Experimental Hops?

[quattlebaum]

I was given some whole leaf fresh hops from the “big boys” in saint Louis I was not given any info on these hops except for they are being looked at closely. So ? Is any suggestions on how to go about what the bitterns/ alpha may be? Considered doing a classic American pilsner for obvious reasons but am up for suggestions

[sathingtonwilloby (Mark G)]

If you don’t know the alpha on them, just use them for aroma/flavor so the IBU contribution is minimal. Then use a clean bittering hop of known alpha at 60 to get your IBUs in the ballpark.

[jonhughey_att.net (HoosierBrew)]

If you don’t know the alpha on them, just use them for aroma/flavor so the IBU contribution is minimal. Then use a clean bittering hop of known alpha at 60 to get your IBUs in the ballpark.

+1

[erockrph]

If you don’t know the alpha on them, just use them for aroma/flavor so the IBU contribution is minimal. Then use a clean bittering hop of known alpha at 60 to get your IBUs in the ballpark.

Or you can go the other route. If we assume that around 100 IBU’s is the maximum you can get in a beer, then you can just brew an IPA and use enough hops where no matter how low the AA% is you should get in the 100 IBU range. Or just throw a pound or two in at flameout and hop stand for an hour.