So before anyone says it, I know I’m late to brew a harvest ale. However, for fun sake and to get feedback from those starting to taste this year’s batch of their respective harvest ales, I’m not late at all. I was hopeful to get input regarding Founders Harvest Ale. However, with sparse information let’s keep this general as to what your recipe was this year and how do you like it? With the feedback I’ve gotten here’s my recipe for next year (did not get any cones this year), first year harvest of cascade: Grain bill: 12 lbs 2-row 0.75 lbs crystal 80l malt Hop bill: 1 oz centennial @ 60 mins (pellet) 1 oz centennial @ 30 mins (pellet) 5 oz cascade @ 15 mins (wet) 5 oz cascade @ 10 mins (wet) 5 oz cascade @ 5 mins (wet) 5 oz cascade @ 0 mins (wet) Yeast: Safale US-05 Mash: Protein rest 120 F 10 mins Saccharification 150 F 60 mins Mash-out 166 F 10 mins Mashing Efficiency: 80% OG: 1.077 FG target: 1.019 ABV: 7.6 IBU: 70 SRM: 9
I did an American Brown a few weeks ago with freshly picked (during the mash) Cascade hops for finishing (late additions and hop stand). I used the equivalent of ~3.5 dry ounces. Bittering was an ounce of Magnum. The beer is still rounding into form (at this point two weeks in fermenter and only 1 week in keg). Tons of hops flavor that currently slightly overpowers the malt. Given time, I think the balance will be just fine. I have to say, though, I don't think the wet hops gave me much more than dried hops would have.
To your last point regarding wet not giving too much more over dry, think I'll test run the recipe before the true harvest run next year. That way I can get a ballpark of the flavor.
Given that you brewed a Brown Ale, which I consider to be typically a malt forward beer (at least my Brown Ales are malt forward), it might be more challenging to discern the wet hop flavors/aromas. I homebrewed an APA using freshly harvested homegrown Nugget hops. I used 4.5 ounces for the last 15 minutes of boil and 8+ ounces for end of boil and 25 minute hop stand. Nugget is not an ‘expressive’ flavor/aroma hop like Cascade but my Harvest Ale is all about the wet hops. Cheers!
I made two wet hopped IPAs this autumn. I used half of my total harvest, five pounds wet in total for ten gallons of beer. Both very different beers, both outstanding.
