I think all of the NZ hops get better with age... my pacifica, sauvin, motueka blend has been so good to me over the last 6 months and these hops were all coming up for 18 months since harvest.
Interesting. I just recently brewed a Black IPA (yeah, I've given in on the nomenclature) and that's similar to the hop blend I used, though NZ Hallertau instead of Pacifica. Ratio was 60% Sauvin, 30% Mot, 10% Hallertau for all additions. It's by far my best attempt at NZ hopping ever. I'm actually pretty proud of it. Credit where it's due, I took some advice from The Devil. ;) Seems like everyone is coming to similar conclusions.
I've been using 1/3 each: Sauvin, Motueka, Pacifica. It's the closest I've got to getting a good NZ Amber Ale... but I have a few other ideas up my sleeve, they'll have to wait until next year though as I'm on a different (less hopped) journey for now.
Permalink Reply by Soren on September 14, 2010 at 11:30am
I think all of the NZ hops get better with age...
I don't know if it is age or vintage variation but the 2009 hops are a lot better now than the 2010 crop. I'm almost tempted to puncture the 2010 bags and put them out in the sun to make them age faster:)
Well the Europeans let thier hops age and oxidise a bit to take the green edge off.
Permalink Reply by Soren on September 14, 2010 at 11:25am
A hazy memory of Rewired helped inform my recipe a bit.
If it it helps your hazy memory a bit, Rewired is pacifica and nz cascade at the end. your malt bill is a bit different but I alomost like the look of yours better. I think the small addition of amber with give it a nice touch!
Permalink Reply by Barry on September 14, 2010 at 11:29am
Cheers Soren! Nice of you to throw out there the hops for your commercial beer!
The best brewers are the sharing brewers. Awesome.
The exact flavours I got from the beer are hazy, what remains clear is how amazing it was. I can only hope mine gets somewhere near.