CS7 - Hop Harvest Ale - Kauri Road Brewery

[Barry]

Maris otter 4.8kg / 96%

Bairds crystal .2kg / 4%

 

Mash 67° 60min

 

Southern Cross 18gm @ 60min

 

Amarillo 15gm @ 10min

Home grown hop 30gm @ 10min

 

Amarillo 15gm @ 3min

Home grown hop 30gm @ 3min

 

Centennial 40gm dry (in keg)

 

S05

OG 1.051  FG 1.009

ABV 5.4% 48IBU

 

Interesting beer to make for me, this one. I dialed back the crystal to showcase my home grown hops so the beer is lovely and pale and crisp.

The homegrown hops I had thought were smoothcone, but after reading the description of smoothcone on the nzhops website I don't think they are. John Golics (Auckland Guild of Brewers and Winemakers) who gave them to me several years ago mentioned something about them originating with the Puhoi Bohemian settlers which had me calculate them as Saaz in my recipe (4% alpha). They are quite floral and lemony in aroma and flavour, not super lovely tasting but they seem to have rounded out nicely in this beer.

I'm stoked to be able to use them in a beer, they've been growing for 3 seasons and this is the first season I've had any cones at all - I was swamped with them!

Tastings from the fermenter before kegging weren't very promising at all so I threw a good measure of centennial dry into the keg.

 

I'm really happy with the result, I hope it reaches you all in the same kind of nick it's been coming out of the keg at mine!

 

Bottled from the keg so no sediment - give it a good strong pour as it's carbonated on the low side.

[JackoNZ]

Had half last night and the second half with lunch today. Crystal clear, no haze here. Light golden in colour with a thin fluffy white head. Lemon on the nose, surprised that I couldn't pick up any of the centennial. It also had that floral malt/hop kind of smell that you get in lagers, like others have mentioned it's probably the homegrown hops. With you pulling back on the crystal it's done exactly what you wanted I guess, the hop flavour has come through more with the malt profile being on the backburner. It's not thin just a bit more lager like, crisp and clean, finishing up nice and dry. Thanks for sharing the homegrown Barry, a great thirst quenching and refreshing beer. I reckon the homegrown hops would also be great in a Bo Pils recipe.

[Tilt]

A light golden and crystal clear pour, I get light tropical fruits with a lemony background and maybe a little mint?   Tasting, its definitely on the front foot with the hops but in the middle palate there's enough maltiness to hold it all together.  As it warms I get more of this richness but its subtle. 

This is a damn pleasingly balanced beer with a freshness and crispness with the remnants of summer taste  -  Thanks again for sharing your home grown produce Barry - for me that just adds a genuine quality to this beer that I hope one day to emulate! Cheers.

[Adrian Tayler]

I only got one unlabled bottle and I thought it was this one but maybe not... It poured hazy, very low carbonation and doesnt really fit the other comments on this thread, any chance there was a mix up?