Anyone used Topaz before?

[HisDudeness]

So I picked up some Aussie hops (topaz and Pride of Ringwood) that were on offer from HBC and would like to have a go at an Australian hopped pale ale. Does anyone have any experience or recommendations for this variety? I have seen a few things online about it not being great for dry hopping....

I am thinking of doing a version of this recipe but subbing in Topaz for the Galaxy and using PoR for bittering hops.

http://beersmithrecipes.com/viewrecipe/3684/galaxy-pond-pale-ale

 

[ManseMasher]

Never used it, but found this (it's from the 'massive hop list' I posted a while back).

Topaz Hops:

This hybrid was created by Hop Products Australia in 1985 to be primarily used as a bittering hop. At the turn of the millenium, however, craft brewers sought Topaz hops for their wonderfully unique aroma of grassy, resinous spice and a tropical note when dry-hopped. With an alpha acid range of 13.7% to 17.7%, the bittering quotient is high and smooth, making Topaz a perfect addition to all IPAs as well as Pale Ales and Dark Ales. Topaz hops are said to be similar to Summit and Apollo hops in their brewing application, so those varietals would make a good substitute if needed. Give Australian Topaz hops a try in commercial brews like Samuel Adams’s Tasman Red IPA.

 

[clibit]

I've not got round to it yet but someone said it's a Galaxy type of hop - full and fruity.

 

[HisDudeness]

Thanks MM and Clibit, should work well if it's similar to Galaxy then. I think that description may have the bit about dry hopping the wrong way round though. Have seen elsewhere that resinous dank flavour is more from dry hopping apparently. A couple of other sites mention blueberry flavour which sounds interesting....

 

[clibit]

Some descriptions here:

http://www.jimsbeerkit.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=71633

 

[HisDudeness]

Here's the idea

Pond Monster Aussie Pale Ale

21L Batch
OG 1.048
FG 1.011
ABV 5%
SRM 8L
IBU 40

Grain
4kg MO
350g crystal 40L
100g CaraPils

Hops
Pride of Ringwood 15g @ 60
Cascade 15g @ 10
Topaz 15g @ 10
Cascade 20g @ 5
Topaz 20g @ 5
Cascade 15g @ 0
Topaz 25g @ 0
Cascade 20g @ 5 day dry hop

Yeast Fullers English Ale

I have changed the hop schedule a bit from the original recipe to put more emphasis on the topaz but have not used it for dry hop as not sure I want to bring out dank flavour

 

[clibit]

That should work - be interesting to see how it comes out, how it pairs with Cascade.

 

[HisDudeness]

Thanks for that link clibit, interesting how some people get different flavours from things blueberries and blood oranges are pretty different tastes!

 

[clibit]

Seymour knows what he's talking about. He will be close.

 

[HisDudeness]

Seymour knows what he's talking about. He will be close.

:thumb: In that case I look forward to tasting the tomato plant in the beer :lol:

Anyway joking aside its going on the 'brews to do' list, that first gold bitter is next up though so may be a while yet......

 

[HebridesRob]

Never heard of Topaz hops, know nothing about Antipodean beer really.
I usually use beerlegends.com and hopunion.com if I want to know about hops. Beer legends don't have an entry.
https://www.hopunion.com/australian-topaz/
Quite a lot of oils, looks like it'll be quite strong tasting.

 

[clibit]

Never heard of Topaz hops, know nothing about Antipodean beer really.
I usually use beerlegends.com and hopunion.com if I want to know about hops. Beer legends don't have an entry.
https://www.hopunion.com/australian-topaz/
Quite a lot of oils, looks like it'll be quite strong tasting.

You need to try some NZ hops - they have some of the best hops on the planet. A lot of brewers reckon they are the best.

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=283184

 

[HisDudeness]

You need to try some NZ hops - they have some of the best hops on the planet. A lot of brewers reckon they are the best.

Nelson Sauvin certainly seem to be the 'Hop du jour' in a lot of pale ales and ipas at the moment

 

[clibit]

Nelson Sauvin certainly seem to be the 'Hop du jour' in a lot of pale ales and ipas at the moment

I reckon we should do a group buy of some Riwaka hops, as they are really hard to get hold of, but are superb - they'd have to be bought from NZ, and postage would make it around £8-10 per 100g I think. Max purchase is 400g! Could split into 8 x 50g maybe.

 

[rodabod]

I found that Galaxy was slightly astringent when I used it as a single hop. I believe it came about when dry hopping as I couldn't detect it pre-fermentation, though it could have been masked.

I'd have a little search on Google, as I wish I had before I'd used it. It has a lovely, lovely flavour to it, but just needs to be used correctly.

 

[stevej]

I reckon we should do a group buy of some Riwaka hops, as they are really hard to get hold of, but are superb - they'd have to be bought from NZ, and postage would make it around ��£8-10 per 100g I think. Max purchase is 400g! Could split into 8 x 50g maybe.

Or you could buy some and give some to me:lol:

 

[ManseMasher]

I reckon we should do a group buy of some Riwaka hops, as they are really hard to get hold of, but are superb - they'd have to be bought from NZ, and postage would make it around �£8-10 per 100g I think. Max purchase is 400g! Could split into 8 x 50g maybe.

I've just placed a dummy order - 400g works out around £22 including shipping.....

 

[stevej]

I've just placed a dummy order - 400g works out around �£22 including shipping.....

Who with MM ?

 

[ManseMasher]

http://www.brewshop.co.nz/hops-riwaka.html

 

[HisDudeness]

I reckon we should do a group buy of some Riwaka hops, as they are really hard to get hold of, but are superb - they'd have to be bought from NZ, and postage would make it around �£8-10 per 100g I think. Max purchase is 400g! Could split into 8 x 50g maybe.

I'd be up for that :thumb: