After drinking this last night, fresh from the keg, I came to realize two things. First, I love Simcoe hops, especially dry hopped, especially a lot of them. Second, there are some beers that are so good, we feel the urge to share with others. This is one of those beers. I love it. Whether it’s the recipe, the Victory malt, the dark crystal malt, the loads of Simcoe and ridiculous amount of hops in general, or the interesting herbal Chinook hops, or the fact that I forget to fine it, the attention to pH, or all of the above? – it’s a keeper.
Immediately you get a huge hop aroma, and I mean yuge: citrus, fruity, pungent, floral. I really think Simcoe dominates the aroma. Some people describe Simcoe hops as “dank” or “catty”. I have no fucking clue what that means. Seriously…catty? Who was the first idiot to drink an IPA and say “I’m getting a bit of cattiness from these hops.” And what did the other person say? They probably nodded their heads in agreement, like the group-think-sheep we are.
The first drink is smooth. The hops are delicious, the Chinook gives a unique quality, the malt gives a nice backbone. Perhaps I would change the yeast to “London III,” as the Avery website suggests.
Maharaja Clone (6 gal.)
16 lb 2-row
1 lb Sugar (added to boil)
9 oz Victory malt
9 oz C-120
—-mashed at 148 for 30 minutes—
1 teaspoon of acid added to mash for pH
2 oz Columbus FW (30 minute boil)
2 oz Simcoe FO
2 oz Centenial FO
4.5 oz Simcoe DH 3 days
2 oz Centenial DH
2 oz Chinook DH
US 05 yeast
peace
-matt
Truly a scrumtrulescent experience. The cattiness will have you purring “meowww”. Best enjoyed with whitefish, freshly oiled leather driving gloves and Nabokov.
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loved the Nabokov reference, as I’m a librarian.
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That looks yummy and must be a pretty big beer, no? Funny about the “catty” hops. I see these kinds of descriptions all the time and they make me laugh out loud. “Horsey” or “barnyard” are 2 of my favorites. I guess my palate is rather unrefined. It is either “tasty” or “dogshitty”
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haha. The power of perception and subjectivity runs rampant in tasting beer, wine, whatever.
If I give you a beer and say “taste this…there’s a hint of sage in there” you will 95% of the time say “oh yeah, I do get that.”
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So true!
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and yes, it’s big. Probably 10% or so.
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I also love references to fruit that nobody has ever eaten in their lives.
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I think catty may mean reminiscent of the smell of feline urine. Seriously. It can smell like pine.
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Looks like it’s a formal term and even has aroma standards:
http://www.flavoractiv.com/products/catty-beer-flavour-standard/
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