The Hop Chronicles | Motueka (2021) Pale Lager

Writer: Will Lovell

Bred by crossing a range from the New Zealand breeding program with a Saaz-type selection, Motueka takes its title from a hop rising area in New Zealand and is claimed to impart beer with lime notes when used later within the brewing course of. Given its average alpha acid stage and comparatively low cohumulone content material, Motueka can be able to contributing a pleasing bitterness that’s not too sharp.

Alpha: 6.5 – 7.5%
Beta: 5.0 – 5.5%
Cohumulone: 29% of alpha acids
Whole Oil: 0.8 mL/100g
Myrcene: 47.7%
Humulene: 3.6%
Caryophyllene: 2%
Farnesene: 12.2%
Linalool: 1.5 – 1.6%
Geraniol: 0%
ß-Pinene: not out there
Parentage: New Zealand breeding program choice crossed with a Saazer selection

Whereas I’ve used Motueka just a few occasions over time, it’s at all times been at the side of different varieties, and infrequently in additional hop-forward types. Given its Saazer lineage, I used to be excited to see the way it labored when used by itself in a pale lager.

| MAKING THE BEER |

This being the primary Hop Chronicles the place the type was not a hoppy Pale Ale, I labored with the crew to develop a easy pale lager recipe we felt would intensify the hop character regardless of the decrease dosage charges.

Motueka Pale Lager

The evening previous to brewing, I collected the complete quantity of RO water, which I later adjusted to my desired profile.

Subsequent, I weighed out and milled the grain.

When the water was correctly heated, I integrated the grains then checked to make sure the mash was at my desired temperature.

In the course of the mash relaxation, I ready the kettle hop additions.

As soon as the 60 minute mash was full, I eliminated the grains and proceeded to boil for 60 minutes, including hops on the occasions said within the recipe.

When the boil was full, I rapidly chilled the wort then transferred it to a sanitized Kegmenter.

A refractometer studying confirmed the wort was at my goal OG.

11.6 ˚Bx = 1.047 OG

After transferring the wort to a sanitized fermented, I direct pitched a single pouch of Imperial Yeast L13 World.

The beer was left to ferment at 64°F/17°C for every week earlier than I took a hydrometer measurement confirming FG was reached.

1.005 FG

With fermentation full, I cold-crashed the beer then pressure-transferred it to a CO2 purged keg, which was positioned in my kegerator and burst carbonated in a single day earlier than the gasoline was diminished to serving stress. After a pair weeks of conditioning, it was able to serve to blind tasters.

| METHOD |

Individuals have been instructed to focus solely on the fragrant qualities of the beer earlier than evaluating the flavour. For every aroma and taste descriptor, tasters have been requested to write-in the perceived power of that individual attribute on a 0-9 scale the place a ranking of 0 meant they didn’t understand the character in any respect and a 9 ranking meant the character was extraordinarily robust. As soon as the info was collected, the typical ranking of every aroma and taste descriptor was compiled and analyzed.

| RESULTS |

A complete of 23 folks participated within the analysis of this beer, all blind to the hop selection used till after they accomplished the survey. The common aroma and taste scores for every descriptor have been plotted on a radar graph.

Common Rankings of Aroma and Taste Perceptions

The three traits endorsed as being most outstanding by members:

The three traits endorsed as being least outstanding by members:

Subsequent, members have been requested to price the pungency/power of the hop.

Tasters have been then instructed to establish beer types they thought the hop would work effectively in.

Lastly, members have been requested to price how a lot they loved the hop character on a 1 to 10 scale.

My Impressions: Regardless of the comparatively low hopping price I used on this beer, I perceived a noticeable citrus character, specifically lime and lemon, which was properly balanced by the bready pilsner malt.

| CONCLUSION |

Because the progeny of a Saazer-type hop, it’s a good assumption that Motueka would work effectively in pale lager, although given the area by which it was developed, one may also presume it packs a extra fruity punch. Certainly, this New Zealand selection is claimed to impart beer with citrus and candy fruit notes as opposed the floral and spicy traits anticipated of basic noble hops.

Essentially the most outstanding attribute famous by tasters of a pale lager hopped solely with Motueka was citrus, adopted carefully by apple/pear and tropical fruit, whereas much less fascinating notes of onion/garlic and dank/catty have been the bottom rated descriptors. The vast majority of tasters rated the hop pungency as delicate, which can be a operate of the decrease hopping price total, and most appeared to benefit from the beer. Lastly, pale lager and Blonde Ale have been the types tasters thought Motueka would work finest in.

Personally, whereas I felt the hop character on this Motueka Pale Lager was considerably unidimensional, I nonetheless actually loved the way in which the zesty lime and lemon melded with the bready pilsner malt. As somebody whose use of Motueka had at all times been in hoppier types previous to this batch, I undoubtedly see myself utilizing it in much less assertive types sooner or later, maybe alongside different varieties as a manner so as to add a contact of complexity.

Motueka hops can be found now at Yakima Valley Hops, get some whilst you can! In case you have any ideas on this selection, please be at liberty to share them within the feedback part under.

Help Brülosophy In Fashion!

All designs can be found in numerous colours and sizes on Amazon!

Observe Brülosophy on:

FACEBOOK   |   TWITTER   |   INSTAGRAM

If you happen to get pleasure from these items and really feel compelled to help Brulosophy.com, please try the Help web page for particulars on how one can very simply achieve this. Thanks!