11 replies to this topic

[Poptop]

I want to use the Stirling singly in my next batch which by design is going to be an American Strong. It's my 100th batch and I want it big enough to lay down. I want a nice spicy hop Stirling as I understand it might fit that bill; a Super Saaz no? Anyway I know that hop character will dissipate as the beer ages but whatever remains, again I want it more spicy than fruity etc... Any thoughts would be appreciated. Even though it's a big beer I don't intend on a huge bitter. I want it wine-like as it matures....

Thanks Fellas

[Big Nake]

Sterling is nice.  I used to use it in my blonde ale with some late Sterling added.  The AA% is usually higher than most Nobles like Saaz and the flavor is crisp & herbal.  Eventually I started experimenting with other varieties and also pledging to stop buying so many different kinds of hops and I just never went back to it.  I should probably make an ale with Sterling as the centerpiece.  Some sites say that Sterling is "Spicy and Complex" and I agree to a point.  I do seem to remember it being a bit more assertive than Noble hops but with so many other assertive hops out there these days, I'm not sure I would say that Sterling is all that assertive.  There seems to be some camps who also like the idea of a beer with Sterling as the only hop so that falls in line with your idea too.  But if you use it late then the glory of the hop will fade because you want the beer to age... that part is making me because I'm not sure how much of it will be left at that point.  It seems like this hop's main use would be a more freshly-served beer with the Sterling being used late in the boil, WP or dry-hopped.  

 

* Not a paid spokesperson... *

[Poptop]

The Stirling I have is 11.3% so hitting in the front and end should suffice. I have used it in a standard lager and liked it so I sorta-kinda know what I'm getting but I never showcased it singly. My thought process, and maybe I'm wrong is that I'm pretty sure most any hops will lose their presence with time. But what I don't want is the fruity, orangy, citrusy aroma in this beer. So Stirling. If it lingers for a time great. If it leaves at some point whatever is still there will have the spice I want. I know. I'm weird.

[Big Nake]

I hear you.  I often say that I want to make a beer with "clean" hops and when I use that term I mean herbal, spicy, noble, etc. and I do not mean fruity.  I'm talking noble hops or other clean hops like Mt. Hood or Northern Brewer, Santiam, Liberty, Crystal, Ultra, any British hop, etc.  When I want fruit I tend to stick to Amarillo and Citra but I have some others in the house now too including Mosaic, Galaxy, Lemon Drop, Loral, El Dorado, Ella and some others.  Sterling will work nicely for your needs.  

[Poptop]

I hear you.  I often say that I want to make a beer with "clean" hops and when I use that term I mean herbal, spicy, noble, etc. and I do not mean fruity.  I'm talking noble hops or other clean hops like Mt. Hood or Northern Brewer, Santiam, Liberty, Crystal, Ultra, any British hop, etc.  When I want fruit I tend to stick to Amarillo and Citra but I have some others in the house now too including Mosaic, Galaxy, Lemon Drop, Loral, El Dorado, Ella and some others.  Sterling will work nicely for your needs.

We are very much on the same lines with what we want a beer to taste like. I kegged my 4th and final Bayern yesterday and made a simple Lager with 1/2 ounce of Chinook at 20 minutes and a couple doses of Mt. Hood to finish. It tastes really nice but even with such a small amount of the Chinook, it is definitely identifiable. I'm not opposed to using it again but it's taken me all these batches to declare that I really love the Noble's. The sad part if that I have a lot of American IPA type hops. They are well sealed and maintained but they are truly dying of boredom I have no interest in them lately.

Edited by Poptop, 23 July 2018 - 10:37 AM.

[Steve Urquell]

I am drinking one I made with sterling and feel it is one of the best beers I've ever made. Reminds me of Saaz but with a little more punch anx resin. Just what I was looking for. This one.
https://brews-bros.c...r/#entry2761480

[Big Nake]

We are very much on the same lines with what we want a beer to taste like. I kegged my 4th and final Bayern yesterday and made a simple Lager with 1/2 ounce of Chinook at 20 minutes and a couple doses of Mt. Hood to finish. It tastes really nice but even with such a small amount of the Chinook, it is definitely identifiable. I'm not opposed to using it again but it's taken me all these batches to declare that I really love the Noble's. The sad part if that I have a lot of American IPA type hops. They are well sealed and maintained but they are truly dying of boredom I have no interest in them lately.

 

Yeah, I suppose it's just preference.  I mainly stay away from the fruity APAs or IPAs and maybe drink them when I'm out.  But occasionally I do like a pale ale late-hopped with Amarillo, Citra or Cascade.  I also have no issues experimenting with some of these other fruity hops but for me there is only so much of that I can take and if I already have Amarillo and/or Citra to satisfy me, I don't need to go nuts with these other newer varieties because it's just not where my interest lies.  When I ordered these other off-the-map hops they were in 2-ounces bags so we're not talking a lot of hops.  

[Poptop]

I am drinking one I made with sterling and feel it is one of the best beers I've ever made. Reminds me of Saaz but with a little more punch anx resin. Just what I was looking for. This one.
https://brews-bros.c...r/#entry2761480

That's also what I'm looking for

[HVB]

Late to the party here but I had a couple pints of my Sterling Rye Pilsner yesterday and very happy with it. I think Ken and Chills did a good job with describing the hop.  To me is a noble with a bit of something else.  Little but more resin and a little bit more pop coming through in the final beer.  I will be doing more beers with this hop because I think it can be found in better condition than Saaz most of the time. 

[Big Nake]

I'll have to grab some and make a beer with it because all of this talk is making me want to try it again.  Sterling is one of those hops that I probably wouldn't use in a lager (5 pounds of Hallertau will do that to you!) so I would probably make something like a blonde ale or pale ale or possibly mix it with something and make an American Ale or American Pub Ale kind of thing.  Maybe something SRM 10-12 with bittering hops and then 2-3 ounces of Sterling late... something like that.  I have 1028 ready for my next run of ales so I'm -ing a little bit. 

[HVB]

I'll have to grab some and make a beer with it because all of this talk is making me want to try it again.  Sterling is one of those hops that I probably wouldn't use in a lager (5 pounds of Hallertau will do that to you!) so I would probably make something like a blonde ale or pale ale or possibly mix it with something and make an American Ale or American Pub Ale kind of thing.  Maybe something SRM 10-12 with bittering hops and then 2-3 ounces of Sterling late... something like that.  I have 1028 ready for my next run of ales so I'm -ing a little bit. 

Try it in a lager!  Mix it up with the Hallertau.  Hard to believe I have not even used any of the Hallertau yet.

[Steve Urquell]

I almost think sterling is what super fresh Cz saaz should taste like. Saaz with more flavor. When I get fresh leaf fro HD its really close to sterling