I had a first taste of these hops last night in a Single hop beer by the Rooster brewery simply called Jester. These hops are described by the industry thus.... "Jesterî has an intense, punchy aroma of new world proportions, with flavour notes of Grapefruit and tropical fruits."
Now I think this is an exaggeration to say the least. The beer I had did not have an intense punchy aroma of New World proportions.
However, this is neither an attack on the British hop growers or even on Jester hops. The beer was lovely. Rooster make really nice beers and this was excellent. I had a second pint, and I rarely have two the same when there is a choice. On a school night anyway. I really wanted another.
https://untappd.com/b/rooster-s-jester/597000/photos
Let's just describe things accurately. It's a very tasty hop and I would happily brew with it, but it is much more like an English hop than a New World hop, in my opinion. And if we can increase the range of tasty English hops that will suit me just fine, let the countries with warmer climates knock out the big hops, and let's focus on what our conditions produce best, which is lovely floral/spicy hops that make a welcome change from the Citras and the Galaxies, and produce beautiful beers when paired with our top quality British malts and yeasts. You can't grow mangos and pineapples in Northumberland, can you? It's not going to happen, so stop pretending and trying to convince people, and believe in the nature of English hops. Sales to the USA have doubled in the last 2 or 3 years. Cos they're different.
I'll get some Jester hops at some point, and I am keen to try Archer and Flyer hops, two new English varieties which were both recommended on another forum by an American brewer. Look out too for Minstrel, Olicana, Epic and Endeavour hops, more new English varieties, and I believe there are more to follow. There are 27 English varieties currently available to brewers, I've only brewed with 11 of them so far:
http://www.britishhops.org.uk/british-hop-varieties/
Now I think this is an exaggeration to say the least. The beer I had did not have an intense punchy aroma of New World proportions.
However, this is neither an attack on the British hop growers or even on Jester hops. The beer was lovely. Rooster make really nice beers and this was excellent. I had a second pint, and I rarely have two the same when there is a choice. On a school night anyway. I really wanted another.
https://untappd.com/b/rooster-s-jester/597000/photos
Let's just describe things accurately. It's a very tasty hop and I would happily brew with it, but it is much more like an English hop than a New World hop, in my opinion. And if we can increase the range of tasty English hops that will suit me just fine, let the countries with warmer climates knock out the big hops, and let's focus on what our conditions produce best, which is lovely floral/spicy hops that make a welcome change from the Citras and the Galaxies, and produce beautiful beers when paired with our top quality British malts and yeasts. You can't grow mangos and pineapples in Northumberland, can you? It's not going to happen, so stop pretending and trying to convince people, and believe in the nature of English hops. Sales to the USA have doubled in the last 2 or 3 years. Cos they're different.
I'll get some Jester hops at some point, and I am keen to try Archer and Flyer hops, two new English varieties which were both recommended on another forum by an American brewer. Look out too for Minstrel, Olicana, Epic and Endeavour hops, more new English varieties, and I believe there are more to follow. There are 27 English varieties currently available to brewers, I've only brewed with 11 of them so far:
http://www.britishhops.org.uk/british-hop-varieties/
