We continue our work with SMaSH beers to learn more about hops. For this one, we decided to put a spotlight Most Hops (a Czech-bred hop variety). We brewed a one US gallon batch, push it through a quick turnaround, and see and taste what this variety is all about. Is it a bridge between UK and Czech styles? Let’s walk through the process and share our impressions.
Process Notes & Commentary
We used our typical our SMaSH beer ingredient list: spring water, Rahr 2-row hops, US-05 yeast. For the hops, I split the 28 grams evenly across the schedule, with equal measures.
I added 7 grams at the beginning of the boil, then at 15 minutest to go, at flameout, and for a 24 hours cold addition before packaging.
Because the alpha acids were modest, I figured it would lean more subtle and nuanced than punchy.
Tasting Notes and Opinions
Aroma and First Impressions
Right off the bat, Mike and I both detected something like cream or vanilla, which was weird and unexpected. Underneath that, there was a faint hint of green melon or some vegetal note. It struck Mike as “odd”. It was not bad, but peculiar. The descriptions I found online touted black currant, pineapple, grapefruit, spicy/herbaceous notes, even bubblegum. According to Yakima Valley’s materials, it’s a “dual purpose” hop with a lot of flavor possibilities. We did not smell or taste black currant or grapefruit notes in any obvious way.
Flavor & Aftertaste
On the palate, that creamy / vanilla vibe intensified. The fruit notes were soft and dull. If we were forced to pick something, there was a hint of melon or the outer rind of grapefruit, but nothing bold. Instead, I was more drawn to herbaceous, peppery, slightly bitter edges. The finish leaned spicy, with a sort of herbal bite more than a fruity one.
Verdict
Would I use Most hops as a standalone in a big hop-forward beer? Probably not. I think it has more of a supporting / complementary role: something to soften or add nuance in a lager or lighter ale, or as a layer in a blend. If you’re into weird, subtle, creamy / vanilla-ish / herbal hop characters (think along the lines of Sabro), you might enjoy what Most hops bring. But if you want bold fruit or citrus, this one isn’t going to shout it out. Worth experimenting? Absolutely.
Brew ON!