Ok, when you name your variety after a small, oily fish, you need intrepid homebrewing beer bloggers to get to the bottom of the aroma and flavor characteristics. Do Anchovy Hops really live up to the label or is it a bit of bait and switch? Watch this video to learn the truth!

The SMaSH Beer Process

Before we get to the results, here is how we set up this experiment.

Ingredients:
2 pounds (0.9 kilograms) of 2-row raw malt
2 gallons (7.6 liters) of spring water
1 ounce (28 grams) of Anchovy hops
3 grams of US-05 Dry yeast

Procedure:
Mash the 2 pounds of 2-row raw malt with 2 gallons of water at around 150°F for one hour (Brew-in-a bag)
Transfer to kettle and boil the wort for an hour
Add Anchovy hops at different stages:

  • 7 gram at start of the boil
  • 7 grams at 20 minutes to go in the boil
  • 7 grams at flameout (chilled down to 180°F and let it stand for 10 minutes)
  • 7 grams after fermentation for a week (added into the fermentor)

Cold crash the beer after fermenting for a total of two weeks (1 week at room temperature, 1 week with additional hops).

Keg the beer for serving.

What’s The Real Deal With Anchovy Hops?

So we got this packet of Anchovy hops from Yakima Valley Hops. These were from the 2023 harvest season. They were named by the Fast Fashion Brewing Company in Seattle, The hops are an experimental variety from Seagal Ranch in Lower Yakima Valley. The commercial descriptors claim this variety has watermelon hard candy, raspberry, and pine notes.

Our notes from this beer are different:

  • Aroma: Lemon-like with hints of coconut and a candy-like quality.
  • Flavor: Lemon candy, coconut, and a subtle hint of vanilla. Some pine and pithiness noted in the aftertaste.

Tasting this beer, we think Anchovy hops are suitable for a refreshing beer on a hot summer day. Mike thinks that brewing a wheat beer or an American version of a Belgian wit with these hops would be great.

Sorry salty fish lovers, this variety is not going to mesh with your expectations.

BREW ON!