One of the advantages of the Artwalk beers we brew for each First Friday is we can play. One beer is rather safe choice, often a kit beer from the shop. The second is something to show people something different about beer. For example a few months ago I made a Peppermint Chocolate Stout as playful take on the holiday season and another month I brewed Heather tip Mild to show people an ingredient they may not be familiar. We take chances that people don't expect from a beer and hopefully to open their eyes to a wider world. This month was an American Pale ale made with only Sorachi Ace hops.

This variety of hops is a new hybrid based on some Noble hops developed in Japan, hence the name. No one in the shop had used the hop yet, so I took this month as an opportunity to showcase it's personality and so that everyone in the shop could taste it. That way they would be able to tell it's customers what the hop is about. We thought it was a great success.

Recipe
3lbs Pale Liquid Malt Extract
1lb 13 oz Pale Liquid Malt Extract
2.5lbs 2 Row Malt
.25lb Crystal 20 Malt
2oz Crystal 60 Malt (with some dark roast dust present)
2oz Sorachi Ace hops
White Labs Califorinia Ale yeast

If some of the ingredients amounts seem odd, because they were extra scraps around the shop that we put to use in this test batch. I didn't measure OG or FG because with a partial mash most of the sugars come from known sources and frankly I am a bit lazy about that part.

I mashed the 2 Row and Crystal malt for 45 minutes at 155 degrees. I sparged with 165 degree water. Add the 1lb 13oz bag of malt extract and bring to a boil. Once hot break is reached I added 1.25oz of the hops and boiled for 60 minutes. At 15 minutes remaining I added half of the remaining hops, at 10 minutes I added remaining malt extract. I like the results of late malt extract method which seems to prevent that extract twang that some beers have as a present flavor. At the end of the boil I added the remaining hops to the mash. Chilled the wort, fermented at 65 degrees for two and half weeks, then keg.

The beer had a definite citrus and lemony character from the hops. As a solo hop it may be a bit much to use except in Summer lighter ales, an American Pale ale like this or maybe a Cream ale it would work well. Late addition hop usage this hop seems to have great potential and it may even work well in a Blonde ale or Hefeweizen.

In this time of limited hop resources this hop will be a great option to have available. If you are a homebrewer I definitely recommend you check it out.