Differences in hops?

Beyond reading the descriptions from a few websites that sell them, I normally go to a site like https://ychhops.com/varieties to gather intel. Unless you have a more specific question. "Noble" hops have a general contribution (floral/spicy) with exceptions to the rule, just like "American" hops (citrus/pine/dank/onion).

Also Hallertau comes in a few different names (Hallertau, Hallertau mittlefruh, and Hallertau Blanc; then there is Pacifica that is refered to, if my memory serves me, as New Zealand or pacific Hallertau).

Those 2 hops you referenced contribute different things to the beer. Best to know what you are looking for and then select a hop that satisfies that need.

 

Then there is this graphic that comes in handy for me at least.

 

It's an old chart. Citra has only been around for about 10 years, maybe less.

 

True and I would be willing to bet there has been some movement of all of these hops year to year just due to them being an agricultural product subject to growing conditions.

 

9 years IIRC for Citra, and it was not talked about much until 2009.

 

When you say Hallertauer, which one. If you buy Hallertau hops at the LHBS,mother AA can be all over the place as it is not really a specific variety.

Hops can vary from farm to farm and field to field on the same farm.

 

Noble hops should probably only be compared to recent US hybrids created as disease resistant substitutes: Mt. Hood, Sterling, Liberty, Santiam, and maybe Crystal.

 

Add Ultra and Vangaurd to that list.

 

Let's add that the term Noble Hops is very recent. Though we have settled on certain traditional European hops as being "Noble" it's not a rule based on science or even historic tradition. It's meaning is no different than saying West Coast hops. Plus when the term was coined the world of hops was much different.

For example, Liberty is a west coast hop but really more Noble in character than German Herkules or even Perle. Strisselspelt is not Noble but arguably should be. Same with Lublin. Any American variety, no matter how Noble in character, is ever going to be called Noble because we have reserved the term strictly for European hops.

I think when we start trying to define our interpretation of the differences we should remember that it's not at all based in science or historic tradition. It's mostly just opinion.
Cheers.