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Hops
,restructuring lambic/historical aged hop usage
====Thiols====
[https://researchmap.jp/?action=cv_download_main&upload_id=110987 Kishimoto et al.] found an increase in the thiol 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol (MBT) in beers that were brewed with unidentified pellet hops (described in the study only as "a bitter variety of 11.5% alpha acid") that were aged for 30 days at 40°C versus using fresh pellet hops that were stored cold (4°C). Interestingly, this thiol was higher in beers where the aged hops were added to the boil rather than when they were added after the wort was cooled. The authors were not able to determine whether or not the MBT was derived from yeast fermentation, or from boiling the hops, but aging the hops increased the precursors for MBT <ref name="kishimoto_2007" />. MBT has been described as the thiol that produces the "skunky" aroma in light struck beer <ref>[http://www.aroxa.com/beer/beer-flavour-standard/3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol/ 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol. Aroxa website. Retrieved 11/22/2016.]</ref>.
===Aged Hop Suppliers===
* Per Buer's experiment on the effects of dry hopping on ''Lactobacillus'':
: <youtube>J2g5P7ZlGn4</youtube>
===Aged Hops in Lambic===
[[File:Cantillon aging hops.jpg|thumbnail|right|Brasserie-Brouwerij Cantillon aging their hops; image provided by Dave Janssen.]]
Modern lambic traditionally uses aged hops at a moderate rate to help limit and select for microbes and regulate acid production. Modern Lambic brewers cite rates in the range of roughly 450 grams of hops per Hl of finished beer <ref name="Jean Van Roy on Basic Brewing Radio"> [http://hwcdn.libsyn.com/p/e/a/2/ea26e00136fe1638/bbr05-30-13cantillon.mp3?c_id=5723890&expiration=1443888327&hwt=8dd886677defabdd73669cdc262ef446 Jean van Roy on Basic Brewing Radio] </ref> (~43 min in) (see also the notes pertaining hopping rates on the [[Cantillon]] page), with some brewers possibly going above this range. The age of hops used depends on the producer and their preferences/stock. Cantillon uses hops that are on average 2-3 years old (source----), which 3 Fonteinen reports using hops that are over 10 years old<ref name="Drie Fonteinen on Belgian Smaak> [http://www.belgiansmaak.com/armand-debelder-michael-blancquaert-drie-fonteinen/ Drie Fonteinen on Belgian Smaak] </ref> (~48 minutes in).
===Historic hopping in lambic and other mixed-fermentation beer===
While modern lambic uses aged hops almost exclusively, it was common for historic lambic to blend both aged and fresh hops<ref name="Hors Catégorie Brewing Hops in Spontaneous Fermentation"> [http://www.horscategoriebrewing.com/2016/04/hops-in-spontaneous-fermentation.html Dave Janssen's discussion of hopping in spontaneous fermentation] </ref>. The exact ratio of fresh to aged hops changed over time and could vary depending on the harvest (poor hop years may have relied more heavily on aged hops while years of good harvests would make more use hops of the recent harvest). In addition to the difference in hop age between modern and historic lambic, hopping rates also differ significantly between modern and aged hops. It is important to note that the quality of these hops are certainly different from modern hops, and that hop origin could have a significant influence on suggested hopping rates <ref name="Hors Catégorie Brewing Hopping Grisette"> [http://www.horscategoriebrewing.com/2016/06/hopping-historical-grisettes.html Dave Janssen's discussion of hopping grisettes] </ref> (see the hopping rate table and notes regarding hop origin conversion factors from historical texts). While hop quality would have improved moving to the modern day while hopping rates were dropping, there is mention in historic lambic literature of lambic in the late 1800s being more bitter than lambic from the mid 1900s (and, subsequently, similar to historic saison in the increased hop presence in a mixed-fermentation beer)<ref name="Hors Catégorie Brewing Hops in Spontaneous Fermentation"/>
Historical documents dealing with Belgian brewing show a steady progression from high doses of fresh hops in lambic to the sort of hop composition and origin that are in use today. In 1851 Lacambre mentions rates for Belgian hops of 760-860 g/Hl and specifically highlights the use of young hops. Belgian brewing scientist Henri Van Laer recommended a hopping rate of 700-800 g/Hl in 1890, roughly in agreement with Lacambre though slightly lower. In the early 1900s, citing information from 1896, ''Le Petit Journal du Brasseur'' mentions a hopping rate of 540 g/Hl using a mix of Belgian and Bavarian hops and a split of 2/3 young, 1/3 old in good years (and 50/50 in bad years). In 1928 ''Le Petit Journal du Brasseur'' recommends a larger proportion of aged hops (2/3 aged, 1/3 fresh) and rates of 600g/Hl of Belgian hops<ref name="Hors Catégorie Brewing Hops in Spontaneous Fermentation"/>. Considering the difference in strength in German and Belgian hops<ref name="Hors Catégorie Brewing Hopping Grisette"/>, this fits with a stable or decreasing hopping rate from that given in the early 1900s. In 1937 exclusive use of aged hops is recommended, though as noted in 1946, year old hops may be preferable to hops that were aged longer in poor conditions<ref name="Hors Catégorie Brewing Hops in Spontaneous Fermentation"/>. Also in the 1940s ''Le Petit Journal du Brasseur'' recommends hopping rates of 400-500 g/Hl, roughly in agrement with modern times, and notes that the lambic of this time was softer than historic lambic<ref name="Hors Catégorie Brewing Hops in Spontaneous Fermentation"/>.
(In Progress)
Lambics aren't the only historic mixed-fermentation beer to make use of aged hops. Though the specific mention of aged hops for saison and bieres beers does not seem to be the norm, aged hops were used at times, such as when more acidity was desired. These hops were also more likely to be used toward the beginning of the brewing season in months like October where the current harvest may have been considered too fresh for proper use. Notes: Give some discussion of hopping saison and bieres de garde. See [http://www.horscategoriebrewing.com/2016/06/hopping-historical-grisettes.html hopping grisette table] for some hopping rates, PJB, etc.
==See Also==