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Adding hop oil to gin
Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2018 7:39 pm
by brat
So I am working on my first gin. But I want to add some hop flavor and was thinking of adding some hops to the vapor path. But am not sure if that will release any bitterness and I don't want to leave any hop oils in my still as I hear they are a pain to get rid of. But I found this product.
https://www.grapeandgranary.com/hop-doc ... -1-oz.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
I was wondering if anyone here has tried it.
Re: Adding hop oil to gin
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2018 4:59 am
by still_stirrin
20-25 years ago it was the rage for boosting the hop character in domestic IPAs (beer). Since then, hop strains have been developed which have a much higher acid content to “electrofy” the American IPA styles. I’d suppose some homebrewers still use the hop oils in their homebrews today.
But I’ve not heard of anyone putting the essence into a distilled spirit, let alone a gin. New frontiers ahead of you there.
Personally, I would never do it because I’m allergic to hops.
ss
Re: Adding hop oil to gin
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2018 5:14 am
by brat
Am not a big fan of the bitterness. But I do like the hop aroma. Which is why I want to give this a try. One thing am concerned about is how long will the hop aromas stick around.
Re: Adding hop oil to gin
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2018 12:21 pm
by fizzix
I've not used the Hop Doctor product in any regard, but you got me thinking about using the very aromatic Citra hops in a hop ball, steeped in a sample of the finished gin.
Like it's name, Citra is the most citric of hops (good match for gin), and one of the strongest for aroma.
It
is a high acid hop, but since you're steeping and not cooking, perhaps it would be acceptable.
Plus, steeping would allow you to test taste and find the time span that fits your flavor/smell without wrecking a lot of gin if it didn't work.
As opposed to infusing the Hop Doctor oil and rolling the dice with your whole batch.
Just a thought.

- Hop Ball
Re: Adding hop oil to gin
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2018 6:38 pm
by brat
I wanted to add some hops in the vapor path. But am not sure if the heat of the vapor will extract bitterness. And how would I clean the hop oils afterwards.