Nugget hop users please opine

[Beer-lord]

I've used Nugget twice in the last 6 months. In one batch, there was very little but in another batch, I added a bit more than an ounce at 60 and then 1/2 oz with some other hops at 20. I've found both had an odd taste. Not bad but somewhat competitive to me to what I was trying to do. I've never done an all Nugget beer and really don't plan on it. To me, it a bit herbally.

But since I have 8 or so ounces, and will likely use it sparingly in the future, what does the borg do with Nugget that I can steal ideas from? And, what's your take on it?

[BigPapaG]

Hi Paul,

Had it in an Amber and it was ok... It's kind of intensely herbal and is better as a bittering hop in darker ales IMHO.

Needs a pronounced malt backbone to play against.

Don't think I ever tried it as a flavor or aroma addition, nor do I think I would.

[Beer-lord]

Pretty much sums up my feelings too. I've even gotten a slight 'bubble gum' flavor from it at warmer temps and the herbal can be somewhat mediciny to me.
The local NOLA Brewery uses it in a few of their beers but I just don't taste it as it seems to blend in very well with the other hops and malts.

[bucknut]

I've never used nugget hops, but I know that it's in a pretty popular beer from Troegs, Nugget Nectar. I've never had it but I wonder if anyone here on the Borg has tried it and might give some more insight. Here's the commercial description of the beer.

Alcohol by Volume: 7.5%
Hop Bitterness (IBU's): 93ish
Color (SRM): Straw / Orange
Availability: Seasonal (February-March)
Malts: Pilsner, Vienna, Munich
Hops: Nugget, Warrior, Tomahawk, Simcoe, Palisade
HopBack Hops: Nugget
Yeast: Ale
TASTING NOTES
Squeeze those hops for all they’re worth and prepare to pucker up! Nugget Nectar Ale will take hopheads to nirvana with a heady collection of Nugget, Warrior and Tomahawk hops. Starting with the same base ingredients of our flagship HopBack Amber Ale, Nugget Nectar intensifies the malt and hop flavors to create an explosive hop experience.


Sounds like a tasty beer, sure would like to try one.

[Beer-lord]

Thanks for that!
It seems that most of the beers I've read about that include Nugget, a great majority flavor and aroma with Warrior and Columbus (CTZ). I wonder if that would make me enjoy them more. I don't have any Warrior but I do have lots of Columbus so the next time I use Nugget, I'll give that a try.

[brewin bull]

I use Nuggets in my lemon pale ale. I use it as a 30 min bittering, I follow it with a 20 and 10 min citra. I find it a nice balance with the fresh lemon zest and juice.

I am not the best at defining flavors, but maybe Phil can express it better as he has had the lemon pale ale.

[Foothiller]

I haven't thought of using Nugget as a primary flavor or aroma hop, but have used it for bittering in as short as a 20-minute hop boil, to support other flavor and aroma hops such as Goldings. I haven't thought it caused any problems in this supporting role.

[DaYooper]

We grow Nugget and the other year had a couple pounds left over that I helped myself to. To get a feeling, I did a SMaSH I call "Clutter Buster" with it using:

0.70 oz Nugget [12.10%] (60 min) Hops 27.2 IBU
0.75 oz Nugget [12.10%] (15 min) Hops 14.4 IBU
0.75 oz Nugget [12.10%] (10 min) Hops 10.6 IBU
1.00 oz Nugget [12.10%] (5 min) Hops 7.7 IBU
1.00 oz Nugget [12.10%] (0 min) Hops -
2.00 oz Nugget [12.10%] (Dry Hop 7 days)

This is one of SWMBOs favorites.

From what I can tell, most of the Nugget we sell is used in bittering and some flavor. Then again, they dont always tell us their secrets either.

[Beer-lord]

I may have to give this another shot but based on my recent tastes with just a little of this, I don't know if I could enjoy an all Nugget beer. Maybe I did something wrong. Again, it was very drinkable, everything was normal except for the almost medicinal taste at the very beginning of the sip.