Home Grown Hop Pale Ale Review

Here is a review of a pale ale brewed with wet Centennial and Cascade hops grown in my parents' garden. The growing setup was not optimal, but the yield was OK for second year hops. This purpose of this beer is more exploratory than anything else.... just to see how the homegrown hops taste.

Appearance: Pretty hazy yellow, with off which, sticky and persistent head. Not sure the source of the haze - chill haze maybe due to the slow cooling time?

Aroma: Lightly to moderately hoppy, Centennial style. Fruity like peaches maybe, but also I somehow get a slightly cheesy note or something, but that has faded over the two weeks the beer has been in the keg. Reminds me a bit of the SNPA Celebration Ale clone I did awhile ago, which is a good sign. Not much dankness in the aroma.

Taste: Similar to the aroma, especially somehow in the aftertaste. Balance is towards bitterness, which is moderate, dank, and bordering on slightly harsh. Hoppy flavor is fruit, but lacking the cheesy quality. (I suspect the "cheesy" descriptor is just a quirk of my palate or something, as I did get the same sense with the SNPA clone but nobody else would describe it that way.) Malty taste is low. 

Mouthfeel: Pretty good body, moderate carbonation.

Overall: OK but not great. Needs more hop aroma, better appearance, reduced haze, and greater complexity. Given that I don't know the quality of the showcased ingredients - the hops - I'm not sure if the beer would be better with commercially grown hops, better boiling / brewing technique, or simply a larger hop charge. In any case I am glad I made this beer and will continue to make fresh hop beers in future harvests.

My guess is that I did pick the hops at the right time, as the beer generally has the right aroma and does not taste grassy or otherwise disgusting.

I don't think I will really do SMASH beers in the future as the result seems to be a bit simplistic or one-dimensional.