What makes an IPA "piney" or "flowery"?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by wexmary, Jan 20, 2014.

Tags:
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 1 of 2
  1. wexmary

    wexmary Initiate (0) Jan 20, 2014 New York

    I was wondering why some IPAs (or other beers and ales) are piney and why some have a more flowery taste. I know part of the answer, it is the hops. But the real question is what hops are piney, what hops are flowery.

    Examples of piney, the new Sam Adams Rebel IPA, Stone IPA, Captain Lawrence IPA. Flowery, Anchor Liberty Ale, Dogfish 60 & 90 minute IPAs.

    Based on the type of hops used, can I get a good idea how a brew will taste?
     
    #1 wexmary, Jan 20, 2014
  2. ohiobrew

    ohiobrew Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2013 Ohio
    Trader

    #2 ohiobrew, Jan 20, 2014
    jeffjeff1 and offthelevel_bytheplumb like this.
  3. hoppytobehere

    hoppytobehere Pooh-Bah (2,046) Aug 10, 2012 District of Columbia
    Pooh-Bah

    Piney: Pliny
    Flowery: Flower Power
     
    #3 hoppytobehere, Jan 20, 2014
    robwestcott likes this.
  4. KS1297

    KS1297 Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2013 Wisconsin

    its very scientific
     
    #4 KS1297, Jan 20, 2014
    devlishdamsel, robwestcott and offthelevel_bytheplumb like this.
  5. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,775) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    You can sometimes get a general idea of what a beer will taste like based on hops - but taste is based on many other senses as well, especially smell.
    Therefore the taste of a beer will vary greatly on what hops are used for flavor, aroma and so forth.
    2 beers can have say Amarillo flavor hops, but if one has Cascade for aroma and another uses Simcoe, they will have drastically different flavors.
     
    #5 JrGtr, Jan 20, 2014
    Thickfreakness likes this.
  6. jeastman

    jeastman Initiate (0) Dec 17, 2013 New Hampshire

    [​IMG]
     
    #6 jeastman, Jan 20, 2014
    Stugotzo, teraflx, kevinlater and 11 others like this.
  7. jeastman

    jeastman Initiate (0) Dec 17, 2013 New Hampshire

    The chart I posted shows most hops and the flavor profile they are closest to... Use it for inspiration when making up a recipe for just about anything. But that should sum up an answer as simply as possible.
     
    #7 jeastman, Jan 20, 2014
  8. ILikeGoodCider

    ILikeGoodCider Savant (1,129) Jul 31, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    #8 ILikeGoodCider, Jan 20, 2014
  9. readyski

    readyski Pooh-Bah (1,557) Jun 4, 2005 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    hops :grimacing:
     
    #9 readyski, Jan 20, 2014
    raynmoon likes this.
  10. tbaker397

    tbaker397 Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2013 West Virginia

    With all the hop wheels I see, why are there never any tomahawk or zues listed? Is it because it can be used interchangeably with columbus? (Hence ctz...)
     
    #10 tbaker397, Jan 20, 2014
  11. Scope4Beer

    Scope4Beer Zealot (677) Sep 28, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Probably because they're proprietary hops, i.e. they are patented and grown only by license, and the fact that they are genetically nearly identical to Columbus. So, yes, they are used interchangeably.
     
    #11 Scope4Beer, Jan 20, 2014
  12. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    #12 cavedave, Jan 20, 2014
    teraflx, ChrisMyhre, Pahn and 1 other person like this.
  13. jeastman

    jeastman Initiate (0) Dec 17, 2013 New Hampshire

    #13 jeastman, Jan 20, 2014
    ChrisMyhre likes this.
  14. StoutSnob40

    StoutSnob40 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,611) Jan 4, 2013 California
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Mmmmmmm flowery IPAs..
     
    #14 StoutSnob40, Jan 20, 2014
  15. aasher

    aasher Grand Pooh-Bah (4,557) Jan 27, 2010 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    I believe the word you're looking for is floral.
     
    #15 aasher, Jan 20, 2014
    robwestcott and marcron03 like this.
  16. dennis3951

    dennis3951 Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2008 New Jersey

    The type of hops
     
    #16 dennis3951, Jan 20, 2014
  17. JasonLovesBeer

    JasonLovesBeer Initiate (0) Mar 27, 2013 Canada (BC)

    Factors to taste:

    Type of hops
    When the additions are made
    How much is used / ratio of different varieties
    Quality of hops
    Quality of water
    Malts used
    Etc
     
    #17 JasonLovesBeer, Jan 20, 2014
  18. ChuckHardslab

    ChuckHardslab Maven (1,251) Jan 25, 2012 Texas

    #18 ChuckHardslab, Jan 20, 2014
  19. ChuckHardslab

    ChuckHardslab Maven (1,251) Jan 25, 2012 Texas

    The yeast used is a major flavor contributor. I've taken the wort from one brew and split it into 2 different fermenters. I fermented them both under the same exact conditions. The only difference was the yeast. They turned out to be 2 distinctly different tasting beers.
     
    #19 ChuckHardslab, Jan 20, 2014
    JackHorzempa likes this.
  20. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    Yeast drain has the biggest flavor impact, that and how the fermentation is controlled.
     
    #20 hopfenunmaltz, Jan 21, 2014
Page 1 of 2
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.