Australia: Cascade Brewery makes hop a dominant ingredient for beer brewing

Hops are proof that nature has a place for everything, even if it is not immediately apparent. Apart from reproducing more hops, the flower cones of the hop plant aren't useful for much else other than being crucial to the brewing of beer, a function first documented in the 11th century, The Courier Mail posted June 13.

They are used to impart bitterness to the beer in the early stages of the brew and aroma when added late in the process. Hops also have antibiotic qualities which protect the activities of the brewer's yeast to the exclusion of all else.

It is a plant tailor-made for the job of ensuring the marriage of water and malt proceeds smoothly to the point where we can enjoy it as beer in its many forms.

Hop selection is vital in the formation of the beer's personality, and one of the pleasing features of the explosion in beer varieties being offered to Australian drinkers from not only the micro breweries but the mainstream brewers as well is the renewed interest in "hoppy" beers.

Mainstream lagers, while obviously employing hops for bittering, don't have much hop aroma. When beer buffs use words like "citrus", "leafy" or "floral" to describe beer tastes, they are trying to define the hop influence from cones added late after the bitterness has been established, usually by using different varieties.

If you want to try an excellent example of a hoppy beer see if you can get hold of Cascade's First Harvest Ale.

This limited release beer continues a practice started by Cascade's head brewer Max Burslem in 2002 of creating small batches of experimental brews which essentially kill two birds with one stone: it allows the brewing staff to exercise their creative talents away from the restrictions of producing the established brands, and offers an opportunity to test different styles on the public.

It was through this channel that Cascade Blonde, a beer that won the brewery a gold medal at the recent World Beer Cup in Seattle, evolved.

It was originally a limited release brew called Summer Blonde and proved so popular it was relaunched last year as part of Cascade's Degraves Collection honouring the brewery's founder Peter Degraves.

First Harvest Ale uses three different hops, all grown in Tasmania's Derwent Valley about an hour's drive from Cascade's Hobart brewery.

All three hops – Ember, Nova and Galaxy – aren't grown in commercial quantities yet, although the farmers are obviously hopeful and Burslem has had a close association with the growers during the development stage.

Ember was used early in the boil to give the beer its bitterness. Nova joined the fray halfway through the process to give it flavour. Galaxy, which Burslem chose for aromatics, was added at the end of the boil.

"We were looking for a beer that had a good hop balance, was dark in colour, 5.5 per cent alcohol and with plenty of flavour . . . a bit spicy," said Burslem.

"We have taken delivery of these new hop varieties and are pleased with the results of their first brew.

"First Harvest balances the flavours and aromas of the three varieties. It is a complex yet refreshing ale."

It has a strong, rich flavour and is worth the effort to find it and try it before the batch is exhausted.

Founded by Peter Degraves in 1824, the Cascade Brewery Co. at Hobart Town Tasmania is Australia's oldest brewery. Degraves vowed then to produce "genuine beer... beer that cannot be excelled in this colony." Today they uphold this vision, producing beers of the finest quality.

Cascade Brewery is Australia's oldest continuously operating brewery. Set in the rolling hills of South Hobart, the historic brewery is set against the backdrop of Mount Wellington. The brewery is of great interest to beer lovers, connoisseurs, heritage buffs and is a must see for any visitor to Tasmania.

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