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Palisade Hops

Here’s a new hop variety that may be one to try:  Palisade Hops.   I found that there is little official information and varying forum and personal accounts.  Here is a culmination of what I read plus a large employment of my own editorial power.

Origin: USA.  It is bred and trademarked by Yakima Chief Ranches.  From other sources, it appears to have been bred from a version of Tettanger (possibly Swiss?).  I couldn’t find any release date information.

Aroma: Floral.  Subtle Apricot.  Grassy.  “Pretty”.

Alpha Acid: 5.5-9.5%

Typical Usage:  Although the alpha acid is pushing double digits on the high end, this is an aroma hop variety.  I think Palisade hops are similar to Glacier hops.  Many of the things I read both online and offline seemed to support a subtle, non-aggressive, smooth hop flavor with a fruity, non-citrusy aroma.   If you are a hop head, I think you will be unimpressed by this variety.  I would bitter with a high alpha acid hop variety and combine Palisade with a citrusy aroma hop variety to make a American pale ale.  This hop variety is better for English style pale ales.

Here are some other newish American hop varieties:

Santiam Hops

Simcoe Hops

Ahtanum Hops

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8 Comments

  1. Nice writeup, I have used them a few times and agree that they are better used in an english style rather than an American style. Made a little write up about them over on my blog.

  2. Mardoo

    How do you reckon they would do in a kolsch? I’m doing
    my first kolsch and these sound good for what I’m shooting for.

  3. Nathan

    A more unique IPA I’m quite fond of is the Boulevard Single Wide IPA. Their website lists Palisade hops as one of the five or six they use to hop it. The Single Wide is a profoundly grapefruity, soft, IPA. I have tried to find how they achieved the strong citrus flavor and aroma without venturing into pine or earthy qualities. I suspect it is, in part, due to Palisade and an English ale yeast. I have confirmed with them that Boulevard uses English yeast for this beer. The first commenter might be spot on in mentioning it working with English styled yeast profiles, even if its an American style IPA.

  4. Simon_W

    Years ago, I had the opportunity to test a wide array of Single Hops IPAs, each brewed exactly the same way, using the same malt and the same amount of hops, the only difference being the variety of the hops. And the IPA with the Palisade hops turned out to be my absolute favourite. The aroma reminded me of Pale Ales from the English midlands. Sweetish, reminiscent of dark fruits like prune. Slightly nutty and earthy, too. Still quite bitter. So I agree that this would excell in an English style Pale Ale. The problem is just that I’m not aware of any that use it. And in American IPAs it’s usually combined with other hop varieties, which blurrs the Palisade hops character. I read that the Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA has Palisade hops “as its centerpiece”. So I might eventually try this. But the description of that IPA doesn’t quite match the experience that I had.

  5. Thanks Simon – this is great feedback! I think some hops will work best in certain styles. Cheers!

  6. Thanks Nathan!

  7. You can give it a try!

  8. Right on!

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