Whenever I’ve had Sorachi Ace hops in the past, they always had a lemongrass quality to them, which I dug on. So when making cream ales this year I thought: those would be perfect, right?
Then the pandemic happened and I couldn’t find them. But I kept my eye out and then…they were back in stock. So, I was eager to give them a go-what could be better than the crispness of a cream ale with a hint of lemongrass?
The results were not as hoped though. The nose is a little soapy and that is a bummer.
The flavors don’t have much lemongrass in them either. There’s some caramel in the middle, which is good, and the finish is dry and maybe a little grassy? But this didn’t come together like I wanted. The nose is definitely off the mark.
It’s not the worst thing but I wish I’d gotten a little closer to what I envisioned.
Brew date: 9/19/20
Steeping grains
6lb Mecca Vienna malt
2 lb Great Western 2 Row
Fermentables: 3 lb ExLME
Hops
.5 oz Azacca, 1.5 oz Sorachi Ace @60
1.5 Sorachi Ace .5 Azacca @5
Years: Imperial Pub (2nd use)
OG: 1.065
FG: 1.01
Additions
2 tsp Gypsum (for water hardness)
1/2 tsp Irish moss at flameout (clarifying agent)
Bottled 9/26
ABV: 7.5%
