cattiness in hops

i am sorry to ask this, but i have seen it a couple times recently and would like to know what it means. i talked about making an all fuggles ipa and someone said something about cattiness. i have brewed about 6 or 7 batches using fuggles a few times and like them very much and would like to know if i like cattiness. thanks matt

Originally posted by mcbackus
i am sorry to ask this, but i have seen it a couple times recently and would like to know what it means. i talked about making an all fuggles ipa and someone said something about cattiness. i have brewed about 6 or 7 batches using fuggles a few times and like them very much and would like to know if i like cattiness. thanks matt

Supposedly it is hops that smell like cat pee..some people say Simcoe for example, although personally I have enver smelled any hops that smell like cat-pee..which to me smells like ammonia...

Cattiness refers to an aroma like cat box/cat piss. I don’t think it’s related to any particular hop variety. I think it’s a handling/processing issue.

Originally posted by kenb
..which to me smells like ammonia...

I think cattiness is from ammonification.

so the fact that i like fuggles alot does mean i like cattiness, it just might be bad hops that gives that sent off?

Originally posted by mcbackus
so the fact that i like fuggles alot does mean i like cattiness, it just might be bad hops that gives that sent off?

Fuggles can give a cattiness but I got more in the ’05 crop of Simcoe than in any other hop I have smelled.

You want catty? Two words: cluster hops. My buddy, who generally brews excellent beer, made a steam beer using only clusters and, let me tell you, trying that I knew exactly what people meant went they called a beer catty from there on out. The only thing I’ve ever used that’s caused that flavor was Centennial, which is strange. I love Bell’s Two Hearted and a lot of other beers that use them but they always taste weird when I use them at home.

I find them to be very polite....

Originally posted by Frank
You want catty? Two words: cluster hops. My buddy, who generally brews excellent beer, made a steam beer using only clusters and, let me tell you, trying that I knew exactly what people meant went they called a beer catty from there on out. The only thing I’ve ever used that’s caused that flavor was Centennial, which is strange. I love Bell’s Two Hearted and a lot of other beers that use them but they always taste weird when I use them at home.

Agreed about cluster. Absolutely foul hops.

I have the same problem with 1056. Know lots of brewers that love the yeast and make some fine beers with it. I always get a fair amount of diacetyl. Don’t know why.

Originally posted by mcbackus
i am sorry to ask this, but i have seen it a couple times recently and would like to know what it means. i talked about making an all fuggles ipa and someone said something about cattiness. i have brewed about 6 or 7 batches using fuggles a few times and like them very much and would like to know if i like cattiness. thanks matt

I too use Fuggles quite extensively. Pelletized to be specific. And I have never associated the aroma of this hop with a Cat or it’s pee and I have several cats. Farnkly, I associate the smells more with grass and pine, to varying degrees.

Maybe the leaf hops are different. At any rate, somewhere, somehow, someone decided that catty was the descriptor and it stuck.

On another note, a lot of people associate Horsey, BarnYard, Horse blanket flavors from Brettanomyces. I don’t taste this either, of course I have never licked a horse or tasted it’s blanket. To me, it tastes Soapy, shampoo like, of which I have experienced when the suds from my noggin have managed to make it in.

Originally posted by erway

Originally posted by Frank
You want catty? Two words: cluster hops. My buddy, who generally brews excellent beer, made a steam beer using only clusters and, let me tell you, trying that I knew exactly what people meant went they called a beer catty from there on out. The only thing I’ve ever used that’s caused that flavor was Centennial, which is strange. I love Bell’s Two Hearted and a lot of other beers that use them but they always taste weird when I use them at home.

Agreed about cluster. Absolutely foul hops.

I have the same problem with 1056. Know lots of brewers that love the yeast and make some fine beers with it. I always get a fair amount of diacetyl. Don’t know why.

Cluster, yes and Pride of Ringwood as well... goddamn that hop is nasty. Just like drinking from a litterbox.