I’m brewing up a nice Czech lager, but don’t have any Saaz hops.
There are lots of Mt. Hood hops in my freezer, however.
Would I be breaking all the rules if Mt. Hood hops were used in this Czech style pils?
This is home brewing there are no rules! Except SANITIZE
As far as I’m concerned
They are a nice hop, will have some Mittelfrüh character. I’ve made many beers with Mt Hood.
Thanks for the input. These have worked well for us in a variety of beers. Just never used them for a Czech style beer.
I love Mt. Hood. I probably wouldn’t use them in a Czech Lager, personally but they would work.
It may not be Czech, but I am sure it will be good.
love them, i used to choose them out, but i dont see them on the current list of my LHBS. not saaz, as someone said more like hallertau. great fun
You will see experienced brewers (especially commercial brewers) suggest that you use the best hops you can get as opposed to the more ‘traditional’ hops that might not be as fresh. I spoke with a brewer here in Chicago about the Kolsch his brewery produced. He bittered it with Nugget and added small amounts of Santiam late in the boil. The beer is delicious and he tells me that these are the freshest and most fragrant hops that he can get so that’s what he uses. Similarly, another brewer I know said that the Saaz he gets is just so-so in terms of freshness so he uses Sterling in his Czech beers because he can get fresh & vibrant Sterling hops. So… use the best stuff you have.
Stirling also has a much higher AA% than Saaz. I like it a lot.
I’d give the Mt. Hood a shot, but my disclaimer is that I’m more about experimentation than strictly brewing to style. I recently used only Mt. Hood hops in a mocktoberfest brewed with Cal Common yeast that was not lagered. I don’t get the same level of spiciness I get from the nobles, but there is still some there. I definitely pick up on some of the honey-like sweetness often ascribed to Mt. Hood. It’s not an overwhelming or dominant sweetness by any means and I’m pleased with the beer so far.
Good point. I have some Saaz right now that is something like 2.2% and I think I have an ounce at 1.8%. ??? Meanwhile my Sterlings are 6.5%.
The Saaz hops we used previously were around 3.0% AA, and our Mt. Hood (whole leaf) hops are 6.5% AA.
I have made a few with Stirling for bittering, Saaz late.
From my old memory bank.
American Hop. - Noble parent. (HMf=Hallertau Mittelfrüh)
Stirling - Saaz
Santium - Tettnang
Mit. Hood - HMf
Liberty -HMf
Vangaurd-HMf
Ultra-HMf
US Tettnang = Fuggles. DNA testing
I like that list. I know that hops like Amarillo, Citra, Mosaic, etc. are all the rage but I almost always have [what I call] clean, American hops on hand. Liberty, Crystal, Mt. Hood, Ultra, Santiam, Sterling, Vanguard, Glacier and even US Goldings. I generally don’t use them to sub for Noble hops in lagers but they could certainly be used that way. I typically use them in pale ales, ambers, reds, blondes, etc.
What I’ve found to work really well is a combo of German(ish) and American hops. Mt. Hood and Columbus. Tettnang and Cascade.
I know some people who would say, “You’re covering up your beautiful Tettnanger hops with CASCADE?!?” 
I’d tell them “No, I’m enhancing my beautiful Tettnang hops with Cascade.”
Forgot one I have used often, you jogged my memory.
Crystal - HMf
Columbia -HMf
Those turned out a little fruity for the brewers back then.
It always surprises me when Crystal is mentioned in the same vein as Mt. Hood and Libery. To my palette Crystal has a distinct american hop aroma and flavor that distinguishes it from the other 3. Its a lovely hop, its just not interchangeable as a HMF sub like I feel Mt Hood and Libery are
Half sister, to Mt. Hood, Liberty, and Ultra. It has more American character.