Sticklebract. Does anyone like it?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Hopshed on July 26, 2013 at 2:26pm

Yes happy to - I've had a vine for a couple of years and got a small biscuit tin full of flowers last year. I'm just about to kick the keg of the English IPA that i tossed the lot into after drying them. Now I've never used anything other than pellets previously, but these flowers smelled lovely, kind of resiny and very pungent, but not sharp. The beer was amazing, but of course I don't have a negative control to compare it to.

I'm sure anyone and his dog would offer to take them off your hands!

 

If you could pick your variety, what would you want? I'd love to get my hands on a hallertau or saaz vine.

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jozsef B Beverly on July 26, 2013 at 3:15pm

Doesn't sound too bad. RE picking a variety, Hallertau or Saaz would be great. Apparently they don't yield very well at our latitudes - they're adapted to longer days in summer, and I don't know what the terroir would be like, but still. I've got an early English aroma variety which seems to do just fine. Favourite varieties? The list is too long!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Hamish Jones on July 26, 2013 at 4:47pm

One of my go to lagers uses Sticklebract, tettnang and northern brewer, I did also chuck in an IPA when I miscalculated how much warrior I had on hand and was pretty heavy handed with it and personally I don't mind it,  more of a subtle flavour to my palate, and I figured if I'm growing it I best get to trying it and liking it

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Grant R Baker on August 1, 2013 at 3:41pm

I have only used pellets but I am going to plant a couple of StickleBract or Smoothcone this spring. Hopefully they come up a treat.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jozsef B Beverly on August 1, 2013 at 6:53pm

What do you think of the pellets? Okay flavour/bittering quality? I guess your plan to grow some is an endorsement of sorts.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Grant R Baker on August 1, 2013 at 9:16pm

I'm growing these ones as anything else is bloody hard to find.

 When it comes to pellets we have so much to choose from.... bloody hard to compare.. but whole hops means you can really spoil one or two beers... which is what I am looking to do.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Scarrfie on August 4, 2013 at 12:10pm

Joe I have made the odd comment about the forums as I started my AG brewing off with a 450g pack of Sticklebract. In general I like the flavour profile but the problem I had on occasion was harshness but that would smooth out with time, typically 4-6 months. I think it is one of those hops that if used in the right place or with the right hop to compliment with provide excellent qualities. I even did a smash with it and once it smoothed out is was pretty good, but needed a compliment. IMO the middle additions are where it works best and FWH is probably a good technique for it.

• ▶ Reply