NZ Craft beer that isn't laced with Nelson Sauvin

[Hamish Jones]

Can anyone point me in the direction of NZ Beers that don't have Sauvin in them, I have really gone off the hop in fact I may be the only one in this country who can't stand it, so I am not giving out my address just in case of a linching

Most of the stuff I have purchased and tried lately is way too Sauvin for my tastes which is starting to put me off trying much more NZ stuff as everywhere I turn lately its all got Sauvin in it, so if anyone can help with a few goodies without the heathen hop that would be great,

Cheers

[Peter Smith]

yep joking recommended 40 in -   

[Peter Smith]

Reply by JoKing on July 22, 2009 at 7:03pm

Well it's a little bit like this...

Sauvin - killer character. Lemon, Lime, Vinous... crazy shit. To keep this under control, use not later than 30mins to the end. Late additions can be unpredictable. So like - 25g at 30min will work towards some bitterness as well as some pleasant Sauvin notes in the palate and on the nose. Dryhopping works in small amounts - like .5 to 1g per liter to lift the hop brightness in a beer.

Riwaka - Tangerine citrus, bright clean, lemongrass. Very nice stuff. Originally was my #1 hop until Simcoe came along. Can be used late in the boil all the way to flamout to lift the brightness in a beer. It sort of needs a bit of caramel flavour to carry some of the higher notes if you want a large amount in a beer, but 50g late in the boil with the above Sauvin addition is killer.

Motueka - Low end citrus with some grassy spicyness. Goes well in dark beers as well as in Pale Ales in smaller amounts. Can be blended say 20g Mot : 40g Riwaka to increase hop spectrum in a brew... or half that if you SG is lower than 1.050. It's the hop in Sassy Red - so wrap your lips around that one. Can be used all the way through to the dry hop like Riwaka.

Rakau - I'm still on the bench with this hop. Not too keen on it as it lends a "Vodka" kind of smell to the beer, which is weird. Some of the hop perception is good... but you cant escape the other weird aromeit lends. EVERY beer I have tasted it in has the same flavour: My NZIPA, #2 at hallertau when Steve trialed it and also in Kid Chocolate... which may well not have even had it late in the boil. If it were any good, NZ Hops would advertise it on their website. Sorry Doug - dont mean to slag you guys off mate, but 3 out of 4 aint bad.