Have you used these hops?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Brew_Betty, Jul 14, 2015.

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  1. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    ADA 529
    Equinox
    Comet

    First Gold
    Smaragd
    Topaz

    All new to me and waiting to be used. If you have used them, any feedback is appreciated. TIA !
     
  2. telejunkie

    telejunkie Savant (1,107) Sep 14, 2007 Vermont

    Equinox was very herbal/floral to me with an amped up English hop characteristics....(?)
    Comet was definitely more edgy, dank...more like summit.
    When I got them, was planning an Astrological IPA with Galaxy as well...but ended up using too much of them to go ahead with that plan.
    Never tried any of the others.
     
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  3. ChrisMyhre

    ChrisMyhre Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2013 Massachusetts

    Not much to add except that @telejunkie nails my take on Equinox.
     
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  4. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    Equinox has some pretty lively fruit descriptors.

    A pronounced aroma profile with citrus, tropical fruit, floral and herbal characteristics. Specific descriptors include lemon, lime, papaya, apple, and green pepper.

    But it appears neither of you got much fruit from it? That's ok, I like herbal / floral hops.
     
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  5. telejunkie

    telejunkie Savant (1,107) Sep 14, 2007 Vermont

    Maybe i'm just spoiled by some of the other fruit forward hop profiles because I got little citrus/tropical fruit, not to say none, but not the grapefruit/orange/mango/passionfruit, that i've become accustomed to with many new american hop varieties. Interesting to hear those descriptors....may need to revisit, i still have maybe a little over an oz left in my freezer.
     
  6. Hanglow

    Hanglow Pooh-Bah (2,051) Feb 18, 2012 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    I like first gold. floral and gives the classic tangerine/marmelade flavour, good for bittering too. Not very intense though as with most english hops
     
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  7. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    The descriptors are weird. Lemon lime in the right proportion can taste like Sprite. Sprite tastes good, but I made a beer that tasted like Sprite once and was somewhat disturbed because I was supposed to be drinking a hoppy beer. Papaya is a mild tropical melon flavor and would be difficult to appreciate if you racked your beer on 2#of papaya/gallon. Green pepper sounds like something I would not enjoy in a beer.

    Based on the comments from you and Chris, I will use Equinox without expecting a juicy tropical fruit bomb.
     
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  8. ChrisMyhre

    ChrisMyhre Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2013 Massachusetts

    I did a few homebrews with it late and had a Sierra Nevada single hop that both were in line with British pales, maybe there was a very very subtle fruit maybe almost blueberry and lemon in the way that huel melon is fruity? Mostly I got earthiness similar to goldings or fuggles.
     
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  9. DrMindbender

    DrMindbender Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2014 South Carolina

    I like Equinox for its big citrus flavor personally, and I get some tropical fruit from it as well. I've brewed up a couple of single hop IPAs and another IPA with Amarillo, Galaxy and Mosaic and was blown away! It's definitely one of my favorites and stoked to have just got another pound of it last week. Unlike previous posts, I would personally say if you are looking for a juicy IPA, give this one a try!

    I found Comet to have a wild flavor to it, very earthy and herbal, almost a touch of noble hops, with absolutely no dankness at all in comparison to someone else's reply. I used it as well in a single hop IPA and then decided it would be best in some saisons, a Berliner Weisse and in a wild beer. Those turned out much better than the single hop IPA.

    BTW, I purchased both from Yakima Valley Hops.
     
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  10. Scope4Beer

    Scope4Beer Zealot (677) Sep 28, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    I brewed an IPA a couple months ago with Topaz, Simcoe, and Galaxy. The Topaz had a nice fruit/citrus note, but less than the Galaxy for sure. I'd certainly use it again, but it wouldn't be the first thing I'd reach for either.
     
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  11. telejunkie

    telejunkie Savant (1,107) Sep 14, 2007 Vermont

    Haha...to our credit, just glance through some review of Equinox single hop beers and you'll see that it runs the full gamut from earthy hops to herbal to grapefruit to lemon/lime to melon/canteloupe:
    http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/140/129422/
    http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/94/149964/

    Interesting to hear your take on Comet...one vocal guy on a different Forum swears up & down that Comet is the "secret hop" of Heady Topper. I'll stick by my original post, did a quick google search and noticed here reviews by @FATC1TY and some others who generally agree with that assessment. Would be interested to see if he still feels that way
     
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  12. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I really, really liked Sierra Nevada Harvest Single Hop IPA - Equinox Hops. One of the hop flavors I noted was a cedar-like aroma/flavor; I really enjoyed that aspect. I did not pick up any green pepper in that beer.

    Cheers!
     
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  13. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    Just tapped an Equinox and Mozaic IPA.....juicy...juicy fruity bomb I would say and I don't think most of it is coming from the Mozaic : )

    My palate got orange, apricot, and pineapple/mango
     
    #13 GreenKrusty101, Jul 15, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 15, 2015
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  14. utahbeerdude

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

    IIRC, Comet is a very old-school hop that has seen a bit of resurgence in popularity due to the recent increase in the desirability of hoppy beers.

    I have used First Gold quite a bit. It is a really nice English hop that works great in British style ales. And what @Hanglow said.
     
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  15. DrMindbender

    DrMindbender Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2014 South Carolina

    I personally don't get the same flavors in commercial Equinox beers that I do with fresh homebrewed beers. The Sierra Nevada single hop tastes more earthy and grassy with little to no citrus/tropical fruit...not my favorite example of an Equinox brew personally.

    My sensory analysis is right there with @GreenKrusty101

    I had a session IPA yesterday at Breakside in Portland called Rainbows and Unicorns that used El Dorado, Galaxy and Comet. One of the brewers mentioned that they use the Comet to round the flavors out and away from being too big of a juicy fruit bomb.
     
  16. FATC1TY

    FATC1TY Pooh-Bah (2,564) Feb 12, 2012 Georgia
    Pooh-Bah


    Comet is a potent hop. Catty wild grapefruit. Very dank and earthy, hints of onion perhaps but not much. It's a great hop to use when you've added too much fruity tropical hops and need something to blend in and simmer down the sugar cocktail.

    Slight melon notes come out in dry hopping I've found in my use.

    Decent hop to layer. Probably not on its own for my taste.
     
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  17. FATC1TY

    FATC1TY Pooh-Bah (2,564) Feb 12, 2012 Georgia
    Pooh-Bah


    Interesting.

    I had s surly bitter brewer that was excellent. The English grains and hops gave that black tea bitterness with this orange marmalade flavor that was so good
     
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  18. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    Got about 6 oz of wc Comet and Topaz left with 1# of Equinox and 4 oz of NS on their way...will have to figure out an end of Summer IPA (after a SH IPA with the NS, some Galaxy, Pacifica, and probably some of the Topaz for bittering.
     
  19. Smokebox_79

    Smokebox_79 Initiate (0) Jan 11, 2013 Pennsylvania

    I just got some Equinox yesterday. Planning a APA with them and Bravo.
     
  20. wspscott

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

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