In this SMaSH (Single Malt and Single Hop) experiment, we wanted to test the flavor profile of Elani hops. I picked up 2 ounces from Yakama Valley Hops, though we only used 1 ounce in our typical one-gallon batch. The brew consisted of two pounds of Rahr two-row malt, spring water, and US-05 yeast. After fermenting for about two weeks, we packaged the beer and prepared to dive into what these hops could bring to the table.
How We Brewed It
For this brew, I followed our usual hop schedule: 7 grams of Elani hops at the beginning of the boil, another 7 grams at 10 minutes, 7 grams at flameout, and finally 7 grams for dry hopping. Based on the description from the 2022 crop on the Yakama Valley website, we expected aromas and flavors of tropical fruits like pineapple, guava, and lime, along with some stone fruit and citrus. However, when we tasted the beer, it didn’t quite match up to the descriptors. The bitterness was strong and the flavors were dominated by grassy and earthy notes with a touch of celery. Any promised fruit or bright character was completely missing.
Our Final Thoughts
Mike and I both agreed that this batch didn’t live up to our expectations. The Elani hops brought more of a bitter, harsh grassy profile rather than the tropical or fruity notes we had hoped for. Even as the beer warmed up, it failed to develop any of those lighter, delicate flavors. In the end, this batch left us thinking that maybe the selection of hops we received weren’t the best from that crop year. Overall, if you’re looking for tropical flavors, this might not be the hop for you. Hopefully, future crops of Elani will deliver better results, but for now, we’ll be sticking to more reliable varieties for our brewing experiments.
Brew ON!
Tim Sattler
Please email me at your convenience.
Cheers, Tim
John
Hi Tim – we replied to your email.