Minty note in a NEIPA

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Coronaeus, Oct 21, 2019.

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  1. Coronaeus

    Coronaeus Grand Pooh-Bah (3,744) Apr 21, 2014 Canada (ON)
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    Over the past year or so, I’ve noticed occasionally a distinct minty note in some of the NEIPAs I’ve tried. It isn’t common, but it is certainly something I’ve noticed several times in several different beers. I quite like it.

    I know Perle and Norther Brewer give a minty quality to beer, but have rarely seen these on the few NEIPA cans I’ve had that actually list the hops used.

    Is there a more commonly used hop variety in NEIPAs that would offer up a minty note? Or, is it likely that Perle or Northern Brewer are being used?
     
    #1 Coronaeus, Oct 21, 2019
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  2. HouseofWortship

    HouseofWortship Pooh-Bah (2,735) May 3, 2016 Illinois
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    How soon before drinking do you spit your gum out?
     
    #2 HouseofWortship, Oct 21, 2019
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  3. officerbill

    officerbill Pooh-Bah (2,228) Feb 9, 2019 New York
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    How soon before drinking did you brush your teeth?
     
    #3 officerbill, Oct 21, 2019
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  4. Coronaeus

    Coronaeus Grand Pooh-Bah (3,744) Apr 21, 2014 Canada (ON)
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    My aristocratic breeding prevents me from engaging in practices such as the chewing of gum, popular with the lower classes.

    I don’t think that is it.
     
    #4 Coronaeus, Oct 21, 2019
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  5. Coronaeus

    Coronaeus Grand Pooh-Bah (3,744) Apr 21, 2014 Canada (ON)
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    Well, I don’t drink beer right after breakfast, and I haven’t figured out how to drink while asleep in bed, so I’m going to say, not very soon.
     
    #5 Coronaeus, Oct 21, 2019
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  6. officerbill

    officerbill Pooh-Bah (2,228) Feb 9, 2019 New York
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    Not after, for :grin:
    As the song says “the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad, so I had one more for dessert” (Sunday Morning Coming Down) :beers:
     
    #6 officerbill, Oct 21, 2019
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  7. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
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    I've heard about a mint taste in beers before and I assumed that the brewer used mint leaves or artificial flavoring just to have a 'different' beer. So maybe the brewers of the beers that have the mint flavor that you're experiencing used mint in the brewing for an extra added flavor. But, like you say maybe it's the hop character that performs this trick.

    I've never seen mint in a taste description of any hop variety (although I don't study those description lists very much), so I can't directly answer your question about any other hops with that flavor.
     
    #7 PapaGoose03, Oct 21, 2019
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  8. ScaryEd

    ScaryEd Grand Pooh-Bah (3,793) Feb 19, 2012 New Hampshire
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    I don't think it's as uncommon as you said it was. Lots of people experience "minty" flavors in hoppy beers. I've had it before.

    I don't think it's really about specific hops used, but it could be a combination of the yeast and hops. There's a lot of hops that offer herbal and "spicy" notes, and being that mint is an herb, it's not entirely out of the question to get that note.
     
    #8 ScaryEd, Oct 21, 2019
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  9. TheGent

    TheGent Grand Pooh-Bah (4,235) Jun 29, 2010 New Jersey
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    I’ve experienced mint flavor in NEIPA before. I quickly looked back at some notes and found the following hop combos that showed mint in two beers:

    Cascade, Nelson Sauvin, Motueka and Citra
    Vic Secret and Simcoe

    I also got a lot of spearmint in Bbbrighttt with Galaxy from Treehouse.

    I realize these results do not confirm your suspicions, but still thought I would share.
     
    #9 TheGent, Oct 21, 2019
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  10. HouseofWortship

    HouseofWortship Pooh-Bah (2,735) May 3, 2016 Illinois
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    If you google "minty hops" you'll find close to a decade of people complaining about the same thing. I guess it's one of those things where some people are sensitive to it like green pepper flavor or soap flavors from cilantro....
     
