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Hops
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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 roughly 3 years old<ref>D. Janssen personal communication with Jean Van Roy, 9-Nov-2013</ref>, while 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). Jester King reported using 0.66 - 0.75 pounds of whole leaf aged hops per BBL (0.34-0.39 ounces per gallon) in their spontaneously fermented ales <ref>Averie Swanson. "Sour Power! A Pro Brewer Spontaneous Fermentation Roundtable". HomebrewCon seminar. 2018.</ref> (~31:00 mins in). Lambic brewers either add their hops while still collecting wort, sometime before the wort comes to a boil<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/Lambic.Info/permalink/1831338433787524/ Video of Cantillon wort reaching a boil from Bill on Lambic.info]</ref> (also known as "first wort hopping"), or shortly after boil is reached<ref name="Drie Fonteinen on Belgian Smaak"/> (~48 min in). The hops are then boiled with the wort for essentially the full length of the boil <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1593059604055581/?comment_id=1593928187302056&reply_comment_id=1593938693967672&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22%7D Conversation with Dave Janssen on MTF. 02/24/2017.]</ref><ref>[http://www.lambic.info/Brewing_Lambic#Hopping "Brewing Lambic", section "Hopping". Lambic.info website. Retrieved 02/24/2017.]</ref>. The resulting lambic beers are often surprisingly bitter, especially when young. Historically, there is [http://www.horscategoriebrewing.com/2016/04/hops-in-spontaneous-fermentation.html some evidence] that lambic brewers used a combination of aged hops and fresh dried hops. Not all aged hops are the same; different varieties/sources result in different levels of IBU's, perceived bitterness, and inhibition of lactic acid bacteria.
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