16% Alpha US Northern Brewer Hops

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Gotti311, Jan 29, 2015.

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  1. Gotti311

    Gotti311 Initiate (0) Mar 22, 2009 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Just a heads up everyone. I purchased Hopunion US Northern Brewer hops from the local homebrew shop recently and we noticed after adding to the boil that the alpha was 16%! The normal range for this hop is 8-10% so it is almost double. I called the homebrew shop and everything they had in stock was listed at 16%

    I contacted Hopunion and they are looking into whether this is a typo or if they really are that potent, I will send out more info when I have it. May want to use another bittering hop in the meantime.
     
    #1 Gotti311, Jan 29, 2015
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  2. epic1856

    epic1856 Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2006 California

    First thing I thought of was the difference between the type of pellet hops: T-45 and T-90. Look at the bar chart in the file. With T-45 hops, the hop acids and and oils are doubled. Maybe it's because you have T-45 pellets with increased the AA%. http://hopsteiner.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/02_07_Type45-.pdf

    If you're using whole hops, then it throws everything out the window.
     
    #2 epic1856, Jan 29, 2015
  3. Homebrew42

    Homebrew42 Initiate (0) Dec 20, 2006 New York

    You added hops to the boil before looking at the package to see the AA content?
     
    #3 Homebrew42, Jan 30, 2015
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  4. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    I've had hops come in at half the alpha I was expecting but never double. It was sort of annoying because I wasn't armed with the bitterness my recipe was looking for. Complaint to customer service at Mail Order HBS got me no love. "We can't change our website every time we get hops in with different alphas. You can always call and confirm." Who does that?
     
    #4 pweis909, Jan 30, 2015
  5. Gotti311

    Gotti311 Initiate (0) Mar 22, 2009 Wisconsin
    Trader

    #5 Gotti311, Jan 30, 2015
  6. billandsuz

    billandsuz Pooh-Bah (2,097) Sep 1, 2004 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    well, yes. yes you can!
    this internet thing, they ain't gettin it.

    16% seems awfully high. that kind of AA is high for anything but a few special varieties. I guess I'd rather have my beer unbalanced and bitter.
    Cheers.
     
    #6 billandsuz, Jan 30, 2015
  7. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    #7 VikeMan, Jan 30, 2015
  8. Gotti311

    Gotti311 Initiate (0) Mar 22, 2009 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Thanks Champ, lots of value, couldnt have done it without ya.
     
    #8 Gotti311, Jan 30, 2015
  9. Gotti311

    Gotti311 Initiate (0) Mar 22, 2009 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Think of my post this way:
    Does your recipe include Northern Brewer Hops? May want to come up with an alternative because the AA's on the package may not be correct.

    Just trying to help out here
     
    #9 Gotti311, Jan 30, 2015
  10. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Apparently not.
     
    #10 VikeMan, Jan 30, 2015
  11. wspscott

    wspscott Pooh-Bah (1,958) May 25, 2006 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    Or you use Northern Brewer but use less than you planned to get your IBUs. Do you just follow a recipe that says add 2 oz of Northern Brewer at 60 mins? Or do you calculate how much you need to get the required IBUs for that addition.

    Still not sure this whole thread is "helpful" :slight_smile:
     
    #11 wspscott, Jan 30, 2015
  12. Gotti311

    Gotti311 Initiate (0) Mar 22, 2009 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Who knew the homebrew forum was such a high and mighty group?
    When I called Hopunion, they would not comment whether the number was correct or if it was a misprint. My whole point is dont use them because they arent even sure right now if 16% is correct or if it is a typo. Was my intent not clear? You could be calculating using 16% and it may only be 8%

    Yes, I use Brew Pal to calculate IBUs. Once in a while I ask the hops what time they want to go into the boil and then just put them in then.
     
    #12 Gotti311, Jan 30, 2015
  13. Gotti311

    Gotti311 Initiate (0) Mar 22, 2009 Wisconsin
    Trader

    You must have missed my sarcasm. You weren't at all helpful. Jump back up on your throne.
     
    #13 Gotti311, Jan 30, 2015
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  14. Gotti311

    Gotti311 Initiate (0) Mar 22, 2009 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Point of Thread so I am crystal clear:
    If you add Hopunion US Northern Brewer Hops that are listed at 16% AA, your beer may not be even close to the correct level of IBU's you are searching for. They did not comment whether 16% was correct or if it was a typo. I would recommend not using them if they are listed at 16% because they may only be 8-10%, no one knows, probably a good idea to avoid them

    And always use a calculator and always practice safe hop additions
     
    #14 Gotti311, Jan 30, 2015
    kennyg likes this.
  15. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Thank You for clarifying that.
     
    #15 VikeMan, Jan 30, 2015
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  16. sjverla

    sjverla Initiate (0) Dec 1, 2008 Massachusetts

    I once got Saaz that were labeled as 8.1%.

    They were either:
    Mislabeled
    Not Saaz
     
    #16 sjverla, Jan 30, 2015
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  17. wspscott

    wspscott Pooh-Bah (1,958) May 25, 2006 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    No, your intent was not clear in the original post. It is now.
     
    #17 wspscott, Jan 30, 2015
  18. epic1856

    epic1856 Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2006 California

    Not sure if you got lbs of Northern Brewer laying around, but if hop union isnt going to confirm, you can send in your beer sample to White Labs and they will give you the IBU's along with other analysis. http://www.whitelabs.com/other-products/tk2300-beer-analysis-sample-kit.
     
    #18 epic1856, Jan 30, 2015
  19. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    Nothing wrong with calling the high alpha to everyone's attention. It does seem careless/negligent that you did not notice in advance, but, so what, it's info that may be helpful. Life gets easier when you can show some humility, laugh at yourself, and not take affront at comments made on Internet forums. The advice may be dated, but rdwhahb
     
    #19 pweis909, Jan 31, 2015
    DrMindbender, InVinoVeritas and sjverla like this.
  20. utahbeerdude

    utahbeerdude Maven (1,374) May 2, 2006 Utah

    I've bought American Saaz that were surprisingly high in AA (7.8%). It would not surprise me if the number was, in fact, correct. But one never knows...
     
    #20 utahbeerdude, Jan 31, 2015
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