I'm guessing the answer is "just guess." But is there a way I can roughly "scientifically" estimate the AA of hops I grew myself? Also, this years harvest (obviously I have some learning). From top left: Sterling/Mt. Hood, Cascade, Nugget/Magnum. I'm going to make a single hop Cascade this weekend.
I know they look a little late, but it's a 3.5 hour drive to where I planted on my parent's land. This is their 3rd year.
The Cascade came from two vines, my Willamate gave nothing but a healthy looking vine, I don't think my Saaz will ever come to life.
You can look up the AA range, and use the average. Brew a beer and see if it is too bitter or not bitter enough. Then adjust up or down for the next years crop. Have won some medals doing that. Now I am going to change it up and use commercial hops for the bittering charge, and save the homegrown ones for flavor and aroma. I have plenty of high AA comercial hops, and will use the homegrown where they really will shine.
