Taking the Nelson DIPA to 11

breadwinner · Oct 22, 2018

wasatchback said: ↑

Nelson has gone through similar issues that the more popular hops have. The increase in demand led to lots of additional acerage and more farms and often times a serious dip in quality or a large variance in the variety itself. And then there’s the changes in weather from year to year.

I think when Nelson came out it was insane and brewers flocked to get it. A bunch of larger breweries put huge contracts on it and what was left for the smaller breweries and homebrewers was often a far cry from what people know as Nelson. So much of the Nelson (and other NZ varieties) was really machine oil/diesel fuel there for a while. The unique fruitiness was there but it was just overpowered by the stanky diesel notes.

Shaun has had contracts for NZ hops for a while and I think makes a yearly trip down there for selection. He’s also one of the only breweries in the US with a contract for Riwaka, which in my mind is right up there with Nelson when it’s good. But it’s super hard to get and supposedly has the lowest yield of all NZ varieties per acre. I believe I read something he wrote about the hop selection in NZ this year.

Breweries like Cellermaker and Modern Times also made it a point to talk about traveling to NZ this year and being able to select better lots of Nelson than what they were able to get in the past. Cellermaker guys were even speaking about picking some lots that had that more diesel like character and some that didn’t.

I would say as homebrewers don’t judge a hop by what we end up getting. It’s often the bottom of the barrel and in no way resembles what the best lots of the variety are like. From my experience Galaxy has always been the highest quality hop with the least amount of variation. At least the batches I’ve used are all incredibly intense and really mirror the flavors and aromas found in the best breweries Galaxy beers. Vic Secret always seems to be incredibly punchy and aromatic as well but I haven’t used it nearly as much.
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chipawayboy said: ↑

As a long time fan of the iconic Alpine Nelson I never thought I’d taste a more aromatic and delicious version than the San Diego original. But once again Shaun Hill has taken the concept of a Nelson DIPA “to 11” in the immortal words of Nigel Tufnel. 2X Nelson combines the classic and original HF tropical but bitter juiciness w/an amazing/bright and extremely articulated Nelson hop aroma and flavor. It’s as if the beer is simply a pedestal to prop a big ass bunch of pungeant and straight-from-the-vine Nelson hops on top of. Anybody have another favorite Nelson infused NEDIPA?

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Yeah, my take on this is that the quality of Nelson hasn't been the same the last couple years. Even brewers I normally enjoy significantly have produced single hop Nelson beers that just don't have the same magic as, say, OG Alpine Nelson, which seemed to capture the essence of Nelson so well.

As for HF, they bizarrely don't seem to send kegs/cans my way. Let me know when to expect your shipment, Chip!

jageraholic · Oct 22, 2018

Had a can over the weekend of Backeast Unicorn Farm from CT which is primarily Nelson hopped. It doesn't have much for bitterness, but has great nelson flavor.

Ahonky · Oct 22, 2018

Had Hill Farmstead Socitey & Solitude #9 over the weekend. Nelson seemed quite prominent. A well made beer that I simply did not enjoy. I do not like Nelson Sauvin hops.

M-Fox24 · Oct 22, 2018

Shaun being very selective: identifying variability, developing connections, understanding climate…the single hop series are some of the best representations in their class

Taking the Nelson DIPA to 11

breadwinner Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2014 California

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Taking the Nelson DIPA to 11

breadwinner Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2014 California

jageraholic Pooh-Bah (1,632) Sep 16, 2009 Massachusetts Pooh-Bah Trader

Ahonky Initiate (0) Feb 13, 2018 New York

M-Fox24 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,941) Mar 17, 2013 New Jersey Pooh-Bah Trader

jageraholic Pooh-Bah (1,632) Sep 16, 2009 Massachusetts
Pooh-Bah Trader

M-Fox24 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,941) Mar 17, 2013 New Jersey
Pooh-Bah Trader