Obviously, a variation “Which beer is not like the others?” but with hops. The goal is to identify the outlier and explain why it doesn’t belong on the list. There may be more than one answer. I happen to have a very specific one in mind, but readers may come up with others. Yes, there is such a thing as a wrong answer, but there’s probably more than one right one.
a) Motueka
b) Liberty
c) Spalt Spalter
d) Soranchi Ace
e) Sterling
Isn’t the Spalt Spalter (or is it Spalter Spalt?) the only noble hop? I believe the others are more recently developed varieties grown elsewhere to either resemble noble hops or even create something new. Moteuka is from New Zealand, Liberty and Sterling in the US, and Sorachi Ace.
Zac – In Spalt they just call it Spalt because it is the original (your point), but elsewhere Spalter in order to make it distinct from Spalt Select (a bred hop).
I eschew the term “noble hop” because it only began to be used relatively recently and there is no good definition. It is easier to call the hops that were not cross-pollinated by human hand “landrace” varieties (as the geneticists do). Yes, Spalt is one of those and the only one on this list.
But not the answer I was looking for.
Sorachi is spelled wrong. Do I win?
Moteuka is a “sazz like” hop with Sazz parentage, Spalt is noble, Liberty is from Hallertau Mittel., Sterling is a Sazz/Mt Hood cross, Sorachi is “Brewer’s Gold and Sazz?” product.
My guess is that Spalt is a Original Gangster and sets it apart from the other off shoots.
I was obviously working on that response before I saw your response.
How about Moteuka is one I’ve never even heard of? Which makes it a little difficult to even guess here. How’s the book coming along?
I’m going with Sorachi … it’s the one that’s spelled wrong :)~
actually my answer would have been similar to ‘brewer’ about bred versions of original varieties.
Andrew – I crossed out the n.
You are on the right track, although I’m not sure that Sorachi Ace has any Brewers Gold in it. However, Spalt and Saaz are almost identical genetically (you knew there’d be a trick in there).
Tom – Now undergoing technical editing. Likely not done in time for GABF, but probably for the holidays.
a) Moteuka = NZ Cultivar and Saazer
b) Liberty = Hallertauer and Zattler
c) Spalt Spalter = Pedigree unknown but thought to be Saazer
d) Soranchi Ace = Saazer & BG with Japanese cultivar
e) Sterling = Saazer and US cultivar
So I would say, if we are talking pedigree, then liberty is the only non-Saaz parentage. I do find in interesting most of the others are a cross between saazer and a local hop.
I’d say Liberty is the odd ball since it has no Saaz in it.
That’s why I had it in quotes and a question mark. Just a few seconds of googling.
Yes, Liberty was the one I was thinking of and for the reasons listed. I’m impressed by how quickly everybody zeroed on the heritage.
(Quick aside, closer examination show Sorachi Ace has Brewers Gold in it, since most bred hops do.)
It would appear* that Liberty has no Saaz in it.
* Appearances can be a big if when looking at hop heritage. Although Golding is a landrace hop and clearly different than Saaz or Hallertau it could well be a natural cross between Flemish Red Bine and wild English hops. Red Bine heritage is unknown, but could be Saaz.
You thought some bonehead was going to jump at the chance to say “Moteuka–it’s the only NZ hop!” One would have, had he gotten here sooner.
What I find really interesting is that Spalt and Saaz are genetically identical–news to me.
And it’s Motueka
(Obviously going too fast this morning.)
Weird that spalt and saaz are genetically identical.
Generally saaz is beloved by most homebrews, but spalt doesn’t get nearly as much attention.
Never used it myself, but planning on making an Altbier soon with Spalt.
Stan, is it pronounced Shpalt? Like Spaten?
That’s not the way I’ve heard Spaten pronounced.
Make sure it is Spalter you are getting, not Spalt Select. Select is a good hop, but not the same.
If I cross native landrace varieties of hops, are they not still noble?
Todd – There is no definition for noble. Actually, landrace seems to be something of a “I know what it is when I see it” sort of thing. But they refer to the hops that emerged through natural crossing rather than breeding with human intervention.
“That’s not the way I’ve heard Spaten pronounced.”
No? That’s the way I always heard it in Munich — what’s your version?
That’s tricky, I admit. But my high school German teacher always argued it was more complex than “sh” and that stuck with me. I’m not sure how to try to spell the sound, but there’s something else there.
Honestly, I was more focused in that comment on making a distinction between Spalter and Select.
“…always argued it was more complex than “sh” and that stuck with me.”
I can understand that.
“…making a distinction between Spalter and Select.”
It’s not schelect? 😀
So landrace is where the “land” made the choice and “noble” is where a human made a choice?
If the land made a choice and I noticed that plant and propagated more of it, did it become “noble” because of my choices?
Todd. “Noble” does not exist in hop literature until very recently, and then as much as anything to market hops. To me it makes that particular question moot.
Ahhh, thanks Stan. 🙂