FeldmarshalReinheitsgebot wrote:also on the Magnum
I've been using Magnum in my lagers due to the lack of German aroma hops .. there is no obtrusive taste from it .. N.B. my lagers include pilsner malt so I'm doing 90 minute boils
for the A.A.
the first year try splitting a batch .. with one split use commercial hops with a known A.A. with the other split use your homegrown hops
compare the resulting beers for bitterness
once you've got that done you know what your hop plant turns out for A.A .. well this was 2/3 as bitter as beer made with 10 A.A. Magnum, so I've got a 6.6 A.A. Magnum, growing conditions will vary from year to year, so maybe repeat this experiment for a few years, after awhile you'll know what your plant does, after 3 years I imagine it would be pretty set
a lot of work I know, thats why I only went for the aroma types
Thanks. That sounds like a very good way to do it. I went for Magnum b/c I live in the NE and they're supposed to be very hardy and fairly disease resistant. Since I'm growing these at my parents house which I don't live at and can't check every day, I thought a hardier variety might be the best way to go... we'll see I guess.