Home brewing - alpha acid content of hops?!


Question: Home brewing - alpha acid content of hops!?
I have several home brewing books which quote the alpha acid content of Hallertau hops as 7!.5%!. However, when I have bought some over the last 3 years I have never seen the figure on the label above 3!.6%!.
My question is, do I assume that the figure is wrong, and use the amount of hops quoted in the recipe, or should I go by the figure on the label and increase the weight of hops used to get the bitterness up to the level expected for 7!.5% alpha acid!?
I have been brewing for many years, and tried both ways; the results have always been excellent but wonder if anyone else has any opinions!.
(the books in question are all by Graham Wheeler)Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
Not sure where you've read about Hallertau at 7!.5% alpha, but
unless you're dealing with Hallertau Tradition that seems to be
a bit high!. Most Hallertau (Hersbrucker, Hallertauer, Mittlefreuh,
etc!.) run in the 4%-6% range, and alpha content can vary widely
between crop years!. Go with what is on the package and adjust
your hop additions to achieve the target IBU listed in the recipe!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I believe the use of a recipe is merely to tell you what the ratio of each hop should be in the beer and what the total bitterness you should be aiming for!.

As such, you need to adjust each recipe for the specific hops you are using!. Not doing this should make the beer less bitter which could be perceived as slightly sweet or malt biased!. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, both ways may end up with good beers, but the difference is that one is the recipe (when you alter the weights) and one is your modification (ironically, following the weights in the book)!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Go by what the label says; different batches of hops vary a lot!. Unless you got a really great buy on hallertau, why are you wasting this noble aroma hop by using it as a bittering hop!? Why not go with something like Chinook or Galena!?Www@FoodAQ@Com





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