14 replies to this topic

[djinkc]

I just realized an order delivered last week included 1# of Crystal instead of Centennial.  I haven't used them in many years.  I doubt they will want them back.  What would you use if for if at all?  3.6 alpha, pellets

[neddles]

Lager or blended with other C-hops in a pale ale.

[Big Nake]

Great hop. Do whatever you want with it... late in a pale ale, blonde ale, red ale, amber ale. By itself or combined with other hops. It's very 'clean' and American noble-like. I made an amber ale with Mt. Hood, Willamette, Crystal and Glacier late in the boil and then dry hopped with Mt. Hood and Northern Brewer but those late/dry hops could have easily included Crystal. It's a really nice late hop by itself or combined with any of the above and also hops like Santiam, US Golding, Vanguard, Liberty, etc.

[Poptop]

I agree with the above. I like it on the back end. It seems to drown out with the citrus hops but a combo such as Mt. Hood and Crystal makes a very smooth finish.

[Big Nake]

I agree with the above. I like it on the back end. It seems to drown out with the citrus hops but a combo such as Mt. Hood and Crystal makes a very smooth finish.

Agreed. You could dilute the impact of something like Amarillo, Citra, Galaxy by using Crystal or one of the other hops if you wished but people on one side might say, "Dilute Amarillo? Not on MY watch!" while other people might say, "Waste crystal by using it with Amarillo? NO!". I have made some pale ales where I paired Crystal with Cascade which was very nice but I typically use it either alone (late) or with US Golding or Glacier which is another underrated American hop.

[neddles]

It's a component flavor hop in SN Torpedo and Revolution's Fist City Pale Ale where it backs up the more punchy stuff.

[Big Nake]

It's a component flavor hop in SN Torpedo and Revolution's Fist City Pale Ale where it backs up the more punchy stuff.

Didn't know that. That Fist City is quite punchy.

Funny tangent: My dad went in for a knee replacement and could not drink beer. I was living at my parents house for awhile and bought beer for myself and a sixer of Fist City was in there. At some point I told my dad, "Careful when you go back into your beer fridge for the first time... I bought some stuff you won't like". Sure enough on the day he decided to have his first beer he drank one of those. I asked him, "Did you pour it out?" and he said, "No I drank the whole thing but WOW!!!".

[neddles]

Lol, sounds like his taste buds are still working quite well! My FIL can't tell an Octoberfest from an IPA, it all tastes like beer to him. He once took a NG Scream Double IPA from my fridge and drank it. I thought "oh shit this is going to crush his face". When asked about it he said it wasn't much different from the beer he had just before it. What beer was that?... Two Women.   Oooooooooh kaaay.

 

I haven't had it in a while but Fist City is a nice pale ale when you can get it fresh.

[Big Nake]

Lol, sounds like his taste buds are still working quite well! My FIL can't tell an Octoberfest from an IPA, it all tastes like beer to him. He once took a NG Scream Double IPA from my fridge and drank it. I thought "oh shit this is going to crush his face". When asked about it he said it wasn't much different from the beer he had just before it. What beer was that?... Two Women.   Oooooooooh kaaay.
 
I haven't had it in a while but Fist City is a nice pale ale when you can get it fresh.

Sounds like your FIL had tastebud removal surgery. I agree the Fist City is nice. I was drinking it this past August and it was just fine but maybe better as a fall beer or something. There was something a little more assertive to it but who knows... it could have been my taste buds at the moment. Funny that Revolution would bother using Crystal (a more delicate hop) in such a flavorful beer.

[Poptop]

Agreed. You could dilute the impact of something like Amarillo, Citra, Galaxy by using Crystal or one of the other hops if you wished but people on one side might say, "Dilute Amarillo? Not on MY watch!" while other people might say, "Waste crystal by using it with Amarillo? NO!". I have made some pale ales where I paired Crystal with Cascade which was very nice but I typically use it either alone (late) or with US Golding or Glacier which is another underrated American hop.

Amazeballs! I began a design earlier this morning hosting Cascade in the beginning and Crystal at the finish. SWEAR
 
 

It's a component flavor hop in SN Torpedo and Revolution's Fist City Pale Ale where it backs up the more punchy stuff.

SN Torpedo is always in my top 5 when I want a bigger IPA, in fact I picked up a rack on Tuesday

[Big Nake]

Amazeballs! I began a design earlier this morning hosting Cascade in the beginning and Crystal at the finish. SWEAR

Uh huh. Sure. Please stop hacking my recipe database.

[Poptop]

Uh huh. Sure. Please stop hacking my recipe database.

I'd be lying if I said I've never been there several times

[BrewerGeorge]

I used to use it all the time. Great American noble.

[djinkc]

Tip of the hat to Label Peelers.  They got back to me in 70 minutes.  Centennials are coming along with shipping label for the Crystal return.  Almost disappointed but that is fast customer service. Back to delivery day.  I didn't really look over the order and stuffed it in the freezer.  I emailed them since the hops weren't vac packed.  Got an email sent at 10 PM assuring me they were inert gas packed.  Those folks bent over backwards.

[MyaCullen]

I used to use it all the time. Great American noble.

makes a fine Pilsner by itself, blondes, wheats, great in Pales with C hops