    #10 HouseofWortship, Oct 21, 2019
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  11. Coronaeus

    Coronaeus Grand Pooh-Bah (3,744) Apr 21, 2014 Canada (ON)
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    Thanks.

    I have had beer with mint added. I’ve always seen it prominently marked on the label though, and usually incorporated into some kind of ‘clever’ minty name for the beer. But, maybe.

    Northern Brewer and Perle (which I believe is a derivative of Northern Brewer), are often described as offering a minty character. The problem is, I only get this in NEIPAs and those don’t seem to be much used in that style.
     
    #11 Coronaeus, Oct 21, 2019
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  12. Coronaeus

    Coronaeus Grand Pooh-Bah (3,744) Apr 21, 2014 Canada (ON)
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    Thanks.

    I hadn’t thought about the yeast playing a role in this minty note I get. I’m going to see if I can recall a few of the beers I’ve noticed this in and see if their are any commonalities in the yeast and hops used.
     
    #12 Coronaeus, Oct 21, 2019
  13. Coronaeus

    Coronaeus Grand Pooh-Bah (3,744) Apr 21, 2014 Canada (ON)
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    Thanks. I’ll compare those to the ones I’ve noted for commonalities.
     
    #13 Coronaeus, Oct 21, 2019
  14. Roguer

    Roguer Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,811) Mar 25, 2013 Connecticut
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    @Coronaeus Mint isn't a flavor I often find in modern hop varietals, but I wouldn't rule it out, either. More likely, Italian herbs `a la oregano and basil, but mint has definitely come to mind some times. I would think modern New Zealand and Australian varietals.
     
    #14 Roguer, Oct 21, 2019
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  15. Coronaeus

    Coronaeus Grand Pooh-Bah (3,744) Apr 21, 2014 Canada (ON)
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    Yes. I have noticed a lot of discussion, especially in home brewing forums on this. You are probably right about the sensitivity. I have friends who haven’t noticed the minty quality I do when we are both drinking the same beer.

    For me, it seems specific to NEIPAs. I think one of the Anchor beers uses Northern Brewer exclusively and I have never noticed a minty quality in any of their beers.
     
    #15 Coronaeus, Oct 21, 2019
  16. Coronaeus

    Coronaeus Grand Pooh-Bah (3,744) Apr 21, 2014 Canada (ON)
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    I was thinking perhaps one of the Australian or New Zealand varieties. I have been noticing this more and more as those hop origin varieties become more and more commonly used, at least around me.
     
    #16 Coronaeus, Oct 21, 2019
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  17. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
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    I have noticed a year to year inconsistency with southern hemisphere hops. Nelson, galaxy, and motueka have all been on my shit list for a couple years now as I have come to expect vastly different experiences year to year and crop to crop. It may be that the hop grower used to supply your galaxy may not be the same grower I use. Terroir is real, but the OG hop growers know how to grow for consistancy. I do not get the same vibe from our southern counterparts.
     
    #17 SFACRKnight, Oct 21, 2019
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  18. Giantspace

    Giantspace Grand Pooh-Bah (3,043) Dec 22, 2011 Pennsylvania
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    Stop drinking Mint shake IPA and you will be fine.

    Enjoy
     
    #18 Giantspace, Oct 21, 2019
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  19. WesMantooth

    WesMantooth Grand Pooh-Bah (4,844) Jan 8, 2014 Ohio
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    Can’t speak to NEIPAs, but one of the evolving single hop series from Columbus Brewing had Sabro that had just a hint of it. They also mentioned it in their promo.

    “Insane Wanderer Volume 4 in stores this week! This volume features one of the newest, most highly anticipated hop varieties called Sabro (AKA 438). Expect aromas of tangerine, coconut, stone fruit, and fresh mint.”
     
    #19 WesMantooth, Oct 21, 2019
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  20. AZBeerDude72

    AZBeerDude72 Initiate (0) Jun 10, 2016 Arizona

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    #20 AZBeerDude72, Oct 21, 2019
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