Hops vs. Malt

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by SerialTicker, Jan 2, 2013.

?

What do you generally like your beers to have more of?

  1. Hops

    104 vote(s)
    57.1%
  2. Malt

    78 vote(s)
    42.9%
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  1. GregoryVII

    GregoryVII Initiate (0) Jan 30, 2006 Michigan

    I believe the question is about the balance, BU:GU. Obviously more malt is used, but depending on the ratio a beer can definitely be hop forward.
     
    RicheeD likes this.
  2. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,611) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Society

    The smiley helps define your remarks!
     
  3. KWMiles

    KWMiles Initiate (0) Oct 23, 2012 Minnesota

    It's clearly broken: I can't select both options.
     
    BrownAleMale likes this.
  4. Crusader

    Crusader Pooh-Bah (1,651) Feb 4, 2011 Sweden
    Pooh-Bah Society

    A beer needs to be more on the bitter side for me to enjoy it. It should ideally be malty as well, preferably bready in taste rather than simply sweet, but if it doesn't have that cut-through bitterness I tend to feel as though the beer is too sweet. I don't need a citrusy or grape hop punch though, a European hoppiness of Hallertau varieties combined with an elevated IBU will do just fine.

    A tasty German pilsner is one of those styles of beer which never leaves you feeling tired, for better or worse, each sip is as refreshing as the first.
     
  5. Popp24

    Popp24 Pundit (779) Nov 5, 2010 California

    Hops all the way! I can't stand an IPA/DIPA that has too much malt; bring on the hopiness. I'm am fine with a balanced IPA but once they start getting to malty they just become to cloying.
     
  6. Popp24

    Popp24 Pundit (779) Nov 5, 2010 California

    I just drink the beer I don't brew so I wasn't aware of that. So the poll would need to be rephrased. That being said I like IPA's that are more hop forward/
     
  7. wobblymailman

    wobblymailman Initiate (0) Nov 19, 2006 Massachusetts

  8. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    Ummmm. Hopheads like hops. Non-hopheads do not like hops.
     
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  9. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,274) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Its a forum condom... :wink:
     
  10. herrburgess

    herrburgess Grand Pooh-Bah (3,053) Nov 4, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Society

    There's a German saying that malt is the soul of beer and hops are the spice. I don't like soulless beers (of which there are a very large number in U.S. craft brewing). I prize balance above all.
     
    rocdoc1, Chinon01, jmw and 2 others like this.
  11. FosterJM

    FosterJM Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2009 California

    I will say malts. Only because of barrel aged stouts and english barleywines.

    Cheers!
     
    fujindemon74 likes this.
  12. ShogoKawada

    ShogoKawada Initiate (0) May 31, 2009 Pennsylvania

    I thought I remember hearing that you need to add at least a nominal amount of hops in a beer to have it be a 'beer' in the eyes of the law in the US.

    Something about DFH and their Sah'Tea.... anyone? anyone?
     
  13. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,071) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    In the US, to be considered a "malt beverage" under the FAA Act that the TTB administers, it must contain both malt and hops:
    Otherwise, it is still a "beer" under the Internal Revenue Code, but would have to follow FDA labeling requirements. Apparently, most brewers are more comfortable dealing with the TTB (aka "the devil they know") rather than the FDA.

    See also http://www.ttb.gov/rulings/2008-3.pdf for more legalese, that ends with:

     
  14. ColonelCash

    ColonelCash Initiate (0) Jul 6, 2011 Tennessee

    This is like asking "do you prefer the T, or the A, good sir?"
     
  15. taxman

    taxman Initiate (0) Feb 22, 2012 Illinois

    Both, at different times!
     
  16. SerialTicker

    SerialTicker Pooh-Bah (2,815) Jun 18, 2012 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    I meant in the flavor. Not the actual amount added to each barrel. Of course an actual larger amount of hops over malt in a barrel would be foul. Should have specified I guess.
     
  17. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,848) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    If a beer disappoints me it's usually because of a shallow malt profile, so I voted malt, even though I prefer beers of all stripes.
     
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  18. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,030) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Try making a beer without it.

    Better yet, try drinking a beer (even though it wouldn't really be beer) without it -- I bet you'd be surprised how much you don't like it.
     
  19. dennis3951

    dennis3951 Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2008 New Jersey

    I'm not a hop head, but i like hops.
     
    herrburgess likes this.
  20. hopsputin

    hopsputin Grand Pooh-Bah (4,017) Apr 1, 2012 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society

    malt bombs to the face, please
     
    BrownAleMale likes this.
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