At this stage, they all look the same! |
Characteristics popular
to hop growers include resistance to moulds and wilt, while those
with the brewers are higher alpha acids, better aroma and better
keeping properties. Some hops have been bred to be shorter, thereby
making picking easier. These are known as dwarf hops. Others are
grown seedless, and are called noble hops (Saaz,
Hallertaur, for example).
Traditional English hop
varieties, such as Goldings and Fuggle are popular in the
traditional British Ale. Similarly, hop varieties traditionally found
in ‘Bohemia’, or the Czech Republic, are Saaz, and as such are
the only hops found in traditional Pilsner style beers. If you want to brew
traditional ales, then use traditional English varieties; keep the Hallertaurs for German ales, Saaz for Pilsners, etc.
However, feel free to experiment using either hops in a similar
style, or go mad and brew a cascade stout (don’t enter that into a
competition though).
The varieties available
to you as a home grower are myriad. Pick one that you may want to
brew with, or if you like an American
IPA, then I can recommend nothing more than Cascade. In fact, try
Cascade just for its aroma! Grapefruit and Basset’s Fruit Salads!
Yum.
Try these websites for more information on Hop Varieties.
http://beersmith.com/hop-list/
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/101/hops
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/wiki/doku.php?id=hop_varieties
And finally, this excellent site (for American hops):
http://beerlegends.com/hops-varieties
Or, ask your local home brew store or internet forum for advice.
Try these websites for more information on Hop Varieties.
http://beersmith.com/hop-list/
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/101/hops
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/wiki/doku.php?id=hop_varieties
And finally, this excellent site (for American hops):
http://beerlegends.com/hops-varieties
Or, ask your local home brew store or internet forum for advice.