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Mystery Hops

evilgiraffe

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So I was at the local homebrew shop yesterday picking up some stuff and when I went to check out, the lady gave me a free 1oz pack of hops labeled "gift". I asked her what they were and she said "Hops....from Europe, I think". After a little more prodding, it turns out that she and her husband (the owners of the shop) made a mistake and forgot to label the packs and couldn't remember what they were (and couldn't determine it from a smell test either--haha). So they were giving them away as gifts. Funny and nice enough.......So now I'm wondering what I should do with them. I don't know the variety, I don't know the alphas, I don't know anything. I'm thinking to just throw them into a standard pale ale and see what I get, but because I don't know how much bittering they'll contribute, I'm also thinking that maybe I should use them toward the end of the boil. But I'm wondering if that's a good strategy. Any other ideas?
 
Greetings evilgiraffe - interesting subject.  I would use them as the very late addition as you suggested, or even better yet, as a dry hop.  This way your safe.  You might be disappointed if you use them as a main flavoring ingredient.

Good luck!
 
There is a way to determine bitterness by adding a tiny measured amount to a cup of boiling water, boil, cool and taste. compare to a known bitterness hop prepared the same way. I have done this with homegrown hops to get a ballpark for bitterness. But yeah, otherwise use them for aroma- post boil or dry hop.  CHEERS!
 
Thanks, guys. Nice to know I was on the right track. Will most likely use it as a very late addition to the boil.
 
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