I really appreciate these videos and come back to them often when formulating recipes. I really like balancing the video comments with the marketing hype as well as other reviews. It gives me a way better idea of what I am getting into versus just the purchasing descriptors. Thank you for your work and effort! Just brewed my first beer with this hop and yeah...green pepper..did it as a flameout addition too so maybe dry hopping to avoid it?
I use Eknaut here in Natal/Brazil. We made a APA with Hog Plum (Cajá) and a "Hop Wit" with cashew and Eknaut dryhop. We are really happy about our sales!
Hey thanks for doing this taste test! Equinox just got released here in Europe and I was thinking of buying some. Having never had a beer with it though I am glad someone went through and actually gave a good description.
I love mike. He could easily say every time: “i taste slight melon, and maybe some tropical notes, with a hint of citrus, and maybe some pine or dank…” but he doesnt. He goes out on a limb and says “blueberry without the skin” or “a big whiff of a trix cereal box” stay classy mike!
I have a citra beer currently in fermentation. I am so glad I saw your video. I had these on hand and everyone kept saying green onion and pepper on the backend. I'm using this as a dry hop and I can definitely smell the orange and melon properties you speak of. I'm hoping it will be a dank IPA.
They can be a great way to explore hops. I've done some full all-grain SMaSH beers, but I've started making 1-gallon batches using 1 pound of light DME and one ounce of the hop I want to try. I keep the boil to 15 minutes so the beer focuses on flavor and aroma.
+Todd Dixon Just brewed an APA last weekend and used it in combination with other hops late in the boil. Hope to dry hop with it too. Let's see what we get.
I Brewed more than a few batches of Experimental 366, (2013 harvest) using various hop schedules, Not once did I encounter the "Green Onion/ Pepper" flavour even when having used it early in the boil. It only ever produced Fruit flavours. Is it possible that the 2014 Harvest (now named Equinox) varies so far from the original ? I sincerely hope not, as I have just ordered a fair size bundle of this hop before having seen your video.
I know I'm late to the party. A commercial brewer gave me a pound of these to play with. So, of course I made a Smash. I don't disagree with any of your flavor assessments, but the grassy/earthy/pepper was so overwhelming that it was disgusting. IMO, it should be balanced with either a strong malt backbone or have the IBU lowered and showcase the pepper - maybe a dry saison flavor hop. I've got about 12 oz left - you guys want them?
I appreciate the offer on the Ekuanot but we have a ton of hops we are working through right now. This is one of those hops where it might play better as a mixer hop. I haven't circled back to explore the possibilities though. Maybe research some commercial beers and see what else is being blended with it for inspiration. Oh well good luck. Cheers! -Mike
Can I ask as well what did you put through the mill and what yeast did you use I was thinking what do you think of a small amount of equinox at the start and dry hopping the hell out of it for a sour beer looking for a really simple base with a little whack a real authentic sour kind of taste what do you think
I really appreciate these videos and come back to them often when formulating recipes. I really like balancing the video comments with the marketing hype as well as other reviews. It gives me a way better idea of what I am getting into versus just the purchasing descriptors. Thank you for your work and effort! Just brewed my first beer with this hop and yeah...green pepper..did it as a flameout addition too so maybe dry hopping to avoid it?
Thanks for watching! -Mike
I use Eknaut here in Natal/Brazil. We made a APA with Hog Plum (Cajá) and a "Hop Wit" with cashew and Eknaut dryhop. We are really happy about our sales!
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Thanks Flávio. Brew ON! - John
Hey thanks for doing this taste test! Equinox just got released here in Europe and I was thinking of buying some. Having never had a beer with it though I am glad someone went through and actually gave a good description.
I love mike. He could easily say every time: “i taste slight melon, and maybe some tropical notes, with a hint of citrus, and maybe some pine or dank…” but he doesnt. He goes out on a limb and says “blueberry without the skin” or “a big whiff of a trix cereal box” stay classy mike!
I try my best. Cheers! -Mike
Thanks for doing the review on smash beers. I really found the information and description of taste and flavor very interesting and helpful.
Eric Hao Thanks Eric!
I have a citra beer currently in fermentation. I am so glad I saw your video. I had these on hand and everyone kept saying green onion and pepper on the backend. I'm using this as a dry hop and I can definitely smell the orange and melon properties you speak of. I'm hoping it will be a dank IPA.
They are a powerful hop and they should bring good dang to your beer. Brew on! - John
LOVE this hop. SMaSH IPA with Gladfield American Ale malt and all late Equinox (now called Ekuanot), big dry hop. Very sticky. Delicious!
Awesome - yeah, what's up with the name change? I should probably update the title of this video - John
I never did a smash, these last few videos makes me want to give it a try
They can be a great way to explore hops. I've done some full all-grain SMaSH beers, but I've started making 1-gallon batches using 1 pound of light DME and one ounce of the hop I want to try. I keep the boil to 15 minutes so the beer focuses on flavor and aroma.
Watch at 1.5 speed you won't regret it
Probably helps with a lot of our babbling. Cheers! - John
Long Trail Brewing just released an APA made with Equinox Hops called Stand Out. I had a few and didn't get the pepper flavor that you mentioned.
+Todd Dixon Just brewed an APA last weekend and used it in combination with other hops late in the boil. Hope to dry hop with it too. Let's see what we get.
I Brewed more than a few batches of Experimental 366, (2013 harvest) using various hop schedules, Not once did I encounter the "Green Onion/ Pepper" flavour even when having used it early in the boil. It only ever produced Fruit flavours. Is it possible that the 2014 Harvest (now named Equinox) varies so far from the original ? I sincerely hope not, as I have just ordered a fair size bundle of this hop before having seen your video.
We were definitely getting that flavor - without a lot of malt background, it may have come out much more. Let us know what you encounter.
I know I'm late to the party. A commercial brewer gave me a pound of these to play with. So, of course I made a Smash. I don't disagree with any of your flavor assessments, but the grassy/earthy/pepper was so overwhelming that it was disgusting. IMO, it should be balanced with either a strong malt backbone or have the IBU lowered and showcase the pepper - maybe a dry saison flavor hop. I've got about 12 oz left - you guys want them?
Damn I just bought a load I hope not :(
I appreciate the offer on the Ekuanot but we have a ton of hops we are working through right now. This is one of those hops where it might play better as a mixer hop. I haven't circled back to explore the possibilities though. Maybe research some commercial beers and see what else is being blended with it for inspiration. Oh well good luck. Cheers! -Mike
That smell of dank equinox when you open up a 20 kilo bag oh yeah
Can I ask as well what did you put through the mill and what yeast did you use I was thinking what do you think of a small amount of equinox at the start and dry hopping the hell out of it for a sour beer looking for a really simple base with a little whack a real authentic sour kind of taste what do you think
I used a pale malt and Safale US-05 yeast. Brew on! - John
I know the green onion, grassy, minty essence he's talking about
Thanks. Nice to see that others encounter the same flavors/aromas - John