha acid per ounce equals 10 HBU or 2oz. times 5 %(AAU) = 10 HBU

IBU ( International Bittering Units - used by brewing industry) To calculate Total IBU's from per gallon AAU's, first determine the approximate efficiency of hops isomerization. Hops boiled for 50 to 60 minuted will have 30% of the alpha acid converted. Hops boiled for 30 minutes will have 21% of the alpha acid converted. Hops boiled for 5 minutes will have 10% of the alpha acid converted. Example: First Hops Addition (60 min. boil time) of 1 oz. @ 5%(5 AAU's) x .30=1.5 AAU's

so you can compare differnt bitterness of different hops here's a typical list from some i have though it wil vary where you buy them from..
Golding 4.5%
Fuggles 4%
Challenger 7%
Northern Brewer 7.5%
Whitbread Golding Variety 6.5% (you use less than standard Goldings - thouimho standard G's have better flavour
Progress 5-6%
The Target weighs in at about 11% an needs to be used with care!

PS though i said fuggle was a bit boring on its own it is excellent combined with Goldings - in my mind it makes the beer more moor- ish and gluggable than goldings alone and adds a certain earthy sensuality!

I personally like a more malty feel to my beer and don't like over-hopping! -= but hops are seasoning of beer and ned to applied with subtlety and understanding!

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 06 12:21 pm Post subject: Re: Frustrating Fuggles

Bugs wrote:

Treacodactyl wrote:

My last two batches of beer have been very disappointing and I've used Fuggles hops from two different sources

Some of the ones we've (well, you've) made before have been good with Fuggles in though, haven't they?

I've never brewed with Fuggles before, I have kept all the lables so can check easily. The latest batches are using pure goldings and do seem to be going ok. I'll have to experiment with small batches when I try a new hop in future.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 06 12:23 pm Post subject:

mark wrote:

The Target weighs in at about 11% an needs to be used with care!

I've learnt that one from a lip puckering all target brew.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 06 3:04 pm Post subject:
I've got an all goldings brew ready for drinking, seems nice enough but I can't give it a full test until I get some gas for the barrel.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 06 3:07 pm Post subject:
What do you need gas for?

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 06 3:19 pm Post subject:
With a barrel the brew will lose it's 'fizz' so you have an attachment to introduce c02 from a cartridge. It means you always get plenty of life and a good head.

sean
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 06 3:22 pm Post subject:
Or you can just drink faster.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 06 3:25 pm Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

With a barrel the brew will lose it's 'fizz'

If it's not a personal question, how big is your barrel?

(I'm such a good girl for not making anything out of your second sentence).

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 06 3:43 pm Post subject:
5 gallon, you do your primary fermentation in the bin and secondary in the barrel. Easy peasy.

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