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Hi. I just found your group and joined; until now I was not aware of a group specific to Irish Craft Brewing, so this is a great discovery. I live in the U.S. but I've been a member of groups in the U.K., Scotland, Australia, and South Africa for years, but none for Ireland. I've brewed, off and on, for over 10 years, and I'm an all grain brewer. Getting ready to bottle and then brew a new batch today, and am just surfing around while my water heats and bottles drain a bit.

I'm planning a pale ale using my own home-grown hops for flavor and aroma. If any of you happen to grow your own hops, or have considered doing so, you might like to know that I formed a Yahoo 'Grow-Hops' group that focuses exclusively on growing and processing beer ingredients - primarily hops, but also herbs and grains. In just three months we have gathered 326 members, so we have a lot of expertise to help growers in that fairly narrow area of interest. All are welcome to join us, and I now look forward to learning more about Irish beer. If interested, please visit <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="groups.yahoo.com/group/Grow-Hops">groups.yahoo.com/group/Grow-Hops

Cheers.

Bill Velek

Welcome aboard billvelek

I was thing of grown some first gold, the dwarf variety this year,

Hi Bill,

Welcome to ICB. I've seen your (many) posts on beertools.com and remember your sig there with the hop growing groups.

A few members here have thought about growing their own hops, and I know of a couple who are already doing so. I'm sure you have alot to contribute to this community, so I look forward to it! <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

Nice to hear from you Bill. What hops are you using today?

[quote:1s92aonl]I was thing of grown some first gold, the dwarf variety this year,[/quote:1s92aonl]First Gold is a lovely hop. I got a couple of bottles of Badger First Gold[/url:1s92aonl] at the weekend and it's very tasty. My original comparison ale used this but I lost it to an infection <!-- s:( --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_sad.gif" alt="" title="Sad" /><!-- s:( -->

&amp;quot;bigears&amp;quot;:2bpydky5 wrote: Nice to hear from you Bill. What hops are you using today? ... snip[/quote:2bpydky5]
I'm sort of limited on my selection of bittering hops (my inventory is getting low), so I've decided to use .8oz (23g) of Chinook (AA%11.9) and just toss out the little bit that's left over. According to BeerToolsPro, that will give me a bitterness close to 40, which is a little bit past the mid-range for a Pale Ale. That does not account for any minimal bitterness from the flavor and aroma hops, since I will be using my Fuggles (homegrown) and I have no idea what the AA% for them is, but they obviously won't be in the kettle long and shouldn't take it out of range. I usually just play around with BTP, but don't REALLY know which the most appropriate hops should be, although my beer usually turns out pretty decent (my family and friends like it, too). I'm going to buy "Designing Great Beers" the next time I get down to my local homebrew shop, and then maybe I'll actually start to do things right. <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

Any way, .8oz of Chinook for bittering, and 1oz. each of my homegrown Fuggles for Flavoring and then Aroma. And a big "THANK YOU" for the warm welcome and replies from other members.

Cheers.

Bill Velek

[quote:y6atc3oe]my beer usually turns out pretty decent (my family and friends like it, too). I'm going to buy "Designing Great Beers" the next time I get down to my local homebrew shop, and then maybe I'll actually start to do things right. Very Happy [/quote:y6atc3oe]Most of us are happy with that kind of result! You'll enjoy the book, it's excellent.