Incense Aroma in Hops: Beer With a Hippie’s Living Room Vibe

The fascinating world of incense-like aromas in hops brings a unique mystical quality to your beer. Summit and Willamette hops stand out as top choices for achieving incense notes.

With Summit offering stronger intensity alongside pepper and citrus hints.

While Willamette provides a gentler incense character mixed with floral tones.

When you’re crafting beer with these special varieties, you’re tapping into a tradition that goes back to the 1970s. The Willamette hop came from Oregon’s beautiful valley of the same name. Where brewers wanted to create their own version of the English Fuggle hop.

Think of these hops as nature’s incense burners for your brew kettle. They add layers of complexity that can transport your taste buds to an ancient temple or a peaceful garden. All while keeping things perfectly balanced in your glass.

Key Takeaways

• Specific hop varieties can create natural incense-like aromas in your beer
• Different hop combinations produce varying intensities of incense notes
• Beer styles with complex aromatic profiles benefit most from incense-forward hops

Hop Varieties With Incense Aroma In Hop Varieties

Want to add some mystical vibes to your brew? Some hop varieties can bring that sweet incense-like character to your beer.

Summit hops are your go-to choice for incense notes. These American hops pack a punch with 15-18% alpha acids and bring pepper, anise, and citrus along with that incense aroma.

Notable Summit Hop Characteristics:

• Incense intensity: Low to low-medium
• Other aromas: Orange, anise, tangerine
• Best used for: Bittering and aroma
• Alpha acids: 15-18%

Willamette hops can offer nice incense notes too. As a child of the classic Fuggle hop, it brings spicy, herbal and floral qualities that blend nicely with its gentle incense character.

Pro tip: Try combining Summit with Noble hops like Tettnang or East Kent Goldings. The mix of incense with their spicy, floral and honey-like notes can create some seriously tasty brews.

Remember to use these hops carefully – a little incense character goes a long way. 

You don’t want your beer tasting like a meditation shop!

The Other Ways Of Getting Incense Aromas In Beers

You don’t always need hops to get those sweet incense notes in your beer. Surprise! There are some crafty alternatives that can bring similar vibes to your brew.

Belgian yeasts are your secret weapon here. Many strains create spicy, incense-like aromas during fermentation. Try Wyeast 3522 or WLP500 for some magical results.

Some specialty malts can pitch in too. Crystal malt at 60L adds subtle incense-like notes, while Special B brings a gentle smoky-incense character to your beer.

Spice additions can work wonders:

• Star anise (use tiny amounts!)
• Frankincense (yes, really!)
• Cardamom pods
• Grains of paradise

Here’s a pro tip: add these spices in the last 5 minutes of the boil.

You’ll keep those volatile aroma compounds fresh and interesting.

Want to get experimental? Try aging your beer on light sandalwood chips. It’s wild, but it works! Just make sure they’re food-grade and use them sparingly.

Remember that temperature control is your friend. Keep fermentation temps steady around 68-72°F (20-22°C) to help those aromatic compounds develop properly.

Warning: Don’t go overboard! These ingredients pack a punch, and you want incense notes, not a full-blown hippie shop in your glass. Start small and adjust in future batches.

Beer Styles Suitable For Incense Aroma In Hop Varieties And Flavors

Looking to brew with incense-forward hops?

You’ve got some fantastic beer styles to choose from!

Belgian ales are your best friends here. The spicy, earthy notes from incense-type hops blend perfectly with Dubbels, Tripels, and Quadrupels. These styles already pack complex flavors, and the incense character adds an extra layer of magic.

You’ll find incense aromas work great in these beer styles:

• Dubbel
• Tripel
• Quadrupel
• Belgian Strong Ales
• American Strong Ales
• Winter Warmers
• Spiced Holiday Beers

Dark beers love incense notes too. Try adding these hops to your Porter or Stout recipes. The rich, roasted malts create a cozy backdrop for those mysterious incense aromas.

Summit hops work great in these styles. You’ll get pepper and incense notes, plus bonus hints of orange and grapefruit. The earthy qualities really shine through in darker beers.

Pro Tip: When brewing with incense-forward hops, add them late in the boil. 

This helps preserve those special aromatics you’re after.

Want to get wild? Try an experimental IPA with incense-type hops. The unique aroma will make your beer stand out from the crowd. Just remember to balance those spicy notes with some citrus or floral hops for the full effect.