Rookie question almost

[T8rSalad]

need an expert opinion here.

I am not real keen on the old Mr Beer Octoberfest Vienna Lager HME (1.21# can) and I am wanting to try something i haven't really ever tried on purpose and that is:

boiling this HME for 10-15 minutes so i can add in another type hops so the new hops will have some malt extract to adhere to and hopefully make a better homebrew. What changes will this do to the existing hop profile already in the OVL? and what hops would you suggest I add to make this a more flavorful recipe. I am clueless here and not sure if it will even do what I want it to or is it a waste of time and effort!!

Assistance greatly appreciated.

&

[BeerRust]

need an expert opinion here.

I am not real keen on the old Mr Beer Octoberfest Vienna Lager HME (1.21# can) and I am wanting to try something i haven't really ever tried on purpose and that is:

boiling this HME for 10-15 minutes so i can add in another type hops so the new hops will have some malt extract to adhere to and hopefully make a better homebrew. What changes will this do to the existing hop profile already in the OVL? and what hops would you suggest I add to make this a more flavorful recipe. I am clueless here and not sure if it will even do what I want it to or is it a waste of time and effort!!

Assistance greatly appreciated.

&

Not sure what hop is in the HME to start. But if your thinking traditional Vienna, I would think low alpha, perhaps Hallertau.

[mashani]

If you want to turn it into something hop forward in flavor, there is no harm in boiling it. You will simply drive off whatever hop aromatics and possibly flavor there are in it, and I don't think there is much of either in that anyways, so I don't see how you can harm it.

The existing bitterness should remain as is regardless of what you do.

RE: Hops... an authentic German beer with a "festbier" base like that wouldn't have much of any hops you would notice anyways. So, if you want to add hops, my take on it is that honestly you could add some light dme and use American hops or New Zealand hops and it would make a tasty APA/IPA, although a bit on the "dark side". The extra maltyness from the Vienna/Munich that's in it can balance a pretty big hop load for the OG. You could add some crystal malt, some DME, and English hops and turn it into a brown ale/ESB kind of thing too if you wanted to.

Or on a totally opposite end of the spectrum, you can also use that HME as a base for a dubbel if you like those. Some light dme, some dark candi sugar, and some Belgian yeast is all you need. I made a quad with that stuff that turned out pretty good.

[T8rSalad]

Thank you for the prompt responses...Hops I have in stock are:

UK Kent Goldings (probably not)
Falconer's Flight (possibility for an IPA or APA)
Mt Hood (probably not since similar to Hallertau)
Willamette (probably not, similar to UK KG)
German Perle (possibility but not sure)
Target (Not)
Progress (Not)
Galena (not since a bittering hop)

My thoughts would be the Falconer's Flight and use the OVL to make a slightly dark IPA or APA...your thoughts!!!???

[mashani]

Falconers would be good if you want to go APA/IPA like. You can mix those with Goldings too if you wish. IE Sam Adams Lattitude 48 has Goldings and American hops mixed and it's tasty. It's pretty much impossible in my opinion to mess up a beer with Goldings.

I'd do some hop bursting and a hop stand if I was doing it. I think you can use more then you would normally use for the same OG because of the German malt base.

Wilamette might be ok mixed too, but I don't think of it as similar to UK/East Kent Goldings. I think of it more similar to fuggles, but smoother and more boring. (I'd rather use real fuggles, or preferably styrian goldings to my personal tastes).

Perle is minty and I'm not sure minty would be good in this setting. I think Perle works well as a bittering to mid addition hop in German and Belgians ales and also mixed with Northern Brewer in steam beers.