Beer Forum

Has anyone been getting non-typical flavors from their '10 Centennial Hops? Some of my brew buddies and myself have been getting a kinda tannic flavor with them. I sourced my hops from Hops Direct.

I have had bad luck with Centennial for the last two years. I don't use it at all anymore.

Vitamin T wrote:Has anyone been getting non-typical flavors from their '10 Centennial Hops? Some of my brew buddies and myself have been getting a kinda tannic flavor with them. I sourced my hops from Hops Direct.

I haven't noticed anything like that, but I have noticed it's a bit less pungent this year. Still very tropical, but seems to have less of that candy-like flavor, and just less flavor overall. Gotta use more of it. Still good though...

I have been getting an oxidized or cardboardy flavor from them. I brewed 2 Pales Ales within 2 weeks of each other. The one with more Centennial got these characteristics.
Nothing outraqgeous and most people do not notice. In going back over previous recipes the amount of Centennial used correlates to the slight off flavor.

Vitamin T wrote:Has anyone been getting non-typical flavors from their '10 Centennial Hops? Some of my brew buddies and myself have been getting a kinda tannic flavor with them. I sourced my hops from Hops Direct.

Got 8oz from Northern Brewer back in Feb of this year-
I did a Bells 2 hearted clone--
We did not pick up any oxidation or off flavors from the hops...?

Vitamin T wrote:Has anyone been getting non-typical flavors from their '10 Centennial Hops? Some of my brew buddies and myself have been getting a kinda tannic flavor with them. I sourced my hops from Hops Direct.

I heard the same thing (plus plasticy aroma) last year about CTZs. I never picked up on that and used them alot. Used Cents (Hops Direct and Fresh Hops) a few times this year including an all Cent IPA never noticed any off flavors

Some of you guys must be getting better Centennial than I've been able to find the last few years..

I'm with Chris.. I haven't found any REALLY good Centennials in the last 2 years. Some OK at best: slightly fruity, citrusy but also kinda waxy and grassy. Some others are really weird and smell like grandma's old potpourri and diacetyl right out of the bag before they're even in the beer. I've tried Centennials from every local and mailorder source I typically use. I used to lean heavily on Centennial for hoppy beers. I've nearly stopped using them in the dry hop because of this.. Started blending in more Amarillo and playing around with stuff like Citra and back to Cascade and Cascade derivatives as a result.

Back in 2009.. WOW, there were some excellent Centennial available to us homebrewers, now either they're gone completely, or someone's found the right ones to contract out exclusively. Oh well, time to get creative..

Are people noticing a difference between whole hops and pellets or mostly just pellets?