identifying hops ?

I think the hopunion guide has some rough growth/cone shapes and sizes listed but to really know the only way is to do genetic testing. Short of that, rubbing between your fingers, smelling and then brewing a test batch will at least give you some idea of what the hop lends to the beer.

 

Really difficult. As said DNA testing gives the answer. Example, they found US Tettnanger is actually Fuggles that way.

 

in addition to not being able to identify a specific hop plant very well by sight alone, your growing conditions are going to have a large influence. so, even if you could determine that you have locally grown saaz available, don't expect them to be the same as what you buy commercially. might be a good substitute. might be very different but still good. and of course the farther your growing conditions are from the source, the less likely they will be true to the original.

Cheers.

 

this has been known for a while, and still. we get hops labeled US Tettnanger.
i'm going to write a letter to the president of hops or something.

 

[quote="billandsuz, post: 1674844, member: 83this has been known for a while, and still. we get hops labeled US Tettnanger.
i'm going to write a letter to the president of hops or something.[/quote]
Or that Spalt and Tettnanger are genetically Saaz.

 

Sittting here enjoying a pint hopped IPA...ah,....Summer wanes...slowly
If I can distinguish CTZ from Cascade, I'll feel like an expert : )

Wish list: Hop Rocket or something similar...IHBSs, please data mine this post and have a sale

 

Or that Spalt and Tettnanger are genetically Saaz.[/quote]

This controversy is over 15 years old now, with no answers from anyone. My hunch, from looking at chemical analyses, flavor profiles, etc. is that Fuggle (even English) and Tettnang (even German) are the same hop and that perceived differences are due to climate differences and agricultural practices (the 'T' word). Yes, kind of 'out there', and I will immediately be killed the next time I set foot in Germany, but does anyone have information to disprove my crazy theory?

 

This controversy is over 15 years old now, with no answers from anyone. My hunch, from looking at chemical analyses, flavor profiles, etc. is that Fuggle (even English) and Tettnang (even German) are the same hop and that perceived differences are due to climate differences and agricultural practices (the 'T' word). Yes, kind of 'out there', and I will immediately be killed the next time I set foot in Germany, but does anyone have information to disprove my crazy theory?[/quote]
The Fuggles Tettnanger thing has been referenced by Stan Heironymus IIRC. He also talked about DNA testing shoeing that Spalt and Tettnanger are Saaz at his NHC talk last year. The "T" the difference.

 

Instead of brewing with the hops you may be able to get a hint of the variety just by brewing a tea with the cones.

 

"I will immediately be killed the next time I set foot in Germany"

Good luck with that...noble way to go. : )

 

i'd be perfectly content if the hops are labeled somewhat accurately. from my own experience, US/German Tettnang are not similar. not even a bit. German Tettnang is my first love, so I have a special place for it. US Tett has its place though, for some brewers.
so why not call it something else? because ill informed brewers like the idea of a noble US hop? really, I can not figure out what the commercial growers get by allowing confusion within their industry.
maybe homebrewers are still insignificant, and commercial users know enough already. maybe? there is enough confusion in the hop sciences already if you ask me.
Cheers.

 

And let's not get started on the Argentinian Cascades that were on the market during the "hop crisis" a few years back. As far as I'm concerned, that WAS the crisis. I had heard they were like Hallertau, not cascade, and I welcomed the idea of a new Hallertau-like hop. They were not the least bit noble.