Our hops aroma and flavor explorations continue. This time, we’re diving into Moutere hops from New Zealand. If you’ve been following along with our SMaSH (Single Malt and Single Hop) beer experiments, you know we’re all about showcasing the unique characteristics of individual hops. Moutere (pronounced Mow-terry, we think!) is a newer hop variety with a hefty alpha acid percentage of 17.4%. We’re thinking that this variety is more than just a high alpha hop. The aroma and flavor profile should be intriguing as well, right? Watch this video as we break down this experiment and share what we discovered.
The SMaSH Brew Process
For this batch, we stuck with our standard SMaSH setup: a 1-gallon brew with 2 pounds of malt, 2 gallons of water, and 1 ounce of hops. We used US-05 yeast for a clean fermentation profile. With Moutere’s high alpha acid, we kept the bitterness in check by adding just 3.5 grams of hops at the start of the 60-minute boil. To enhance the aroma, we added 17.5 grams at flameout and the remaining 7 grams for dry hopping. The result? A beer with a bold aroma and subtle tropical flavors that we couldn’t wait to dissect.
What We Learned
Moutere hops delivered an unexpected experience. On the nose, we picked up vegetal notes that reminded us of roasted acorn squash or even sweet hay. At first, it was a bit off-putting, but as the beer warmed up, the aroma grew on us. The flavor leaned toward the tropical side, with hints of underripe papaya and dried passionfruit, though these fruity notes were subtle. The combination of vegetal and tropical qualities made this hop a bit of a conundrum, but in the best way.
For brewers looking to expand their sensory palette, Moutere is worth a try. It challenges the conventional descriptors and could pair wonderfully with a Belgian Saison yeast to bring out complementary peppery and fruity esters. Overall, this hop broadened our perspective and proved how exciting single-hop brewing can be.
Thanks for following along and cheers to continuing your homebrewing adventures.
BREW ON!