Anyone have a good ESB recipe using all nugget hops?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by hopsandmalt, Oct 1, 2012.

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  1. hopsandmalt

    hopsandmalt Initiate (0) Dec 14, 2006 Michigan

    I'm looking to make a simple ESB using all nugget hops in order to get a handle on their flavor/aroma profile as I have never used them before. I've got 12 oz. of nugget leaf hops and I'll be brewing ten gallons.

    I'm thinking something like this:

    14# Breiss Pale ale malt
    2# biscuit malt
    1.5# Crystal 60L
    1/2 oz. Gypsum added to the mash

    Single infusion mash @ 152

    1 oz. nugget @ 60 min.
    2 oz. nugget @ 20 min.
    3 oz. nugget @ flameout
    6 oz. nugget dryhops (3 oz. in each 5 gallon carboy)

    White labs London ale yeast

    My questions are:
    1. Should I bitter with CTZ instead and move the oz. of nugget up to the 20 min. addition in order to get more flavor impact from the nugget and not waste them on bittering?
    2. Is 6 oz. too much dryhops for the style?
    3. How does the grain bill look? I don't make alot of ESBs (This is my second in 6 years of brewing and the only one since my all grain switch) and I'm not sure about the amount of biscuit malt or what L. crystal malt to use.
     
    #1 hopsandmalt, Oct 1, 2012
  2. NiceFly

    NiceFly Initiate (0) Dec 22, 2011 Tajikistan

    I love making single hop beers to get a handle on their flavor and aroma. However, I would only make 5 gallons of an all Nugget beer if I were you.

    I have make 2 all Nugget beers, an IPA and a IIPA. The IPA was interesting but weird. The IIPA was not very good at all. Nugget seem to impart a strange greasy mouthfeel, don't ask me how.

    I have gotten some cocoanut and lemon flavors from Nugget. And flavors I cannot even begin to describe. Nugget has been relegated to bittering duty for me from now on.

    I would not bother bittering with anything other than Nugget. 6oz of DH is going to let you know what Nugget is all about that is for sure.
     
    #2 NiceFly, Oct 1, 2012
  3. Vthophead

    Vthophead Initiate (0) Sep 24, 2006 Vermont

    I've done a Black IPA with Nugget for bittering and Nugget as a dry hop. one of my best beers of 2011. I've grown them for years and mainly used them for bittering but the dry hopping was worth it. When using them at 30 minutes or 15 or later in the boil, the flavor and aroma don't really change much.
     
    #3 Vthophead, Oct 1, 2012
  4. hopsandmalt

    hopsandmalt Initiate (0) Dec 14, 2006 Michigan

    Really? I know people who love nugget hops and the beers made with them (especially nugget nectar). Does anyone else share this opinion of nugget hops?

    Maybe nugget just "gets weird" at the high hopping rates one would use when making an IPA or IIPA?
     
    #4 hopsandmalt, Oct 1, 2012
  5. NiceFly

    NiceFly Initiate (0) Dec 22, 2011 Tajikistan

    Could be.
     
    #5 NiceFly, Oct 1, 2012
  6. tjensen3618

    tjensen3618 Maven (1,391) Mar 23, 2008 California

    I brewed a Nugget heavy beer with late hop additions, similar to what you're describing. It wasn't good, I would only use Nugget for bittering additions from now on.

    Nugget Clone recipes have Nugget @ the 60 min addition only, Simcoe, Palisade and Tomahawk are used for aroma and dry hopping additions. Nugget hops have little to do with why Nugget Nectar is so tasty.
     
    #6 tjensen3618, Oct 1, 2012
  7. Naugled

    Naugled Pooh-Bah (1,944) Sep 25, 2007 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    Wow, that's a big batch to test drive Nuggets. I use a lot of Nuggets, and I'm thinking about doing something similar as you for 5 gal. ie, trying Nuggets in an english pale to see how they work. However, I do know from experience that my best results with nuggets have been blends of hops, they seem to work well with other hops, ie Nugget Nectar. I've also experienced the same oaky, coconutty, sun tan lotion flavors with Nugget only beers that Nicefly mentioned.

    You're grain bill looks fine, I'd blend the hops, maybe with the CTZ you mention, blend them for most all additions. However, I think you'll end up with something more reminiscent of an IPA or PA than an ESB though.
     
    #7 Naugled, Oct 1, 2012
  8. NiceFly

    NiceFly Initiate (0) Dec 22, 2011 Tajikistan

    Hmm, maybe that is a good description for the greasy mouthfeel I pick up. Perhaps it is more of a perception than actual grease imparted by the Nuggets.
     
    #8 NiceFly, Oct 1, 2012
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