Finishing Hops

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Category: Ingredients

Published on Friday, 01 April 2011 13:36

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Finishing Hops - What is does and how to use it

Just what is finishing hops? How do I use it in my kit and kilo recipes?

The best way to explain it is to explain the basics of the more traditional process of grain brewing. With grain brewing there are 2 main hopping processes. The first one is the 'bittering' hops. This is where the hops is boiled in the tun with the grain and gives it the primary bitter taste.

The next hops phase is the aroma hops or finishing hops. In traditional grain brewing it is put in shortly before turning the heat off, or 'flame out'. Basically it is boiled or steeped very lightly to impart a nice, hoppy aroma.

The bittering hops and the finishing hops aren't necessarily the same type of hops. Often a brewer wants the flavour of one or more types of hops for the bittering, and another type for the aroma.

In kit and kilo brewing we aren't boiling the brew in most cases, but we can still add finishing hops to give a standard brew more aroma. This is done by steeping about 10gm to 15gm (usually 12gm) of hops pellets in a cup of boiled water. Don't boil it, just let it steep. It is just like using a tea bag to extract the tea flavour and on that note, it is best to put the hops in a steeping bag or a suitable type of cloth. This will save getting bits of hops floating around in your wort.

If you buy finishing hops from your home brewing supplier, it usually comes in a steeping bag and is sealed to keep it fresh.

Using finishing hops is a great way to make a basic kit and kilo brew a bit more special. it is also a good way to get to know your hops and the different flavours and aromas they have. Many varieties of hops are very distinctive and work best with specific flavors. Experiment a little with them. With strong flavoured hops like Hellertau, just be careful not to steep them too long. Also with lighter, more delicate flavoured beers, keep the steeping to 10 minutes or less. For strong ales and biters, give it plenty! Steep for 15 to 20 minutes.

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